Pirates football knocks off state-ranked Pierce City

The Ash Grove High School football team hosted Class 1, sixth-ranked Pierce City on Friday, Oct. 2 and played great defense defeating the Eagles, 12-6.
 
After Pierce City scored in the second quarter, the Pirates answered back with a 70-yard kickoff return to tie the game 6-6. With the game still tied at 6-6 in the fourth quarter, Chase Acosta ran it in form 9 yards out to give Ash Grove the 12-6 lead. The defense would tighten up to preserve the six-point win.
 
Jaden Shorter was 4-13 passing the ball for 41 yards and Acosta led Ash Grove with 98 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown.
 
Ash Grove is now 5-1 on the season and will play at Skyline this Friday night. With the win, the Pirates move into second place in the Class 1, District 3 standings with 41,47 points. Marionville leads the district with 42.83 points, followed by Ash Grove, Miller (37.52 points), Pierce City (36.67 points) and Diamond (22.20 points).
 
Volleyball
 
The Ash Grove volleyball team hosted Pierce City on Thursday, Oct. 1 and won the game in four sets.
 
The Lady Pirates defeated Marionville at home on Tuesday, Sept. 29 in three sets, 25-12, 25-20 and 25-12. Bristol Lathrop led with eight kills, Hadley Dean had seven kills, and 11 digs and Allie Nicholson paced Ash Grove with 16 assists.
 
Ash Grove began their week by knocking off Marion C. Early in three sets, 25-7, 25-10 and 25-2, at home on Monday, Sept. 28. Lathrop led with eight kills, Millie Willmon added seven kills and Nicholson led with nine assists.
 
The Lady Pirates are 20-7-1 on the season and were scheduled to play against RUSH Senior Home School on Monday, before heading to Stockton last night and then returning home to play against Miller tomorrow night.
 
Girls golf
 
In girls golf, the Lady Pirates traveled to the Clever Invitational on Wednesday, Sept. 30 and saw Rylee Allred finish in fourth place, shooting an 82, and Collins Rust finished in 12th place, shooting a 95.
 
“Both girls are having great seasons and have medaled in almost every tournament they’ve been to,” said head coach Grant Wiliamson.
 
Ash Grove will host the Class 1, District 1 tournament tomorrow night.