By Mark Eddlemon

sports@joplinglobe.com

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. — Don’t try and tell the Reeds Spring Wolves that Missouri State High School Activities Association playoff football isn’t about second chances.

Reeds Spring upset Mount Vernon 26-22 on the road Friday night, securing a playoff berth with a second consecutive win after starting the season 0-8.

Mount Vernon falls to 4-5 overall and 1-1 in the playoffs.

“This is special for these kids,” Reeds Spring coach Brian Moler said. “Reeds Spring hasn’t been to the playoffs since 1997.”

“We have to win next week to get in,” Mount Vernon coach Joy Mayberry said. “I don’t think it will be hard to get our guys focused for Aurora. They’re our biggest rival.” The Mountaineers host Aurora on Thursday in the final contest of the regular season. The top two teams in each district advance.

Mount Vernon owned the second half of play - until the final four minutes.

The Mountaineers overcame a 19-14 deficit with a 15 yard touchdown run by Stephen Swillum with 1:27 to play in the third period. Corey Phillips hit Sam Cowherd with a 2- point coversion pass to put the host up 22-19.

The Mount Vernon defense did not allow a first down through the first 20 minutes of the second half. And the Mountaineers offense was marching towards an insurance touchdown with under five minutes to go in the game, earning a first down at the Wolves 18.

But the Reeds Spring defense (sparked by big plays from Cody Burke, Jonathan Strazzinski and Martin Seaberry) forced a turnover on downs with less the four minutes to play.

Then sophomore quarterback Zac Ferguson hit tight end/quarterback Chris Jones with an 80-yard pass down to the Mount Vernon 1-yard line.

“We’ve been playing both those guys at quarterback since week five,” Moler said. “Ferguson runs the option well, and Jones has a good arm. But Zac delivered a nice pass. We almost had a touchdown with that bootleg earlier.”

Ferguson scored on a quarterback sneak with 3:43 to play and Jones kicked the point after.

Mount Vernon quarterback Corey Phillips engineered a last ditch drive with an 18-yard run, a 29-yard pass to Jackson Tettenhorst and a 9-yard run, moving into Wolves territory at the 31 with just 1:09 to play.

But once again the Reeds Spring defense held, forcing a final turnover on downs with big plays from Burke and Zach Holt.

Mount Vernon struck first in the game when Phillips found Briar Huddleson with a 13-yard scoring pass with 7:29 to go in the first period. Tilman Shandenberg kicked the point after. The opening score capped a 67-yard, nine-play drive featuring a 30-yard run by Phillips and three runs for a total of 21 yards by Stephen Swillum.

Swillum finished with 137 yards rushing in the game on 22 carries.

Reeds Spring answered with a 69 yard drive on 10 plays after the ensuing kick. Cody Burke scored from 2-yards out and Chris Jones kicked the tying PAT with 3:39 to play in the first period. Ferguson completed a pair of passes for 50 yards on the drive.

Reeds Spring took the lead on the first play of the second quarter as Ferguson connected with Ben Selby for a 47-yard touchdown.

Selby caught 7 passes for 169 yards in the contest.

Jones caught two passes for 92 yards. Jones completed five passes as a quarterback for 112 yards.

Ferguson completed four passes for 149 yards in the game for Reeds Spring. As a team the Wolves were 9-for-14 for 261 yards.

Mount Vernon grabbed a 14-13 lead with 11:06 to play in the second period. After a 20 yard touchdown run by Skyler Lacey. Lacey finished with 10 carries for 60 yards in the game. Shandenberg hit the PAT kick.

Just before half, Reeds Spring put together a 57-yard, 6-play drive sparked by Selby with two catches for 50 yards. Cody Burke scored from 3 yards out to put the Wolves up 19-14 with 2:47 to play in the third period.

The Mountaineer defense shined after intermission, holding Reeds Spring to negative rushing yards and only two pass completions. The second half charge was led by Keith Wright, Levi Glaser, and Trae Henderson.