It was roughly nine months since the last time the Joplin Eagles lined up against another opponent on the gridiron.
On Friday, the Eagles hosted the Seneca Indians for their annual jamboree, and just being able to get on the field and line up against another team was a blessing.
“Obviously, this is the first time we have gotten to face an opponent since the state championship game last year, and with all of the uncertainty going on, we feel very fortunate to come out here and get our jamboree in to prepare for Webb City next week,” Joplin coach Curtis Jasper said.
Each team had three offensive and defensive series of 12 plays, with the ball starting on their own 40-yard line.
Joplin’s offense took six plays to find paydirt when quarterback Always Wright found wideout Trayshawn Thomas in the back corner of the end zone for a touchdown on the opening possession. Wright completed three passes on the drive, with an 11-yard completion to Dante Washington and a 20-yard connection to Bruce Wilbert.
“I thought we clicked well on that first drive,” Jasper said. “I thought we were able to come out and work our tempo and did a good job of executing on the first drive.”
It took two plays for the Eagles to score on their second drive, with running back Nathan Glades breaking off a 51-yard rushing score.
“Nathan is going to be a special back this year,” Jasper said. “He did all the dirty work for us last year, so now it’s someone else’s turn for that. Now, it’s Nathan’s turn to chunk out some yards, so it was nice to see that from him.”
Joplin made it three possessions with three scores on the third series when Wright found Washington for a 46-yard touchdown.
“We have a lot of playmakers, so it was nice to see Trayshawn, Dante and Bruce Wilbert have success,” Jasper said.
Seneca’s first offensive series was also a success. After a 35-yard completion from quarterback Lance Stephens to Sebastian Middick put the Indians in a goal-to-go situation, setting up a 3-yard touchdown run by Jaxson Graham.
“We challenged them up front,” Seneca coach Ryan McFarland said of his offense. “Our goal on offense was to get first downs tonight, and we were able to do that. I thought our offensive line played well. We returned all five guys up front who started at least five games last year. That is something all offseason that we have preached to them, ‘we are going to be as good as they are’ (up front).
“Sebastian Middick made two big plays for us tonight. He played his first year of high school football last year as a junior. So no one really expects him to do much, but he has some tools and we are going to use them a lot this year.”
The Eagles’ defense forced a turnover on Seneca’s second drive when Wilbert came up with an interception on a Stephens’ deep ball.
“He starts for us on offense and is able to come in on situations on defense for us,” Jasper said. “He is a definite ball hawk. He had an interception in the Red-White scrimmage and in the jamboree. He has really good ball skills, and that’s why he is a good receiver and a good safety.”
Joplin’s first drive on its second possession lasted seven plays but ended in a turnover when Wright was picked off by Seneca’s Dillon Myers in the red zone. Wright bounced back on the next series with a 25-yard touchdown pass on a screen to Glades.
“Always is very mentally tough and doesn’t get rattled,” Jasper said. “We expect that if he makes a mistake, he will be able to put it behind him and make a play the next time out. He did a really good job of that.”
Seneca found rushing room on its opening drive of its second possession. Graham carried the ball four times for 26 yards in addition to a 34-yard completion from Stephens to Middick, setting up a 1-yard sneak touchdown by Stephens.
“Having our quarterback back, Lance Stephens, who started every game for us last year, is big,” McFarland said. “He is a very smart kid and understands our offense well. … He put us in positions to be successful.”
“We made some good tackles, but we also missed some tackles,” Jasper said. “I am glad to have some film because now we can clean some things up.”
Joplin’s second unit took the third possession, with freshman quarterback All Wright, the younger brother of Always, completing a pass to Terrance Gibson for 15 yards, along with two completions of 17 and 9 yards to Landen Atherton. Senior running back Trayquan Peavler finished off the drive with a 3-yard rushing score.
Joplin opens the season at home next week with a matchup against the reigning Class 4 state champion Webb City Cardinals for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Junge Field.
“Webb City is a great program,” Jasper said. “We are excited for the opportunity to prepare for them and line up against them next week.”
Seneca is on the road for a 7 p.m. matchup at Marshfield.
“I have been more nervous about this night than anything all summer,” McFarland said. “Our goal as coaches was to get to tonight and give our kids a chance to play. We accomplished that. Now, we are going to throw everything at next week, and hopefully we get to play a football game. Hopefully, we get to keep playing (beyond next week), but if not, we don’t want to leave any regrets on the field.”
