The final outcome was not what coach Curtis Jasper wanted to see following Joplin’s 35-34 loss to Nixa last Friday, but there were just as many positive takeaways as negative on both sides of the ball.
“Nixa tackled in space really well,” Jasper said. “They shed blocks really well, and we really struggled getting off the field on third down. Part of that is us, but part of that is them doing a good job. Hats off to their quarterback (Austin McCracken) because he came in and made plays when they needed them. They did a lot of good things.”
Looking at the positive side in terms of the offense, Joplin gained 341 yards of total offense and averaged 9.2 yards per completion as well as 5.5 yards per rush.
“The production was there, but it just seemed weird because we forced three turnovers in the first half and we had to score right before halftime just to tie it up at 21, and that’s not typical of how we usually play,” Jasper said. “The other thing I was really happy about the offense was when we had to have a score, we scored. We scored right before the half to tie it. Then when we were down two scores (late), we scored twice and almost had a third touchdown. There was a lot of good stuff, just not enough of it.”
Sophomore wideout Dante Washington had a standout performance in the passing game, hauling in a team-high nine catches for 77 yards and three touchdowns, including a 37-yard touchdown when he caught a pass in the left flat before reversing the entire field for a score. Running back Nathan Glades rushed 24 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns to go along with two receptions and 49 yards.
“(Dante) is obviously a playmaker, which we all thought,” Jasper said. “But he is starting to understand the bigger picture of the scheme versus what his role is on each play. That is going to help him get better.
“(Nathan) is just so much fun to watch because he finishes off every run. … I love that about him. Sometimes, I think maybe he didn’t need to take that extra hit,” Jasper said with a smile. “But he is going to get every inch he possibly can.”
What can be improved upon as the season progresses? Offensive efficiency. Joplin had seven possessions in the first half. Three of them ended in touchdowns, while two ended in a punt and two more in a turnover-on-downs. In the third quarter, Joplin failed to score in the third quarter with a turnover-on-downs and an interception. In the fourth, Joplin scored two touchdowns in the fourth with an interception on the third possession of the quarter.
“The thing that frustrates us as a team was those turnover-on-downs were so close (to being converted),” Jasper said. “Four times, we were right there and we just didn’t get the extra inches, or yard at the most, and those are the differences in ballgames.”
Looking at the defense, you didn’t have to look far in terms of what went right for Joplin, forcing three first-half turnovers against Nixa. Joplin’s Luke Vieselmeyer picked off Reid Potts on the first possession of the game. Late in the first quarter, Vieselmeyer came up big again with an interception of Austin McCracken on a gadget play that set up a score. Midway through the second quarter, Jayden Holt picked off McCracken and returned the ball to the 5-yard line to again set the offense up for a score.
“They were a huge positive for the defense,” Jasper said of the takeaways. “And Jayden almost returned his for a touchdown. You look at film, and Jayden really could have had two more (interceptions) and really had himself a night. I am happy that we are getting turnovers, but still a little miffed at how we didn’t put some distance between us and Nixa with those.”
Where is the Joplin defense looking to improve? Getting off the field. Joplin’s defense allowed Nixa to convert seven third-down-and-5-or-longer/fourth-down situations.
“Those are things we worked a lot on this week, situationally creating more competition in practice,” Jasper said. “We have to get better at that. We put ourselves in good situations, and hats off to Nixa for making plays, but we have to do a better job on third and fourth down.”
LOOKING AHEAD
Joplin (1-1) looks to bounce back on Senior Night, hosting Ozark (1-1) at Junge Field at 7 p.m.
The Tigers are coming off a 26-16 win against Branson, with Ozark running a heavy option offense. Quarterback Cannon Cox completed 1-of-7 passes for 22 yards and a touchdown, while rushing a team-high 17 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Tylr Bolin carried the ball 16 times for 64 yards, while RB Ethan Pritchard picked up 65 yards on three carries.
“I really like what their quarterback does in the triple option,” Jasper said. “He can pitch it right or left at the very last second, and always does a good job with it. Their slot backs, one is a little bigger than the other one, but they both block really hard and are good at catching the pitch and getting north and south.
“(Defensively), when dealing with the option, we have to be assignment sound. That’s the first priority. Secondly, we have to tackle well, and do a good job on first and second down, so we put them in a longer situation on third.”
Defensively, the Tigers allowed Branson to gain 337 yards of offense, with 287 of those coming through the air.
“They play off-man at about seven or eight yards with a free safety who is either free or manned-up on the running back because he is really aggressive downhill,” Jasper said. “They run two fronts, and even or an odd, and bring a lot of pressure up front. So, they are going to try to disrupt our zone concepts.”
