Lincoln can’t stop do-it-all Wilbanks

OZARK 49, LINCOLN 14

OZARK — The not-so secret to Ozark’s success is simple: use Koby Wilbanks in all three phases and see if anyone can stop it.

So far after two rounds of the Class 4A playoffs, no one has.

Wilbanks rushed for 244 yards, scored 4 touchdowns and had 2 interceptions to lead the Hillbillies to the Class 4A quarterfinals, pulling away to a 49-14 win over the Lincoln Wolves on Friday night.

“[Wilbanks] is our leader on the field,” Ozark Coach Jeremie Burns said. “He’s telling people where to be on the field. He has been a big-time leader for us all season.”

Ozark (10-2) will travel to Warren (12-0) in next week’s quarterfinals.

“It’s always special to still be playing during Thankgiving,” Burns said. “On Thanksgiving Day, we usually have a breakfast for the players and staff before we have our walk-throughs. Anytime we are playing on Thanksgiving, it is a blessing.”

Ozark rushed for 444 yards on the night. Besides Wilbanks, Gavin Gilbreath (120 yards) and Brayden Miner (80 yards, 2 touchdowns) combined for another 200 yards.

The defense also had four interceptions, led by Wilbanks. Eli Gilstrap returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown with 2 minutes left to set the final score.

The Hillbillies built a 21-7 halftime lead as it pounded out 210 yards on the ground while the defense forced a pair of turnovers. Wilbanks scored all three touchdowns for Ozark in the first half — two rushing and another on a punt return.

Wilbanks rushed for 111 yards while Gavin Gilbreath added 92 yards on the ground.

The Hillbillies got on the board first on a 10-play, 62yard drive. Wilbanks carried on seven of the plays, capped by his 16-yard keeper for a touchdown with 6:43 left in the opening quarter.

The Wolves (8-4) answered with a 6-play, 79-yard drive, keyed by a 35-yard run by Kale Jones to the Ozark 12. On the next play, Andrew Moore hit Jace Birkes for the touchdown to tie the score at 7 with 4:57 left in the quarter.

Wilbanks started and finished a drive at the end of the first quarter. He picked off a Moore pass at the Lincoln 31. Then, after two runs by Gilbreath moved the ball to the 2, Wilbanks scored on the next play to regain the lead for the Hillbillies, 14-7 with 2:26 left in the first quarter.

Late in the second quarter, a high snap led to a rushed punt, which Wilbanks caught at the Lincoln 45 and raced untouched to the end zone with 2:19 left in the first half to give Ozark a 21-7 edge.

Lincoln was still within 28-14 after Kale Jones, who rushed for 113 yards, scored on a 26-yard run with 6 seconds left in the third quarter.

Ozark, though, put the game away with three scores in the fourth quarter on touchdown runs by Wilbanks and Miner along with Gilstrap’s pick-six.