Without the services of starting RB Quin Renfro (back), LT Dontrell Holt (ankle) and QB Hobbs Gooch (hand) because of injury, the Joplin defense once again was up to the challenge as the Eagles pitched a 28-0 shutout over Ozark on Friday in Central Ozark Conference action at Junge Field.
“The defense and special teams played great,” Joplin coach Curtis Jasper said. “Without Quin, Dontrell and Gooch, we were still able to put 28 points up on the board with the help of a couple of short fields thanks to the defense and special teams. It was a good team effort.”
YOU SHALL NOT PASS, OR THROW
How good was the Joplin defense against Ozark? The Tigers gained just 132 total yards off offense, 86 of which came on the ground, averaging less than 3 yards a play. And not only were the Tigers kept out of the end zone, Ozark never made it to the red zone. In total, Ozark punted seven times, threw one interception and turned it over on downs three times.
NEXT MAN UP
Offensively, Joplin finished with 337 yards of 46 plays. Filling in for Gooch, sophomore Daniel Rose made his first varsity start and rushed five times for 43 yards and a touchdown, while completing 12-of-17 passes for 145 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Junior RB Toryn Jones picked up 117 yards and scored twice on the ground on 18 carries. Junior WR Davin Thomas caught seven passes for 117 yards.
“I can’t say enough about Daniel Rose, filling in for Gooch tonight,” Jasper said. “He acted like he had been a varsity starter before. He didn’t flinch at all. Guys on the offensive line stepped up, as well.”
BIGGER THAN FOOTBALL
Just before the start of the second quarter, an official collapsed on the field. School medical officials and coaches rushed the field before the paramedics arrived on the scene. Joplin coaches surrounded the medical officials while they did their thing as both teams were on a knee on their respective sidelines. The official was loaded into an ambulance near midfield and taken away in what was believed to be stable condition, unofficially. After a delay to collect themselves in the locker room, the rest of the officiating crew returned to the field to a standing ovation to finish the game.
“I am proud of my job and what I do for a living and hope that I have an impact on the lives of people, but watching the people with medical training and what they’re able to do for others just makes you feel tiny in a way because [they were so quick to react] in a scary situation,” Jasper said of medical emergency. “To be able to see him and hear him talk before he was loaded onto the ambulance after watching him collapse was amazing. It makes everything small in comparison.”
“I have known that crew for a while and I have always admired how good of a crew they are,” Jasper added about the officiating crew ultimately choosing to continue the game. “I can’t say enough about them and how much I admire them for coming back out when they didn’t have to, and they still would have had my admiration for what they do for the kids. They did a fantastic job tonight.”
GAME ACTION
Joplin overcame a handful of penalties on its first drive and still found the end zone when Jones carried the ball in from 2 yards out for a 7-0 lead with 5:23 left in the opening period.
“We only had six or seven penalties combined in our first two games,” Jasper said. “We had 10 tonight, so that is something we have to fix heading into next week.”
The Eagles didn’t score again until the waning moments of the first half when Rose dumped the ball off over a committing defender to find Thomas, who sprinted his way up the sideline for a 73-yard touchdown with second left before halftime to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead.
Joplin’s special teams left its mark on the game early in the fourth quarter when Neil Bartstow came up with a blocked punt to give the offense the ball near the red zone. A short time later, Jones found the end zone from 10 yards out for a 21-0 lead by Joplin with 9:46 to play.
“Coach (Alan) Linden talked on Monday about he thought we had a good chance to get one,” Jasper said of the blocked punt. “He drew it up and knew where he felt the soft spot was in their protection. Our guys went out and executed, and it was in a great spot to do it because it really set us up for that score.”
Eagles linebacker Jonathan Williams followed up with an interception on the ensuing defensive possession to once again give the offense fantastic starting field position at the OHS 35.
“I trust the guys around me and they trust me,” Williams said when asked how well his defense is playing right now. “As long as we have all 11 to the ball on each play with 100 percent effort, I know we’re going to have a good game.”
The turnover turned into points the other way for Joplin when Rose ran in from 5 yards out for a 28-0 advantage with 6:50 left in regulation to seal the win.
“I am through-the-roof proud of (the young guys on offense stepping up),” Williams added. “They have stepped up into their role and have been selfless in the process. I appreciate their effort in stepping up and executing well.”
UP NEXT
Joplin is back on the road for a matchup at COC rival Webb City (2-1).
