Pirates knock off Diamond to open gridiron season

Ash Grove quarterback Mooneyham tallies four touchdowns on the night
 
The Ash Grove High School football team opened up their 2022 season by traveling to Diamond on Friday, Aug. 26, and coming home with a convincing 34-7 win.
Following a lengthy delay to start the game thanks to rain and Diamond’s Senior Night festivities, Pirate quarterback Brock Mooneyham started the scoring early with an 82-yard touchdown run to put the Pirates up 6-0. Later in the quarter, Mooneyham would connect with Parker Crow on a 29-yard pass to put Ash Grove up 12-0.
In the second quarter, Mooneyham threw for his second touchdown of the game, hitting Brady Nicholson with a 48-yard pass to give Ash Grove a 20-0 halftime lead.
The Pirates would increase their lead to 28-0 in the third quarter after, Mooneyham connected for his third touchdown pass, and second to Nicholson, on another 48-yard pass. Nate Trammell rounded out the scoring for Ash Grove with a 44-yard touchdown run to give the Pirates a 34-0 lead. Diamond would score in the fourth quarter for their only points.
Ash Grove is now 1-0 on the season and in third place in the Class 1, District 3 standings with 33 points. Marionville and Sarcoxie lead the district with 43 points, Pierce City is in fourth place with eight points, Miller sits in fifth place with seven points, Cabool is in sixth place with two points, Diamond is in seventh place with -3 points and Thayer is in eighth place—but have yet to play a game.
The Pirates are scheduled to travel to Lighthouse Senior High School this Friday night.