Glendale quarterback Alex Huston (7) and wide receiver Nader Leali (23) celebrate after Leali scored a touchdown (Photo: Guillermo Hernandez Martinez, News-Leader)
The Glendale (Springfield, Mo.) football team outdid itself in throwing up monstrous numbers.
The Falcons jumped out to a 49-9 lead in the first quarter of an 85-44 win over Ozark in the Class 5 District 4 championship game. Don’t adjust your glasses, those numbers are true. Glendale advances to the Class 5 playoff quarterfinals following Friday night’s win at Lowe Stadium.
Falcons quarterback Alex Huston finishes the game unofficially 33-of-45 passing for 715 yards and 9 passing touchdowns. The yardage total breaks his own single-game state record set last year. Huston rushed five times for 28 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Senior Jeremy Almeida caught seven passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Almeida showed a confidence after the game that makes it hard to believe Glendale (11-0) was 2-8 just two seasons ago.
“We just had our foot on the pedal and knew what we were going out there to do, and did it,” Almeida said.
Almeida cracked a smile as he watched Glendale students celebrate with the team after the game.
“It feels amazing. I never thought I would be in this spot, but we are now,” Almeida said. “It’s an awesome feeling, it’s special, and I’ll cherish this moment.”
The first quarter featured a sequence in which Glendale scored 28 points in the final 1:59. The Falcons recovered three consecutive onside kicks. Glendale coach Mike Mauk explained the play-calling.
“We wanted to try to keep the ball away from them as much as we could. We knew that their offense was very good,” Mauk said. “We saw some things in film that we thought would maybe give us an advantage, and we were able to take advantage of that. The ball bounced our way a couple of times. It gave us momentum.”
The gaudy offensive numbers didn’t end with Huston. Von Oeser had 11 receptions for 220 yards and two touchdowns. Max Nichols caught five passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Luke Montgomery had three catches for 84 yards and a touchdown; he also scored a rushing touchdown. Nader Leali added three receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Glendale will play Ft. Zumwalt North (10-1), 50-19 winners over Ft. Zumwalt South in the Class 5 District 3 championship game, in the playoff quarterfinals. The Falcons will host the game either Friday or Saturday at a time to be determined by the two teams.
