Branson, Forsyth Fall Short, Reeds Spring Also Defeated in District Football Semi-finals

All three Lakes Area High School Football teams in Missouri are eliminated from District play Friday night.

For two schools, Branson at Forsyth, it came down to the final play.

In Lebanon, Branson, in a game they led their Class 5 District Semifinal match-up by 13 at halftime, saw the home team score three straight times to take a seven point second half lead. After the teams exchanged scores, Branson drove the length of the field and got to the eight yard line with 30 seconds left. After spiking the ball to stop the clock on third down, the Yellowjacket defense forced two incomplete passes and sacked Pirate Quarterback Luke McCormick on the final play of the game to hold onto a 42-35 win ending the Pirates' season. 

McCormick connected with Teegan Asbury for two touchdowns, including a 77-yard completion on the third play of the game, while Gage Depee scored three touchdowns on the ground. 

The Pirate finish 5-6 for the season, their best finish since 2013. 

Meanwhile in Forsyth, the Panthers trailed most of the night against Strafford in their Class 2 District Semifinal, a team they had beaten earlier in the season. Late in the game, the Panthers drove into field goal range and attempted a kick that would have one the game, only to have it blocked ending the game and Forsyth's season 28-26. After winning seven games two out of the last three seasons, the Panthers finish with the best record in their seven year history, wrapping up with a 8-3 record.

The Reeds Spring Wolves, after making a run to the Class 3 Championship Game in 2022, see their 2023 season end in the Class 3 District Semifinal losing at Mt Vernon 45-13. The Wolves end their season 7-4 with two of those losses coming at the hands of the Mountaineers.