For the second time in three years, the Joplin Eagles will play for a district championship.
Third-seeded Joplin built a significant halftime advantage and then held off second-seeded Kickapoo late for a 45-29 victory in the Class 6 District 5 semifinals on Friday.
With the win, Joplin (7-3) will travel to conference rival and top-seeded Nixa (10-0) at 7 p.m. on Friday for the district crown.
In the district semifinals on Friday in Springfield, Joplin built a comfortable 35-7 lead by intermission before the hosts battled back in the second half.
In the opening frame, Joplin QB Hobbs Gooch ran for a 1-yard score and also completed a 70-yard touchdown pass to Davin Thomas. Kickapoo’s first quarter touchdown came on a 98-yard kick return.
Up 14-7, Joplin recorded three unanswered touchdowns in the second quarter. Gooch scored on a 76-yard QB keeper, Johnny Williams had a pick-six and Gooch added his third score of the game on an 11-yard run for a 35-7 cushion.
Kickapoo (8-2) outscored Joplin 22-7 in the third quarter, with the Eagles’ score coming on a 44-yard run by Quin Renfro.
Up 42-29, Joplin’s defense came up with back to back stops.
A 32-yard field goal from Toby Ipsen was the lone score of the fourth quarter and accounted for the final margin.
The Eagles are in the back in a district title game after a one year absence. Joplin fell to Lee’s Summit North in the district championship game in 2021.
The Eagles are looking to capture their first district title since 2019, the year they finished as the state runner-up.
In the other semifinal, Nixa beat fifth-seeded Ozark 50-0.
Of course, Nixa edged Joplin 35-27 back in Week 5.
The rematch will take place on Friday night, with the season and a district championship on the line.
