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Day: September 30, 2023

CROSS COUNTRY: McAuley’s Parrigon takes 1st in Nixa; Lawson leads Carl Junction

Posted on by Jason Peake

NIXA, Mo. — Athletes from McAuley Catholic, College Heights Christian and Carl Junction competed at the Riann Lubinski Invitational on Saturday at Inman Elementary School.

Competing in the small school division, which featured schools in Class 1-3, McAuley Catholic junior Michael Parrigon won the boys race with a time of 16:23. 

“Michael won his third meet of the season, continuing a great string of races,” McAuley coach Andy Youngworth said.

New Covenant’s David Kendall took second in 16:57.

College Heights Christian’s Colton McMillan finished fourth in 17:44, McAuley’s Trae Veer was 13th, CHC’s Connor Jordan took 14th and McAuley’s duo of Will Mollnow and Connor Taffner placed 19th and 24th, respectively. 

Springfield Catholic won the boys team title with 52 points. New Covenant (61), Reeds Spring (92) and McAuley (92) rounded out the top four teams.

In the girls small school division, McAuley’s tandem of Olivia Parrigon (20:54) and Kendall Ramsey (21:43) finished fourth and fifth.

New Covenant’s Clara Trent took first in 19:52.

College Heights’ Marla Anderegg, Jesalin Bever and Lilly Royer finished 13th, 15th and 16th, respectively. McAuley’s Marbellie Villanueva finished 29th.

The top four teams were Chadwick (25), Springfield Catholic (57), McAuley (73) and Ava (88).

“We have been hit by some illnesses as of late, but are close to being back at full strength,” Youngworth said.

Competing in the large school division (Class 4-5), Carl Junction’s Jack Lawson finished fifth in 16:37 and teammate Isaac Willoughby was 14th (17:27).

Monett’s Kash Adams placed 24th and CJ’s Luke Battagler was 25th.

Lee’s Summit West’s Jack Williams won the race in 15:37 and the top four teams were Lee’s Summit West (25), Nixa (44), Carl Junction (86) and Branson (98).

On the girls side, Monett’s Mary Jastal finished 13th and Carl Junction’s Audrey Fletcher was 14th.

Carl Junction’s Madilyn Dalton finished 16th, while teammate Delaney Harris placed 22nd and Marissa Newman was 25th.

Lee’s Summit West’s Madison Cross won the race in 20:08. The four full teams were Lee’s Summit West (20), Nixa (38), Carl Junction (86) and Branson (104).

CROSS COUNTRY: Horton leads Joplin at Chile Pepper Festival

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Joplin High School senior Ian Horton had a solid showing in one of the nation’s premier running events. 

Competing in the boys ‘El Caliente’ Division, Horton finished 11th with a time of 15:38 at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival on Saturday.

There were 860 runners and 110 teams in the boys division. Lincoln College’s Isaac Rivera took first in 15:08. 

Joplin’s Chance Tindall finished 38th in 16:01. Carthage’s top performer was Eddy Fuentes (136th) and Joplin’s third runner was Grey Edwards (143rd).

In the girls ‘El Caliente’ Division, Joplin’s Katherine Schaeffer finished 104th in 19:37.

Joplin’s second and third runners were Averi Burks (234th) and Kyrie Britton (235th), while Carthage’s top finisher was Maggie Boyd (281st).

The girls race featured 648 runners and 77 full teams.

 

FULL RESULTS: Chile Pepper XC Fesitval (flashresults.com)

CROSS COUNTRY: Webb City captures team titles at Laker Invitational

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

CAMDENTON, Mo. — Webb City’s boys and girls cross country teams both captured the team championships at the Camdenton Laker Invitational on Saturday at Ha Ha Tonka State Park.

With six runners in the top 15, Webb City’s boys finished with 37 points to finish on top of the team standings. Kickapoo was second with 94.

Webb City senior Evan Stevens was the runner-up in the boys race with a time of 16:21 and teammate Mason Hedger took fourth in 16:33. 

Also for the Cardinals, Andrew Dawson finished eighth, Noah Lankard was ninth, Spencer Kendall took 14th and Fenton Rice was 15th.

Capital City’s Keion Grieve won the boys race in 16:01. There were 18 full teams and 120 runners.

With five runners finishing in the top 22, Webb City’s girls also captured a team championship at the event. The Cardinals finished with 51 points and Republic was second with 89.

Webb City sophomore Brooke Hedger was the runner-up in the girls race with a time of 19:34. Republic’s Gracie Troester was first in 18:59.

Emily Countryman finished fifth in 20:15.

Also for the Cardinals, Emma McKinzie was 14th, Amelia Antillion finished 17th, Olivia Klotz was 21st and Brooke Collard took 22nd.

There were 12 full squads and 90 runners competing.

FOOTBALL: Neosho falls to Branson in overtime

Posted on by Lucas Davis

BRANSON, Mo. — Branson did not take its first lead until it mattered most. 

With less than two minutes left in regulation against Neosho, Luke McCormick tossed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Gage Depee and ran in the 2-point conversion to send the game into overtime.

No, that was not the lead, of course.

It was during the overtime period when the Pirates grabbed that lead during the COC battle—when McCormick scored on a quarterback sneak on fourth and goal from the 1-yard line. It was McCormick’s third rushing touchdown on the night, securing a homecoming victory that was nearly tarnished by a strong performance by the upset-minded Wildcats.

Neosho fumbled away a chance at tying or winning the game on the second play of its lone overtime possession, sending the homecoming crowd home happy and the Wildcats to an 0-6 mark.

Indeed, the Pirates, who improved to 3-3, were forced to play from behind against a scrappy Wildcats side looking for their first win.

Neosho led 7-3 after the first quarter and held a 21-9 advantage at the three-minute mark of the second quarter, courtesy of two Denver Welch short touchdown runs and a Virgil Rosier 62-yard pitch and catch from quarterback Quenton Hughes.

After Branson’s Depee and McCormick added short rushing scores of their own, Neosho owned a 21-16 lead at halftime.

Following another kicking display from Branson kicker Dane Efird, who knocked through a 25-yard field goal for a 21-19 Neosho lead early in the third quarter—he had a 42-yarder to make it 7-3 in the first—Hudson Williams extended Neosho’s lead to 28-19 midway through the third with an 18-yard touchdown catch from Hughes, a senior who eclipsed 5,000 career passing yards last week.

That’s when the defenses had enough and Branson mounted its comeback.

The Pirates coughed up a fumble, courtesy of the Wildcats’ Kaiden Anaya forcing it and Drake Swift recovering, and Neosho turned it over on downs for the first time all night. Then, McCormick scampered from two yards out to cut the Wildcats’ lead to 28-26 with 11:12 remaining.

After a pair of defensive stands from each side, Hughes fired a 56-yard pass and catch to Cade Camerer down the sideline to hand Neosho a 34-26 lead with 5:42 left.

But Branson had its big answer—the McCormick-Depee connection and the QB’s two-point scamper to knot the score with less than two minutes remaining. The touchdown was preceded by a Depee 53-yard run.

Neosho hosts Ozark (1-5) next Friday while Branson will welcome in Republic (5-1).

GIRLS TENNIS: Thomas Jefferson’s Ding, Carl Junction doubles team advance to state

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

Thomas Jefferson and Carl Junction had state qualifiers at Friday’s Class 2 District 7 girls tennis tournament. 

The top two singles players and the top two doubles teams advanced to the individual state tournament.

Thomas Jefferson’s Allison Ding was the runner-up in the singles bracket.

After a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed, Ding defeated Carl Junction’s Isabel Read 2-6, 6-2, 10-2 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Ding defeated Barstow’s Sofia Shkuta 2-6, 6-1, 10-8.

In the championship match, Notre Dame de Sioni’s Anna McGeeney edged Ding 7-6 (7-1), 6-4.

McGeeney beat Thomas Jefferson’s Jeanna Jeyaraj 7-5, 6-0 in the semifinals. 

In addition to Jeyaraj and Read, other local singles players unable to advance were Webb City’s Bethany Brumit and Adeline Ragsdale and Carl Junction’s Brooklin Leggett.

Of note, Jeyaraj won the bracket’s third-place match over Shkuta.

Carl Junction’s duo of Naiyah Wurdeman and Jenna Besperat won the doubles bracket.

The Bulldogs defeated Webb City’s Ally Ansley-Ayla McDaniel 6-1, 6-1 in the quarterfinals and then topped Thomas Jefferson’s Kyla Yang-Esther Yang 6-1, 6-2 in the semifinals.

In the championship match, Wurdeman and Besperat defeated Willard’s Alyssa Flynn-Evelyn Sly 6-2, 6-0.

Thomas Jefferson’s Mayson Solum-Warda Morsy, Webb City’s Averey Terry-Maecy Beverlin and CJ’s Emiliy Rice-Brooke Jasperson also competed in the doubles bracket.

The team district tournament begins at 3:30 p.m. on Monday at Thomas Jefferson.

Fourth-seeded Willard meets fifth-seeded Barstow, second-seeded Carl Junction takes on seventh-seeded Webb City and third-seeded Notre Dame de Sion matches up with sixth-seeded Belton.  

Top-seeded Thomas Jefferson (11-0) has a first-round bye and will meet the Willard-Barstow winner at 3:30 on Tuesday in the semifinals. 

The other semifinal will also begin at 3:30 on Tuesday. The district title match is scheduled for 3:30 on Wednesday. 

FOOTBALL: Seneca steamrolls Reeds Spring to remain undefeated

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

SENECA, Mo. — The Seneca Indians continued their torrid start to the season with Friday night’s 54-21 trouncing of the visiting Reeds Spring Wolves. 

Having outscored their first five opponents by a combined 227-14, the Indians entered the contest ranked No. 2 in Class 3. 

Seneca quickly set the tone with its punishing run game — capping a 9-play, 75-yard drive via Jackson Marrs’ 11-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Gavyn Hoover then connected with Morgan Vaughn on the 2-point play for a quick 8-0 lead. 

Lamar had been the only team to have found paydirt against the Indians’ vaunted defense this season, but the Wolves managed to do so on their second possession of the contest.

Seneca’s Brodie Probert tackles Jace Bolin on Friday. Photo by Israel Perez.

With the Reeds Spring leaning on its ground game for the majority of the drive, Seneca’s secondary was caught off guard when Daniel Fliflet hauled in a perfectly placed pass from Blandy Burall for a 22-yard touchdown strike to punctuate the 80-yard scoring drive. A failed 2-point attempt left the Wolves trailing 8-6 midway through the opening frame.

On the ensuing possession, Marrs chewed up major yards on the ground, accentuated by a 28-yard run to the 1-yard line. Marrs then punched it in from the goal line, followed by Roman Miller’s successful run on the 2-point play, handing the Indians a 16-6 advantage.

Seneca extended its lead to 24-6 early in the second quarter. The sequence of events unfolded after the Indians converted a 4th-down conversion with a 25-yard run — as Hoover finished off the drive with a short rushing score. Hoover then called his number on the 2-point play, gliding into the end zone untouched.

Looking to avert a blowout, the Wolves turned to trickeration, faking an end-around run as Christopher Daniels scampered down the left sideline for a 67-yard touchdown romp. The Wolves also hit on the 2-point play, with Burall linking up with James Dowdy to trim the deficit to 24-14.

The Indians managed two more scoring drives over the final five minutes of the half, with Marrs finding paydirt on both — including a 6-yard rushing score with 8 seconds showing on the scoreboard, swelling Seneca’s lead to 40-14.

The Indians ran 41 plays in the first half en route to a decisive time of possession advantage. Marrs also rushed for 115 yards on 15 carries and four touchdowns, while Hoover added another 48.

The Indians tacked on two more touchdowns in the second half, coasting to victory. 

Seneca is now 6-0. The loss drops the Wolves to 4-2. 

 

WHAT’S NEXT?

Seneca hits the road for a clash with Big 8 East foe East Newton (2-4), while Reeds Spring squares off with Aurora (3-3).

 

Seneca’s Blake Hurn looks to evade Kaemon Hutchison on Friday night. Seneca remained undefeated by beating Reeds Spring 54-21. Photos by Israel Perez/SoMo Sports.

 

Seneca’s Gavyn Hoover carries the ball while Braiden Langston looks to make the tackle on Friday night at Seneca High School.

 

Seneca’s Ethan Altic is pictured during Friday’s game with Reeds Spring.

 

Seneca’s Roman Miller picks up a big gain on the ground on Friday night.

 

Seneca’s Jackson Marrs is brought down by Spencer Michaud and Braiden Langston on Friday night. The Indians defeated the Wolves 54-21 to remain undefeated. All photos by Israel Perez.

FOOTBALL: Carthage wins third straight after beating Ozark on the road

Posted on by Lucas Davis

OZARK, Mo. — The Carthage football team took control in the second half to pull away for a 34-20 road win over Central Ozark Conference foe Ozark on Friday night.

CHS claimed a third consecutive win to move to 3-3 on the season while Ozark fell to 1-5.

A back-and-forth first half saw the two teams exchange touchdowns on six consecutive drives— all in the second quarter—to take a 20-20 tie into halftime.

It was Carthage, however, that stood tall in the final 24 minutes of the contest.

Receiving the kickoff to start the second half, Carthage methodically worked its way down the field before running back Landyn Collins dashed 22 yards for a touchdown rush that gave CHS a 27-20 lead midway through the third quarter. The scoring drive went 77 yards in nine plays and featured a fourth-down conversion on a 24-yard pass from Carlton to tight end Karson Murray.

Ozark was, yet again, seemingly poised to answer the Carthage touchdown with one of its own on its ensuing drive. But after advancing 64 yards to the Carthage 10, OHS saw an errant option pitch lead to a pivotal fumble recovery by Carthage defensive back Ryan Phillips.

Carthage, taking over at its own 11, took advantage of the takeaway with a 17-play touchdown drive that milked nearly 10 minutes of game clock and included two conversions on fourth-down attempts. After Carlton found the end zone on a short run for his third overall touchdown of the night, CHS had its first two-score lead, 34-20, with 7:15 remaining in the game.

The Carthage defense then put the final nail in the coffin by forcing a turnover on downs at its own 29-yard line with 3:50 to play. Ozark never touched the football from there.

The Carthage defense, after struggling to keep Ozark out of the end zone for the entirety of the second quarter, managed to shut out OHS in the second half thanks to a fumble recovery and one turnover via downs.

A scoreless opening quarter was followed by a second quarter filled with offensive fireworks. Carthage drew first blood with 10:24 showing the second when Carlton reached paydirt on a 6-yard run to take a 7-0 lead. CHS benefitted from a short field on the scoring drive after forcing Ozark to punt from its own 2-yard line.

It took Ozark less than three minutes to respond when a 13-yard score pass from Sam Clark to Peyton Russell punctuated a 70-yard drive and tied the game at 7-7.

The visitors reclaimed the lead with 4:33 remaining in the opening half on a six-play, 67-yard drive that was capped by a 36-yard touchdown pass from Carlton to Langston Morgan. A failed PAT attempt left Carthage with a 13-7 advantage.

OHS again responded swiftly to tie the game, needing just three plays before scoring a touchdown on another Russell-to-Clark connection through the air, this time for 43 yards. Ozark, too, missed its PAT to preserve a 13-13 tie with 3:56 left in the second quarter.

The Carthage offense proceeded to keep the fireworks going as it marched 78 yards in eight plays and scored a touchdown on a 1-yard plunge by Collins, giving his team a 20-13 lead.

It appeared Carthage would keep its seven-point lead heading into halftime, but with the Ozark offense facing a third-and-long with just a few seconds left in the second quarter, Jack Bowers broke free for an electric 54-yard touchdown run that saw the athletic senior avoid a near tackle by CHS defensive back Joey Czahor.

On the play, Czahor appeared to trip up Bowers for a tackle near the OHS 10-yard line, but officials ruled that Bowers had landed on top of Czahor and was able to get back to his feet without being downed. Ozark’s ensuing PAT drew the game to a 20-20 tie heading into intermission.

Carthage will play host to Webb City next Friday while Ozark travels to Neosho.

 

FOOTBALL: Turnovers plague Joplin in road loss to Republic

Posted on by Lucas Davis

REPUBLIC, Mo. — Turnovers plagued Joplin for the second straight week in the Eagles’ 38-15 road loss to Republic on Friday.

After losing the turnover battle 3-1 in a loss to Nixa a week ago, the turnover bug bit Joplin (3-3) hard again after the Eagles’ offense turned the ball over four times and took a safety against the Tigers in the team’s third straight loss. With the extra possessions on offense, Republic (5-1), which didn’t punt until late in the fourth quarter but did have a pair of turnover-on-downs, gained 432 yards of offense on 74 plays on the way to the Central Ozark Conference win. 

Republic QB Wyatt Woods carried the ball 25 times for 206 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while RB Kanon Krol finished with 151 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries. 

Joplin’s offense gained 334 yards on plays.

After a three-and-out by Joplin to open the game, Republic marched down the field on its first possession and capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run from Woods, who kept the ball left and bounced off a tackle near the 7-yard line before finding the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 6:16 left in the opening quarter.

Joplin answered back on its second time on offense after getting the ball inside the red zone before QB Hobbs Gooch—who threw for 202 yards, two touchdowns and three picks—found WR Cordell Washington (two catches, 32 yards) up the seam for a 23-yard touchdown on fourth down to tie the game at 7-7 with 4:45 left in the first quarter.

Republic again marched down into the red zone before Joplin’s defense forced an incomplete pass on fourth-and-goal from the 5-yard.

On the first play of the ensuing Joplin possession, the shotgun snap went through Gooch’s hands and into the end zone where Joplin recovered and was downed for a safety to give Republic a 9-7 advantage early in the second quarter.

The Eagles’ defense picked up the offense, once again forcing the Tigers into a turnover-on-downs after stuffing a fourth-down-and-4 run at the JHS 23.

Joplin went three-and-out and Republic responded by returning to the red zone for a third time in the first half with less than three minutes to play. Krol eventually crossed the goal line from a yard out to put Republic on top 16-7 with 1:43 left in the first half.

Joplin moved down the field quickly to get into position for points before the expiration of the first half before Gooch was picked off in the end zone with 14 seconds left on the clock to send the game into the intermission with the Tigers leading by nine.

Republic struck first in the second half, taking the opening possession down the field with Krol scoring from 3 yards out to make the score, converting the 2-point try on a pass from Woods to James Rexroat, to push the lead to 24-7 with 7:20 left in the third quarter.

Joplin turned it over on the next drive when RB Quin Renfro (12 carries, 69 yards; three catches, 43 yards) had the ball punched out from behind by Cam Allen for a fumble, giving Republic the ball near midfield with five and a half minutes left in the third quarter.

The Tigers turned the extra possession into a 43-yard touchdown run from Woods on a keeper with 3:46 on the clock to make the score 31-7.

Joplin got into the end zone for the first time in the second half when Gooch found WR Davin Thomas (three catches, 54 yards and a touchdown) in the flat on a screen, with Thomas evading tackles on the way to a 31-yard touchdown to make the score 31-15 after the Gooch-to-Thomas 2-point try with 2:30 left in the third quarter.

Republic answered back with Krol finding the end zone for the third time on a 2-yard carry with less than nine minutes left in regulation to make the score 38-15.

Joplin marched down the field in less than 90 seconds of game clock to get back into the red zone before Gooch was intercepted in the end zone by CB Garrett Lester for the Eagles’ third giveaway of the game.

Joplin is back on the road with a matchup at Carl Junction (1-5).

FOOTBALL: Nixa stifles Carl Junction early and pulls away from the Bulldogs

Posted on by Lucas Davis

 

NIXA, Mo. — Nixa held Carl Junction out of the end zone early and built a three-score lead by halftime on the way to a 47-0 win over the Bulldogs on Friday at Eagle Stadium.

Carl Junction (1-5) got into the red zone three times in the first half against the Nixa (6-0) with nothing to show for it. In turn, the Eagles reached paydirt three times in the first half and pulled away in the second half on the way to the shutout win.

Carl Junction drove the opening possession down inside the red zone before a series of penalties forced the Bulldogs into a turnover on downs after facing a fourth-down-and-20.

Nixa responded with a couple of big plays through the air from QB Nate Uber to WR Rylan Michel led to a 1-yard touchdown run from RB Dylan Rebura on a fourth-and-goal carry to make the score 7-0 with 1:17 left in the first quarter.

Nixa went up 14-0 in the second quarter with 6:03 on the clock when RB Malachi Rider found paydirt from a yard out. 

The Eagles forced the Bulldogs into a fumble to kill a CJ drive on its ensuing possession and made the most of the extra possession when WR Wyatt Vincent broke off a 75-yard touchdown run on the jet sweep with 49 seconds left in the first half for a 21-0 advantage.

Uber used play action for a big gain to Michel on the first possession of the first half that built to a 4-yard score from Rebura to push the lead to 28-0 with 10:15 left in the third quarter.

Uber hooked up with TE Lane Meltabarger for the first time all game on a third-down pass up the seam for a 23-yard touchdown to push the Nixa lead to 34-0 with 7:03 left in the third quarter.

The Eagles extended their cushion to 40-0 when Rebura capped a drive with a short-yardage score with 2:53 left in the third quarter.

Nixa added another score on a 30-yard McCoy Sullivan pick-6 touchdown to make the score 47-0 near the end of the third quarter.

Carl Junction is back at home next week, hosting Joplin (3-3).

FOOTBALL: Webb City dominates second half, extends winning streak in Week 6 victory

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

WILLARD, Mo. — Overcoming an early 13-point deficit, and riding a dominant second half, Webb City extended its winning streak to five by beating Willard 43-16 on Friday night in Central Ozark Conference action.

Taking the field in front of a large homecoming crowd, Willard scored the game’s first 13 points and took a two-point lead into intermission, 16-14.

But the visiting Cardinals controlled the second half, outscoring the Tigers 29-0 after the break.

Ranked second in Class 5, Webb City is now 5-1 on the season. Despite missing several key performers due to injuries, the Cardinals have won five straight games after dropping the 2023 opener at Nixa.

The Week 6 clash didn’t start out particularly well for Webb City.

The Cardinals turned the ball over on the second play of the night, as Willard’s Omero Inda converted a fumble recovery into the game’s first touchdown.

Willard went up 13-0 at the end of the first quarter on Russell Roweton’s 56-yard QB keeper.

Webb City got on the board with 5:06 remaining in the second quarter on junior running back Noah Durman’s 1-yard touchdown plunge.

After forcing the Tigers to punt, the Cardinals took a 14-13 lead with 1:05 left in the first half after Durman’s 4-yard touchdown run. The Cardinals went 67 yards on the go-ahead drive and were aided by two Willard penalties and a key pass from senior Braden McKee to classmate Payton Marshall.

The Tigers were able to answer just before the break, as Willard’s Jonathan Lupescu connected on a 35-yard field goal with two seconds left in the first half, giving the Tigers a 16-14 halftime advantage.

The second half was all Webb City.

One play after sophomore defensive back Mason Williams grabbed an interception, Webb City’s Durman sprinted to a 32-yard touchdown run, his third score of the night.

Junior wide receiver Joseph DeGraffenreid hauled in the 2-point conversion, giving the Cardinals a 22-16 lead with 7:37 remaining in the third period.

The visitors extended their lead with a little trickery. Senior tight end Jonah Spieker’s 33-yard touchdown reception from McKee on a flea flicker gave Webb City a 29-16 lead with just over 10 minutes left.

Three plays after Willard turned the ball over after failing to secure a punt, Webb City went up 36-16 with 6:21 remaining on McKee’s 10-yard QB keeper.

Junior Kyler Wood’s 2-yard touchdown plunge with just over two minutes showing on the clock accounted for the final margin.

The Tigers fell to 3-3.

Webb City is now 23-0 all-time against Willard.

The Cardinals once again played without several key performers due to injuries, including sophomore QB/RB Gabe Johnson.

 

WHAT’S NEXT?

Webb City (5-1) is at rival Carthage (3-3) in Week 7.

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