NIXA, Mo. — Nixa jumped out to a quick two-possession lead in the first quarter but Carthage refused to go away, even holding the lead into the second half before the Eagles rallied in the final two quarters and held off the Tigers for a 34-28 win on Friday.
Nixa (3-0) scored on the first play from scrimmage and its third play with the ball to build a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Carthage (0-3) rallied with three unanswered scores, including a touchdown inside the final minute of the first half to head into the intermission with a 21-14 lead. Nixa and Carthage battled back and forth in the second half, with the Eagles holding on for the win.
GAME ACTION
Nixa wasted little time jumping out in front of Carthage, as WR Spencer Ward lined up in the wildcat and took the snap and ran left 65 yards to the house for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage for a 7-0 lead 12 seconds into the game.
After a three-and-out by Carthage, RB Dylan Rebura broke off a 63-yard run two plays into the Eagles’ ensuing drive for a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter.
Carthage used the rushing attack to drive down the field on its second possession before QB Brady Carlton kept the ball for a 3-yard touchdown with two minutes left in the opening period to trim the margin to 14-6.
The Tigers cut the lead to one, 14-13, when Carlton used play-action to find Landyn Collins in the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown at the 9:04 mark.
Carthage took its first lead of the game late in the first half when Carlton went deep over the middle for a 48-yard connection to Karsen Murray down inside the Nixa 10-yard line that ultimately set up another passing score to Collins with 41 seconds left in the second quarter. Carlton found Jackson Hettinger on the 2-point conversion to push the CHS lead to 21-14 at the intermission.
Nixa used a 54-yard run from Rebura to set up a 14-yard touchdown run by RB Malachi Rider to tie the game at 21-21 with 7:25 left in the third quarter.
The Eagles forced a Carthage fumble on the Tigers’ ensuing drive, with Nixa taking possession at the CHS 30-yard line. Nixa took advantage of the turnover when Rider punched it in from 10 yards out for a 28-21 lead with 4:51 to play in the third quarter.
Carthage refused to go away, driving all the way down inside the Nixa 5 before Collins found paydirt from a yard out to tie things up at 28-28 with 3:24 left in the game.
Rider put Nixa back on top with a 31-yard touchdown run with 2:42 to play in the following drive. The Eagles missed the extra point to lead 34-28.
UP NEXT
Carthage hosts Carl Junction on Friday.
