Football Pirates fall to tough Thayer Bobcats in district playoffs

12 Ash Grove football players named to all-conference team; 3 volleyballers earn honors
 
The 2021 fall sports season has come to an end for Ash Grove High school as the Pirates football team fell at Thayer, 49-12 in the Class 1, District 3 playoffs on Friday, Nov. 5.
    After Thayer scored in the first quarter, Ash Grove answered back with a touchdown pass from Brock Mooneyham to Sam Moreland to tie the game at 6-6. Thayer, though, added another five touchdowns in the second quarter to go up, 42-6, before Mooneyham plunged in from one yard out to cut the Thayer lead to 42-12 at the half. The Bobcats added a final touchdown in the second half to take the game 49-12.
    The Pirates end their season with a 7-4 record.

Conference honors
    The 2021 Southwest Conference All Conference football team was announced, and Ash Grove placed 12 different players on the team.
    Dakota Wilson of Marionville was the Offensive Player of the Year, Koy Dittmer of Marionville was named Defensive Player of the Year and Marionville head coach Paden Grubbs was named the Coach of the Year.
    Below is the list of Ash Grove players that were named to the first, second and honorable mention teams:

1st team Offense
Jared Lobdell OL
Zane Delk TE
Sam Moreland WR

1st team Defense
Austin Lowak DL
Jared Lobdell LB
Sam Moreland DB

2nd team offense
Elijah Morrison WR
Brady Nicholson WR
Brock Mooneyham QB

2nd team defense
Riddic Ferrior DE
Nate Trammel LB

Honorable Mention - Offense
Austin Lowak OL
Payton Griffen OL
Tristan Bowers RB

Honorable Mention - Defense
Tristan Bowers DL
Brock Mooneyham DB
Elijah Morrison DB
Parker Crow DB

Volleyball honors
Adding to Ash Grove’s postseason honors, the Lady Pirates had three volleyballers named to the Class 2, District 10 All-District volleyball team.
Julianna Torbett was named to the first team, while Khloe Moad and Emma McClelland were both named to the second team.