“It was an exciting one, for sure,” Neosho coach Brandon Taute said. “Feels like we coached three or four games, honestly, and I’m sure the kids feel the same way. We had kids cramping up, but when you play as many snaps as they did, with some of them playing both ways, it’s to be expected.
“Both teams just kept fighting all game long. I told our kids before the game that it’s going to come down to whoever wants it the most. Without a doubt, our kids continued to fight until the very end, and they never gave up.
“We’ll use our 24-hour rule. They’ll get to enjoy it tonight and we’ll come back Saturday. There’s a lot to work on still. We’re going to have a long day in the film room, but it’s a good thing and it’s a lot easier to do when you come out on the winning side. We’ll try and clean things up and get ready for next week.”
Neosho, 1-0 overall and in the Central Ozark Conference, returns to action in Week 2 on the road against Nixa. The Eagles opened their season with a 42-19 victory Friday night against the defending Class 5 state champion Webb City.
After Willard tied it up at 72 with 6 minutes, 50 seconds remaining in regulation with a touchdown and a successful conversion run, the Wildcats took possession at their own 30 with 6:46 left and put together one of the most sustained drives on a night, highlighted by long scoring plays and possessions under a minute.
Neosho drove 70 yards in 14 plays and Jared Siler scored the winning TD on a 1-yard run at 2:07. The Wildcats relied heavily on their senior running back on the final drive, calling his number nine times, all running plays.
“We’re a tempo offense,” Taute said. “We always try and control the tempo of the game. Most of the time, that’s going fast. Late in the game, we slow down a little bit to try and take some time off the clock. We really want to try and get them gassed, so that plays to our advantage.”
The Wildcat defense played tough when it mattered the most and junior defensive back Cade Camerer preserved the victory with a fourth-down pass breakup on a Willard deep ball in the final minute.
“We preach to the kids that every play matters,” Taute said. “In a game like this, it’s never more evident that every single play matters and that one play you make is the difference in the game.”
Friday night marked the latest chapter in what has started to become a rivalry.
The Wildcats played against Willard in three of their last four games—Neosho defeated Willard 21-14 in Week 8 last season for the Wildcats’ only win, with a late Siler touchdown run and a defensive stand against the driving Tigers preserving victory. Two weeks later, Willard returned to Bob Anderson for a playoff game and ended Neosho’s season with a 56-35 final score.
“It’s been back-and-forth the last three times,” Taute said. “We played them three times at home. We’re lucky to get them at home each time, honestly, but I’m excited to move forward throughout the year and I hope that this can get us some confidence heading into next week.
“Our kids have been working hard in the weight room since the season ended last year. We’ve spent time doing drills and going to camps all summer long. Our progress has been great every week, but we just want to continue to get better every day.”
Neosho and Willard truly outdid themselves in their most recent meeting.
The Wildcats sprinted out to a 14-0 lead with a pair of scores in the first 1:51— taking possession first, senior Isaiah Green turned a short pass from junior quarterback Quenton Hughes into a 63-yard touchdown play down the left sideline and then Hughes and senior Brock Franklin connected on a 20-yard TD pass two plays after senior Carter Baslee recovered a Willard fumble on the ensuing kickoff.
Neosho never trailed Friday and led 24-14 after one quarter, 52-36 at halftime, and 66-56 after three quarters.
Willard fought back to within 17-14, 38-36, and 52-50 before the 72-all score.
NOTE: The 151 combined points is second most all-time in MSHSAA history for an 11-man contest.
Owensville and St. James combined for 155 in 2011 (80-75).
