HALLSVILLE, Mo. - Taking advantage of several Hallsville turnovers, the School of the Osage football team rolled out to a huge lead on its way to a 40-20 Tri-County Conference victory Friday night.
It was the league opener for both teams. The Osage Indians improve to 3-0 overall while the Hallsville Indians fell to 2-1.
Osage converted four Hallsville turnovers into touchdowns to bolt to a 40-0 advantage.
After recovering a fumble, Osage opened the scoring with a four-yard TD pass from junior quarterback Zach Wheeler to senior wideout Jason Edwards at the 9:29 mark of the first period. A fake two-point conversion run failed.
Osage made it 12-0 later in the first quarter on a 74-yard drive, capped by a 12-yard pass from Wheeler to Edwards. The conversion run again failed.
On the first play from scrimmage after a Dalton Depee 34-yard punt return in the second quarter, Wheeler found Edwards open deep down the left sideline for their third touchdown hookup, covering 62 yards. Edwards added the PAT and it was 19-0.
Senior Max Maples intercepted a pass by Hallsville quarterback Zane Parnell four plays later and returned it 27 yards to set up Osage's fourth TD of the half, which came on a two-yard run by senior Dylan Riley for a 26-0 halftime score.
Another interception, by Edwards, set up the first Osage score of the second half, as Wheeler hit Depee with a 25-yard TD pass five plays later.
Osage made it 40-0 on yet another interception, by junior Ian Riley, who returned the pick 29 yards. Dylan Riley ended the six-play drive with a five-yard touchdown run at the 5:19 mark of the third quarter.
Hallsville got three unanswered touchdowns to close out the scoring against Osage junior varsity players.
Wheeler hit on 8-of-14 passes for 184 yards and four TDs. Edwards caught four passes for 102 yards and the three touchdowns.
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