HARDY — Senior quarterback Jonathan McKenzie’s 1-yard touchdown run with 5:02 left in the game lifted Ozark to a 28-25 victory over Highland in the semifinals of the Class 4A playoffs Friday night at Rebel Memorial Field.
Ozark (12-2) will meet Stuttgart for the state championship Dec. 8 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. It will be Ozark’s first appearance in a state final since a 37-7 loss to Pine Bluff Dollarway in 1992.
Highland (1 3-1) was bidding for its first state championship since 1981.
Highland had taken a 25-21 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by senior running back Jordan Brewer with 9:55 left to play.
McKenzie, a three year starter, finished with 142 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 22 carries. He also completed 4 of 9 passes for 65 yards.
The Hillbillies finished with 359 total yards, including 294 rushing.
Senior running back Bubba Elder ran 19 times for 75 yards and 1 touchdown.
The Rebels finished with 303 total yards.
Senior quarterback Sterling Stowers ran 15 times for 68 yards and 1 touchdown and threw for 147 yards and a touchdown. Brewer ran 17 times for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Stowers threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to senior Ethan Hoppe with 57 seconds left in the third quarter to pull Highland within 21-18.
Ozark led 14-12 at halftime.
The Hillbillies extended the lead to 21-12 on a 10-yard run by Elder with 8:03 left in the third quarter. Elder’s touchdown came one play after senior Shae Kelley returned an interception to the 10.
Sophomore Avery Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 71 yards to the 27.
Stowers followed with a 33-yard touchdown pass, but it was negated because he was across the line of scrimmage when he threw the pass.
Brewer opened the game with a 7-yard touchdown run, but senior Toby Richard capped Ozark’s first possession with a 26-yard scoring run.
McKenzie and Stowers each scored on 1-yard runs in the first half.
Sports, Pages 27 on 12/01/2012