The host Eagles finished second at the Joplin Duals Invitational girls tennis tournament on Friday.
Springfield Central took first, followed by Joplin, Webb City and College Heights.
The Eagles earned wins over Webb City and College Heights and suffered a loss to Central.
“It was a long day and the girls were able to play all day without much issue,” JHS assistant coach Richard Perry said. “Overall, we achieved all of our goals we set for ourselves for the day. Now we have to take the long weekend to rest and prepare for next week.”
Joplin’s Emma Watts hits a forehand during Friday’s match with Springfield Central at the JHS courts. Photo by Jason Peake.
In the team’s first dual of the day, Joplin defeated Webb City 6-1.
The Eagles won two of three doubles matches.
Joplin’s Astrid Cardenas and Emma Watts defeated Kinzlea Smith 6-2, while Abry Stayton and Brynn Driver beat Ally Ansley and Shelby Ensminger 6-1.
Webb City’s Walker Hoffman and Kaylee Smith defeated Mya Ndedi-Ntepe and Madi Corl 6-1 at No. 3 doubles.
In completed singles matches, Watts beat Kirsalyn Hood 6-0, Cardenas topped Kinzlea Smith 6-0, Stayton defeated Ensminger 6-1 and Driver beat Ansley 6-2.
Joplin’s Abry Stayton hits a volley at the net during a doubles match against Springfield Central on Friday. Photo by Jason Peake.
Next, a solid Springfield Central squad defeated Joplin 6-1.
Joplin’s lone win came at No. 1 doubles, as Watts and Cardenas defeated Brett Boney and Allie German 6-3.
Central’s Elana Hadi-Annie German edged Stayton and Driver 6-4, while Kate Steingraber-Molly Scribner topped Ndedi-Ntepe and Corl 6-1.
In singles, Allie German edged Watts 7-5, Boney defeated Cardenas 6-3, Hadi topped Stayton 6-2 and Joya Pradhan beat Corl 6-0.
In the team’s final dual of the day, Joplin defeated College Heights 5-2.
In doubles, Watts-Cardenas defeated Jem Kionisala and Natalie Brueggemann 6-1.
The Cougars won the other two doubles matches, as Hannah Bass and Avery Baker nipped Stayton-Driver 7-5 and Jeanna Smathers and Ella Bishop topped Ndedi-Ntepe and Corl 6-1.
In singles play, Cardenas defeated Bass 6-0, Stayton beat Brueggemann 6-0, Ndedi-Ntepe got past Bishop 6-3 and Driver beat Smathers 6-1.
Coach Perry noted there were several positives for the Eagles.
“Astrid and Emma won all of their doubles matches together, it was good for them to get back into the swing of things,” Perry said. “Abry and Brynn played really well in all of their matches, coming up just short in two of the doubles. They were able to be solid for us in singles today, clinching two wins each. Mya and Madi are growing with each match they play, which is what I like to see with the newer players.”
OTHER ACTION
Webb City defeated College Heights 5-1.
College Heights won the No. 1 doubles match, as Kionisala and Brueggemann edged Kinzlea Smith and Brynlee Hollingsworth 7-6 (7-4 tie-breaker).
In other doubles matches, Webb City’s Ensminger-Ansley beat Bass-Baker 6-4 and Hoffman-Kaylee Smith defeated Smathers-Bishop 6-3.
In singles, Kinzlea Smith defeated Bass 7-6 (7-4), Ansley beat Smathers 6-4 and Hoffman defeated Baker 6-3.
In the two other duals, Central earned 5-0 wins over both College Heights and Webb City.
CARTHAGE, Mo. — The second lightning strike of the evening brought COC foes Carl Junction and Carthage’s Week 2 matchup at David Haffner Stadium to an early conclusion Friday night.
The second, that is, if you don’t count four quick-strike plays that added up to 28 points for the Tigers — the only scoring of the evening for either side.
With 3:48 remaining in the first half, play was suspended for 30 minutes after a streak of lightning was spotted in the area. That interrupted a sluggish, stop-and-start first half for both offenses as the teams traded punts and turnovers all the way into halftime.
Junior running back Luke Gall scored all four of Carthage’s touchdowns against Carl Junction on Friday night. The Tigers defeated the Bulldogs 28-0. Photo by Israel Perez.
Tigers coach Jon Guidie said those breaks were just what his team needed to adapt its approach after the Bulldogs’ defense “threw something at us we didn’t expect.”
“The first half was just kind of each team throwing some jabs, throwing some jabs, trying to figure each other out,” Guidie said. “I thought they did a good job defensively on us in the first half, we were able to come in and make some quick adjustments right there that I thought paid dividends in the second half.”
They paid. Handsomely.
After totaling 54 rushing yards on 11 carries in the first half, junior running back Luke Gall came out for the second and reeled off 188 yards — on three plays, all touchdown runs.
In all, he finished with 282 yards on 22 rushes.
The fourth explosive play that keyed a Carthage score was one of only a handful of passes thrown by senior and first-year starting quarterback Caden Kabance. From his own 45-yard line, Kabance faked a handoff and instead found tight end Tyler Willis between the hashmarks for a 37-yard completion down to the Bulldog 8.
Once again, Gall punched it in, though he had significantly less ground to cover for his fourth score of the game.
“Offense in general, we sputtered in the first half,” Guidie said. “I think our offensive line figured some things out and Luke was able to be Luke.”
Carl Junction’s Kyler Stewart tackles Carthage’s Cale Patrick during Friday’s game.
With less than 10 minutes left in the game, a second strike was spotted, prompting the officials to again suspend play, but instead, both teams agreed to end the game.
For Carl Junction, the theme of the night was close, but not close enough.
Four times, the Bulldogs crossed into Tiger territory, twice within the 30, and attempted fourth-down conversions. All four failed, resulting in turnovers on downs.
Carl Junction’s offense primarily rode the arm of senior quarterback Kyler Perry as the Bulldogs finished with a negative team rushing total. Perry finished 15-for-25 passing for 75 yards.
Carthage stayed undefeated on the year, moving to 2-0, while Carl Junction’s record evens at 1-1.
The Tigers travel to face Neosho in Week 3 while the Bulldogs entertain the Branson Pirates.
CARTHAGE 28, CARL JUNCTION 0 Carl Junction 0 0 0 0 — 0 Carthage 0 0 14 14 — 28 SCORING SUMMARY Third Quarter
CAR: Luke Gall 46 run (Mejia kick)
CAR: Gall 77 run (Mejia kick) Fourth Quarter
CAR: Gall 65 run (Mejia kick)
CAR: Gall 5 run (Mejia kick)
Carl Junction QB Kyler Perry attempts a pass under pressure from Carthage’s Micah Lindsey on Friday night. All photos by Israel Perez.
Carthage QB Caden Kabance attempts to elude Carl Junction’s Carter Kennedy. Carthage won the game 28-0.
ROGERSVILLE, Mo. — Seneca Indians head coach Cody Hillburn took his hometown squad to visit Logan-Rogersville on Friday night.
Hillburn, in his first year leading his tribe, led the Indians to a 35-21 victory over the Wildcats.
Logan-Rogersville struck quickly to start the game. Senior quarterback JJ O’Neal led an impressive 9-play, 65-yard drive that he capped off with a 24-yard touchdown run around the right side. The drive lasted just over three minutes.
“We told our kids we had to weather the storm,” Hillburn said. “We told them to stay in the fight so we can grind it out in the second half.”
Both teams traded fumbles on the next two drives. On Seneca’s first offensive play after the fumble recovery, sophomore Jackson Marrs broke off a long 43-yard run to get the momentum started. Eight plays later, it was Marrs getting the Indians on the board with a 21-yard touchdown run near the end of the first quarter.
“That’s our kids playing hard,” Hillburn said of the forced fumble. “We were sprinting all over the field and got a couple hats to the football. It was a huge play in the game.”
The two teams both had excellent defensive series as they traded punts heading into the second quarter. It was clear that the Indians’ defensive game plan was to contain O’Neal.
“He’s such an electric player,” Hillburn said. “We knew when he was fresh it would be tough to stop him.”
O’Neal had been mostly contained on the ground but was able to lead Logan-Rogersville to a touchdown the following drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass to senior Cody Rasmussen. The Wildcats led 14-7 with 6:30 left in the second quarter.
Seneca kept grinding and it was Marrs again who answered back. The Indians ran for 48 yards on nine plays culminating in a Marrs 1-yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked, leaving the Indians trailing 14-13 at halftime.
“We didn’t make many adjustments,” Hillburn said. “We reaffirmed our game plan. Marrs and (Jaxson) Graham feed off each other. It is such a luxury for us to have two kids back there that we’re extremely confident with.”
Seneca’s first drive of the second half was stalled by a facemask penalty which led to a punt. It didn’t take long though for the Indians to get the pigskin back as senior Jaxson Graham picked off an O’Neal pass over the middle of the field. Graham returned the interception to the Logan-Rogersville 25-yard line. Three plays later, Graham found paydirt with a 21-yard touchdown run to give the Indians a 21-14 lead with 5:17 left in the third quarter.
“It worked the exact same way in week one. We were down at halftime and our guys didn’t panic. They came out and finished the game,” Hillburn said of his team’s second half start. “I came in at halftime and the demeanor of our kids was that we were up two scores even though we were down. They came out ready to play in the second half.”
Seneca’s defense held again the following drive and let Graham go back to work. Four plays into the Indians’ next drive, Graham took off for a 81 yard touchdown with 15 seconds left in the third quarter. The touchdown gave the Indians a 27-14 lead headed into the fourth quarter.
The two score lead forced Logan-Rogersville to abandon the run. Seneca’s defense was ready as Logan-Rogersville attempted five straight pass plays but ultimately had to punt.
“Any time you can make a team one dimensional you’ve got a better chance,” Hillburn explained. “That quarterback they have is so athletic. You think you have him corralled and then he makes kids miss and makes a big play.”
Senior quarterback Ethan Fritchey added a three-yard touchdown run of his own with just under seven minutes left to seal the game for the Indians.
With the victory, Seneca moves to 2-0 on the season. The Indians are already just one win shy of matching their win total from last year’s campaign. Hillburn, who is returning to his alma mater after 10 years in Carthage, emphasized that his team must be ready to keep grinding.
“It’s the Big 8 and every week is going to be tough,” Hillburn said. “We have to go back Monday and be ready to go.”
Graham finished the game with 13 carries for 156 yards and two touchdowns while Marrs carried the ball 26 times for 126 and two touchdowns.
In Week 3, Seneca will host Hollister (1-1) while Logan-Rogersville (0-2) will travel to Aurora (1-1).
In a battle of top-10 ranked Class 6 teams who share the same mascot and the same 1-0 record, it was the fourth-ranked Joplin Eagles who came away victorious on Friday night after defeating the sixth-ranked Nixa Eagles 28-25 in a Central Ozark Conference clash at Junge Field.
Nixa jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter before Joplin cut the deficit to 10-7 by halftime. Joplin scored on a long drive out of the lockeroom to take its first lead of the game only to see Nixa answer right back with a scoring drive to regain the lead, 17-14. Joplin found paydirt on the ground with 10 minutes left in regulation and after a three-and-out by the defense, pushed the lead to two scores with six minutes to play. Nixa scored and converted the two-point try late but to no avail as Joplin picked up a first down on the ensuing possession and ran the remaining time off the clock.
“I thought our kids played really hard and I thought we played together,” Joplin coach Curtis Jasper said. “For the most part, I thought we played pretty smart. I think our conditioning was a factor again this week. Coach (Michael) Jeurgens heads that up for us, so I want to give credit to him for doing a great job. It was going to come down to the most physical team in the trenches, and I think we were definitely that tonight.”
With the win, Joplin improves to 2-0 on the season.
Joplin quarterback Always Wright scrambles to the sideline in JHS’ win over Nixa on Friday. Photo by Shawn Fowler.
GAME ACTION
Nixa went to the air early, completing a 60-yard pass from Connor Knatchal to Kael Combs on the first play from scrimmage, which ultimately set up a 31-yard field goal from Kaleb James to give NHS a 3-0 lead.
Joplin’s first drive lasted five plays before running back Drew VanGilder fumbled the ball over to Nixa for the game’s first turnover.
Nixa, who lost starting running back Ramone Green Jr. to an apparent shoulder injury midway through the first half, looked like it gave the ball right back with an interception on the first play of the ensuing drive but it was negated by a personal foul penalty on Joplin to keep the NHS drive alive. Two plays later, Knatchal hit Combs over the middle for a 48-yard touchdown to put Nixa on top of Joplin 10-0 with 7:51 to play in the first quarter.
Joplin’s offense found its groove on the next drive, marching 71 yards on 16 plays with VanGilder punching it in from 2 yards out to cut Nixa’s lead to 10-7 with 2:28 left in the opening period of play.
Scoring opportunities were limited in the second quarter. Nixa drove the ball inside the Joplin 20 early in the period before the JHS defense forced a turnover on downs at the 17 near the 10-minute mark. A 42-yard completion from Joplin QB Always Wright to WR Hudson Moore put JHS inside the Nixa 20-yard line before Wright was picked later at the goal line to end the drive. The game went into halftime with Nixa on top 10-7.
“Our offensive line,” Jasper said when asked about the biggest difference in play by the offense in the first and second half. “Especially against a defensive line like that, they’re tremendous. Our offensive line really took care of business.”
Much like Joplin’s first scoring drive, JHS came out of the intermission and put on a methodical 17-play drive that spanned over 79 yards, with Wright finding Moore over the middle in the end zone on fourth down for a 13-yard score at the 5:57 mark. With the point-after from Joseph Ipsen good, Joplin took its first lead of the game, 14-10. Joplin converted on fourth down three times in the drive, including the touchdown pass.
“I was just mad at myself,” Wright said about his interception in the first half. “I shouldn’t have made that play, but that was the best thing that could have ever happened to me in that situation. Coming back and responding with my teammates, and they deserve more credit than I do. They lifted me up and let me know I was still their leader and I could come back and do this.”
Nixa continued to pick up chunk gains through the air, as Knatchal connected with Combs on third-down and 13 for 37 yards to ultimately set up a 1-yard rushing scored from Casen Hammitt to give NHS the lead right back, 17-14, with 2:21 left in the third.
Joplin running back Quinton Renfro looks for running room in Joplin’s win over Nixa on Friday. Photo by Shawn Fowler.
Joplin answered back quickly, driving 69 yards in less than five minutes of game action with Quinton Renfro punching it from 3 yards out to put JHS back on top 21-17 with 9:57 left in the game.
After the Joplin defense forced a three-and-out punt, the offense went to work, led by Wright and his ability to make plays with his legs. Wright highlighted the drive with scrambles of 12 and 18 yards that ultimately set up a 16-yard passing score to Whit Hafer to give Joplin a 28-17 lead with 6:07 left in regulation.
“I feel like they have to account for it,” Wright said about his ability to stretch the field with his legs. “It makes everyone’s life easier—the offensive line. If a play breaks down on their end, I can go scramble with my legs.”
“I love my o-line to death,” Wright added. “If I didn’t have them I wouldn’t be nearly as successful as I am. It’s all credit to them and the receivers.”
“He is making really good decisions right now,” Jasper said of Wright’s play. “I knew he threw that interception (early) but he is making really good decisions on third (and fourth) down.”
Nixa didn’t go away, as Knatchal found Combs again for a 1-yard touchdown pass with 2:06 left. Hammitt converted on the two-point conversion to cut the lead to three, but the rally ended there as Joplin’s offense ran the clock out in victory formation.
“That was a hard-fought win,” Wright said. “We are proud of it, but it’s time to move on. We can’t simmer in this victory for too long.”
Joplin’s Whit Hafer hauls in a touchdown pass from Always Wright late in JHS’ win over Nixa on Friday. Photo by Shawn Fowler.
STATS
Wright completed 14-of-23 passes for 195 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He added nine rushes for 52 yards. Renfro rushed 23 times for 84 yards and a score, while VanGilder picked up 74 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, losing one fumble. Moore led Joplin in receiving with five catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.
Knatchal completed 14-of-29 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns. Combs caught nine passes for a game-high 234 yards and two touchdowns.
UP NEXT
Joplin hits the road for a matchup at Ozark in Week 3.
Local boys swim teams fared well at Thursday’s Springfield Invitational.
Glendale won the meet with 386 points, while Webb City (191.5) and Carthage (146) finished second and third, respectively, in the team standings.
Ozark (128), Monett (124) and Joplin (100) rounded out the top six squads at the 14-team event.
WEBB CITY RESULTS
Webb City was led by Micah Brouwer, who took first place in the 100-yard breaststroke with a state-consideration time of 1:07. Brouwer also tied for second in the 200 individual medley with a state-consideration time of 2:17.
Zion Wood placed third in the 100 breaststroke, while Ethan Shipley finished fourth in the 100 freestyle and fifth in the 200 freestyle.
Steve Kenlee placed fifth in the 500 free, while Emiliano Vasquez finished sixth in the 50 freestyle.
Webb City’s 400 freestyle relay team of Shipley, Vasquez, Kenlee and Cody Herndon placed third in a consideration time of 3:50.
The Cardinals were fourth in the 200 medley relay, with Judah Ritchie, Wood, Brouwer and Shipley competing.
Webb City also took fourth in the 200 freestyle relay, with Vasquez, Wood, Herndon and Kenlee swimming.
In the diving competition, Carson Forcum was third, while teammates Eric Keeling and Carter Forcum placed fifth and seventh, respectively.
CARTHAGE RESULTS
Carthage won the 200 medley relay in a consideration time of 1:51, with Kellen Frieling, Braxton McBride, Eli Cox and Ezekiel Ramirez competing.
The Tigers took second in the 200 freestyle relay, as Frieling, McBride, Cox and Ramirez recorded a consideration time of 1:37.
Also for Carthage, Frieling finished third in the 100 backstroke, McBride placed fourth in both the 50 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke and Ramirez took fifth in the 100 free.
Ramirez and Frieling finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in the 200 freestyle, while Will Wallace was seventh in the 200 IM.
JOPLIN RESULTS
Joplin’s top finisher at the invite was Nathan Wardlow, who placed second in the 500-yard freestyle in a state-consideration time of 5:30. Jacob Glenn finished fourth in the same event in 5:52.
Wardlow also finished fifth in the 200 individual medley
Joplin’s 400-yard freestyle relay team of Wardlow, Ian Vermillion, Zane Newman and Glenn placed fifth with a state-consideration time of 3:52.
The Eagles finished seventh in the 200-yard medley relay, with Glenn, Wyatt Satterlee, Vermillion and Wardlow competing.
Newman and Vermillion placed eighth and ninth, respectively, in the 200 freestyle. Satterlee finished eighth in the 100 breaststroke and Parker Hinman took ninth in the 500 free.
Joplin’s 200 freestyle relay of Oliver Bortz, Satterlee, Devin Lawson and Hinman finished ninth.
NEOSHO, Mo. — A solid start led Webb City past Neosho 49-20 on Friday night at Bob Anderson Stadium in Week 2 of the 2021 prep football season.
In a Central Ozark Conference clash between Class 5 District 6 foes, Webb City scored the game’s first 20 points and the visitors led 42-6 en route to victory.
“I felt really good about our first quarter on both sides of the ball,” Webb City coach John Roderique said. “We played really well early. But then we had a scoring drought. I don’t know if our guys relaxed a little bit or what. It was a game where we were feeling pretty good and we made plans to put other guys in. Then they get a couple of scores when we subbed guys out. It got pretty ugly for us late in the game.”
It’s safe to say the Cardinals bounced back nicely from an agonizing 41-40 loss to Joplin in Week 1. Roderique noted the Cardinals (1-1) will strive to improve week by week as the season continues.
The Cardinals continue to develop depth at several positions.
“We had a lot of guys who got to play tonight with some mixed outcomes,” Roderique said. “It’s always going to be a work in progress. We just need to continue to improve.”
The Wildcats (0-2) didn’t quit when they got down. The hosts scored twice in the third period and continued to play hard when the final outcome was no longer in doubt.
That was a welcome sight to Neosho coach Brandon Taute.
“I feel really great about our effort,” Taute said. “Our kids fought their butts off all night, from the first whistle to the last. We’re still figuring out who we are and what our identity is. We’re still learning. Our goal is to be better than we were yesterday. We’re absolutely better than we were in Week 1. We’ll go back to work tomorrow morning and try to get better everyday.”
NAMES & NUMBERS
Webb City racked up 436 yards of offense, with 365 rushing and 71 passing.
The senior tandem of Dupree Jackson and Cade Wilson once again led Webb City’s rushing attack. Jackson ran 16 times for 157 yards with three touchdowns. Wilson added 86 yards on nine carries, while Max Stovern ran 10 times for 59 yards. Roderique called Stovern’s contribution “fantastic.” Cohl Vaden completed five passes, with two for scores.
Neosho recorded 331 yards, 184 passing and 147 rushing.
Evan Haskins completed 21 of 31 passes for 184 yards and one touchdown. Brock Franklin caught seven passes for 84 yards, while Isaiah Green hauled in five passes for 68 yards.
Jared Siler ran 26 times for 128 yards to lead the Wildcats’ running attack.
GAME RECAP
Webb City scored a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter, as William Hayes hauled in a 15-yard pass from Vaden and Wilson scored on a 1-yard run. In the second frame, Stovern scored on a 6-yard run to extend Webb City’s lead to 20-0.
Neosho got on the board with 3:36 remaining in the first half on a 2-yard QB keeper by Haskins. A pass to Franklin and a number of gains on the ground by Siler set up the score.
The Cardinals responded on the next series, as Jackson’s 1-yard touchdown plunge and Stovern’s 2-point conversion made it 28-6 at the half.
Webb City needed just two plays from scrimmage to score on the opening drive of the third period. After a 59-yard scamper by Wilson, Jackson ran in from a yard out. Next, Trey Roets hauled in a 6-yard TD pass from Vaden to make it 42-6 with just over seven minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Wildcats kept coming. Neosho’s Siler broke free for a 49-yard touchdown run with 5:26 left in the third quarter.
After the hosts recovered a Webb City fumble, Haskins connected with Green for a 42-yard touchdown strike, cutting his team’s deficit to 42-20.
Webb City’s lead was never in jeopardy at that point though. Jackson scored on a 28-yard run to extend Webb City’s lead to 29 points at the end of the third quarter.
Neither team scored in the final frame.
PLAYING FOR NO. 88
The Cardinals took the field with heavy hearts due to the passing of Christian Heady. The Webb City 12-year-old passed away early Friday morning after a long battle with cancer.
“He’s been in my heart all day,” Roderique said. “It’s something a lot of our kids have talked about. He was with us last year in the semifinal game…it was a tough day for sure.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
Webb City hosts Republic in Week 3, while the Wildcats host Carthage next Friday.
WEBB CITY 49, NEOSHO 20 Webb City 14 14 21 0—49 Neosho 0 6 14 0—20 SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter
WC: William Hayes 15 pass from Cohl Vaden. (Mason Quick kick)
WC: Cade Wilson 1 run. (Quick kick) Second Quarter
WC: Max Stovern 6 run (Kick failed)
NEO: Evan Haskins 2 run (Kick blocked)
WC: Dupree Jackson 1 run (Stovern run) Third Quarter
WC: Jackson 1 run (Quick kick)
WC: Trey Roets 6 pass from Vaden (Quick kick)
NEO: Jared Siler 49 run (Run failed)
NEO: Isaiah Green 42 pass from Haskins (Haskins run)
WC: Jackson 28 run (Quick kick) Fourth Quarter
No scoring.
