South Central Association champion Ava is still alive in the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 2 state football playoffs, as the Bears won 26-14 in a quarterfinal contest last Saturday afternoon at Lamar.
After winning the SCA title, Ava entered postseason play as the Class 2 District 3 No. 1 seed and secured the district championship by beating No. 10 Mountain Grove 60-20, No. 5 East Newton 34-6 and No. 6 Willow Springs 36-0.
Ava (13-0) advances to host Clark County in a semifinal contest at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Bears will be making their first-ever appearance in the state semifinals.
Houston lost at home to East Newton, 21-20, in the first round of the district tournament. The Tigers finished the season with a record of 4-6.