Pirate football fights for opening night win in sweltering heat
Ash Grove quarterback Cooper Burks sends a pass to Brady Nicholson who impressively wrangled it in for the first Pirate score of the season.
Ash Grove's Hayden Gladden—No. 17—and Peyton Self make sure to bring down their man for the last play of the first half.
Despite being under attack by two Diamond Wildcats, Ash Grove senior receiver Brady Nicholson manages to hang onto the ball for the completion.
Ash Grove sophomore Kyler Reece quickly runs out of real estate as the Diamond defenders enclose.
Ash Grove football coaches, with assistant coach Josh Reece, in foreground, watch as their team nears their first touchdown of the game.
Lady Pirates volleyball drops three games in Stockton
Now that the school year has started, the fall sports season is in full swing as the Ash Grove High School football team hosted and defeated the Diamond Wildcats, 27-14, on Friday, Aug. 25. On the hardwood, the Lady Pirates volleyball traveled to Stockton to compete in the Stockton Invitational Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 26.
Football
With a heat index of 99 degrees, even with an hour later than usual start time, it took the Pirate footballers a while to get going Friday night. After a scoreless and sloppy first quarter of play, the Pirates finally got on the board in the second quarter when Cooper Burks hit Brady Nicholson for a 15-yard touchdown, and after the point after attempt was good, Ash Grove trailed 8-7 heading into the half.
Ash Grove added another score in the third quarter on a Kyler Reece one-yard plunge to take a 13-6 lead into the fourth quarter.
After Diamond scored and converted the PAT, the Pirates would answer with two scores of their own. The first a 36-yard pass from Burks to Hari Thompson, to take a 21-14 lead and with time winding down, the Pirates returned an interception six yards to seal the win, 27-14.
Burks ended the game 16-for-22 for 190 yards and two touchdowns, Reece led Ash Grove in rushing with 47 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown, Nicholson ended the game with nine catches for 99 yards and a score, and Thompson finished the game with four receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown.
The Pirates are now 1-0 on the season and will be hosting Lighthouse Senior High this Friday night.
Volleyball
In volleyball, the Lady Pirates traveled to Stockton and went 1-3 in their tournament, losing three games by scores of 2-0 to El Dorado Springs, Appleton City with Montrose, and Osceola. But, Ash Grove did beat Conway in straight sets.
The Lady Pirates start the season 1-3 and are scheduled to host Greenfield tomorrow night.
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