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The Willow Springs Bears traveled to The Hill at Ava High School to face The Ava Bears for as Larry Spence called it, “A Thursday Special” in football action this past Thursday night, October 24th, 2024. Unfortunately the Willow Bears are yet again defeated 54-8 by the Ava Bears.
1st Quarter: Willow Bears will start off with a 1st & 10 as they win the coin toss. They eventually get down to about the 43 yard line as the Ava Bears get close enough to force a punt. Ava Bears take a 1st & 10 at the 19-yard line and get a gain of six up to the 24. Aiden Lane for the Ava Bears takes the ball into the In-zone with a huge touchdown. Ava gets on the board 8-0. With 8;24, the WIllow bears get the ball down a few yards as Rogers for the Willow Bears takes it in for the Touchdown as Willow lucks out with a good field position. Score is now 8-6. As Ava comes back on offense they take a squib kick and after some steady clock play, Elijah Roberts for the Willow Bears steals it back with a big play and ties up the board 8-8. Jace Rogers for Willow attempts to get the ball to the 30 as the next offensive play, it is lost and out of bounds however; as Ava will pick up a 2nd & 10. Ava barely gets a 1st down on behalf of Aiden Lane taking it down to the 41 yard line by inches after a few plays. Ava plays down the clock and Lane maintains a good field position to end the quarter still tied at 8-8.
2nd Quarter: Lane for the Ava Bears finally takes it in for another touchdown and brings the score to 14-8 and a good two point conversion. Willow comes back in on offense and tries to get some more yardage. Ball gets as close as the 15 for Willow after nearly surviving a holding call. Willow’s next play is not so lucky as they end up having to punt again after another incomplete pass. As Ava gets the ball back and makes another play getting the ball past the 30 and into the in-zone. Ava now has a 20-8 lead. After some good plays by both teams in both positions, Ava makes another scoring play on the hands of Aiden Lane. The Ava lead increases to 28-8 with a good two point conversion. Though the play clock runs out, Willow’s Jace Rogers gets a nice play with a good pickup on yardage. Though the Bears don’t score in the 2nd Quarter, they place some great defense to the behest of Ava.
HALFTIME- Ava Bears: 28/ Willow Springs Bears: 8
3rd Quarter: Ava makes a pass series off play off scrimmage bringing the lead to 36-8. Ava gets a 2nd down after some good offense by Lane and Ortega for the Ava Bears. The second play is a pass play off the hands of Aiden Lane. Score is now 42-8. Ava gets a personal foul on defense as a Willow receiver catches a striking blow to the head. They do however score another play after getting past the 30 yard line as the Score is now 48-8. No major plays as Willow gets the ball on offense only to have it stolen back. Ava plays out the clock and ends the quarter with the lead.
4th Quarter: Another pass play by the Ava Bears off the hands of #38 Kyle Pits, Ava scores seven more points as the lead is now 54-8. Willow continues to play their typical pattern of plays. Another punt back as they are not able to keep up with the clock. By this point; The stress of turnovers and the few delays due to injuries (one on an official, others sustained mainly by the Ava Bears) seem to allow Willow to surrender to Ava.
FINAL SCORE- Ava Bears: 54/ Willow Bears: 8
Ava Bears final regular season record: 7-2
Willow Bears final regular season record: 2-7
Next week; Willow will play their first post -season district game. Opponent To be announced. You can catch that game next Friday night again on KUKU 100.3 Classic Country.
