Nixa steps up in second half to grab Backyard Brawl win over Ozark

Special to the News-Leader

NIXA — Moments into the second half of a tie ballgame, Nixa got a strong push from its interior defensive linemen and blew up a fourth and goal attempt from the Nixa one-yard line.

The goal-line stand sparked a second-half shutout of Ozark and led the way to Nixa’s 35-21 victory in Friday night’s Backyard Brawl.

“That was a huge momentum swing for us to start the half,” Nixa (5-1) head coach John Perry said. “When they go down there and don’t get seven and we turn around and get seven, that is just a huge swing. That was the ballgame right there in the start of the third quarter.”

Ozark (1-5) pulled every trick out of its bag to keep up with Nixa in the first half,…