Ozark Shocks Gentry With Late TD

— Ozark’s players rushed the field after their 32-27 victory Friday night, celebrating like they had just won a playoff game.

Meanwhile, across the sideline, Gentry’s players stood still. Seemingly stunned, some of them collapsed to the ground. All those reactions personified just how shocking Friday’s result was to both teams.

The Hillbillies (6-4, 5-2 4A-1 Conference) clinched a first-round home playoff game by tallying 14 straight points in the final 1 minute, 21 seconds. The gamewinning score came on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Jonathon McKenzie to Haden Neumeier with one second remaining.

Ozark will host Stuttgart in the Class 4A playoffs next week. Gentry will travel to Nashville.

“That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Ozark coach Brooks Coatney, who was coached by Gentry coach Brian Little at Greenwood. “It feels like we stole one. But you know what, our guys didn’t quit and that shows the character of this team.”

Little said he felt badly for his players because the Pioneers (6-4, 4-3) didn’t quit, either. In fact, Gentryseemed in prime position to host a playoff game in its first post-season appearance since 1998. Instead, the Pioneers had to experience a devastating defeat.

“With the season we’ve had, it really hurts to lose this last one like we did,” Little said. “It hurts a lot, but I’m looking forward to seeing how we respond.”

Gentry took a 20-18 lead in the third quarter on a 9-yard touchdown run by Tanner Coy, who finished with a game-high 155 rushing yards. The Pioneers then went up 27-18 on Eathen Ramsey’s third touchdown run of the night, a 7-yarder with 4:50 left.

That’s when Ozark started its frantic rally. The Hillbillies drove 63 yards and cut Gentry’s lead to 27-25 on McKenzie’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Wade Graham with 1:21 left. The Pioneers recovered the onside kick, however, and appeared poised for a victory.

After an Ozark personal foul penalty, Gentry had the ball at the Hillbillies 32 with one minute left. Ozark had one time-out left, and the Pioneers opted to run the clock out with a quarterback sneak.

Austin Millsap unexpectedly darted through the line and sprinted toward the end zone. But Ozark’sToby Gresham chased Millsap down and forced a fumble at the 1. The Hillbillies recovered in the end zone for a touchback.

“We called a sneak there, and in hindsight, we probably should’ve taken a knee,” Little said. “We didn’t think he’d break it into the open, though.”

McKenzie, a 5-foot-8, 165-pound sophomore, scrambled for 10 yards and then completed four straight passes to set up the game-winning play.McKenzie nailed Neumeier as he streaked across the middle of the field, and Neumeier ran past two defenders into the end zone.

Afterward, Coatney struggled to contain his emotions. Even his pregnant wife, Amie, yelled that he “almost made me go into labor.”

It was that kind of game, that kind of finish.

“I believe in these guys so much,” Coatney said. “I’ll always believe in them, even when we’re down likewe were tonight.”4A-1 Conference OZARK 32, GENTRY 27 Ozark 6 6 6 14 - 32 Gentry 7 7 6 7 - 27 First Quarter Gentry - Ramsey 2 run (Di Mella kick), 10:02.

Ozark - Martinez 45 run (kick failed), 5:45.

Second Quarter Ozark - Martinez 1 run (run failed), 7:08.

Gentry - Ramsey 7 run (DiMella kick), :44.

Third Quarter Ozark - Martinez 7 run (run failed), 9:50.

Gentry - Coy 9 run (kick failed), 5:32.

Fourth Quarter Gentry - Ramsey 1 run (Coy kick), 4:50.

Ozark - Graham 9 pass from McKenzie (Gallegos kick), 1:21.

Ozark - Neumeier 23 pass from McKenzie (Gallegos kick), :01.

Sports, Pages 9 on 11/10/2010