Cardinals football shuts out Ash Grove

The Class 2, sixth-ranked Miller High School football team traveled to Ash Grove on Friday, Sept. 18 and came home with a 40-0 win.
 
Conner Neeley got the scoring started for the Cardinals, running in from 2 yards out, to give Miller an early 8-0 lead. Jaylen Madsen would score from 29 yards out to increase the Miller lead to 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. Neely would get his second touchdown of the game in the second quarter on a 5-yard rush, to make it 20-0 at the half.
 
Jerald Mart would get in on the action in the third quarter, scoring on a 24-yard run to increase the Cardinals lead to 26-0 by the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Neely would score his third rushing touchdown of the game, punching it in from one yard out to give Miller a 32-0 lead. A 4-yard run by Samuel Ferguson would close out the scoring and the game for Miller.
 
Madsen was 2-6 passing for 18 yards but led with 127 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown rushing. Neely finished with three touchdowns on nine carries and 60 yards; Mart had 64 yards on seven carries with a score and Ferguson had 56 yards on 15 carries with a score.
 
“We challenged our kids all week in practice that we had to work on some issues from the previous week to be to compete against an undefeated Ash Grove team,” said head coach Derek Hill. “Ash Grove historically does things right, but our kids came out ready to go. They bought into the game plan and had a good night against a good conference/district opponent. Very proud of our kids and our coaching staff. Now it's time to turn our focus to the next tough conference opponent.” 
 
Miller is 3-1 on the season and will host Class 1, third ranked Pierce City this Friday night. Miller is second in the Class 1, District 3 standings with 43.2 points. Pierce City leads the district with 45.92 points, followed by Miller, Ash Grove (42.92 points), Marionville (36.42 points) and Diamond (23.67 points).
 
Volleyball
 
The Miller High School volleyball team hosted Fair Grove on Tuesday, Sept. 15 and lost to the Lady Eagles in four sets, 22-25, 25-23, 21-25 and 21-25.
 
Maddie Leivan led with 21 assists, Layni Johnson, Jolene Chew and Maddie Estes all had 17 digs and Johnson led with 16 kills.
 
On Monday, Sept. 14, the Lady Cubs hosted Monett and defeated the Lady Cubs in four sets, 26-24, 25-20, 22-25 and 25-19.
 
Johnson led with 18 kills, Addi Hohenfeldt had 15 assists and Johnson and Faith West both led with 14 digs.
 
Miller is 8-4 on the season and were scheduled to play against Diamond last night and Springfield Catholic tomorrow night.