In a battle of top-10 ranked Class 6 teams who share the same mascot and the same 1-0 record, it was the fourth-ranked Joplin Eagles who came away victorious on Friday night after defeating the sixth-ranked Nixa Eagles 28-25 in a Central Ozark Conference clash at Junge Field.
Nixa jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter before Joplin cut the deficit to 10-7 by halftime. Joplin scored on a long drive out of the lockeroom to take its first lead of the game only to see Nixa answer right back with a scoring drive to regain the lead, 17-14. Joplin found paydirt on the ground with 10 minutes left in regulation and after a three-and-out by the defense, pushed the lead to two scores with six minutes to play. Nixa scored and converted the two-point try late but to no avail as Joplin picked up a first down on the ensuing possession and ran the remaining time off the clock.
“I thought our kids played really hard and I thought we played together,” Joplin coach Curtis Jasper said. “For the most part, I thought we played pretty smart. I think our conditioning was a factor again this week. Coach (Michael) Jeurgens heads that up for us, so I want to give credit to him for doing a great job. It was going to come down to the most physical team in the trenches, and I think we were definitely that tonight.”
With the win, Joplin improves to 2-0 on the season.
GAME ACTION
Nixa went to the air early, completing a 60-yard pass from Connor Knatchal to Kael Combs on the first play from scrimmage, which ultimately set up a 31-yard field goal from Kaleb James to give NHS a 3-0 lead.
Joplin’s first drive lasted five plays before running back Drew VanGilder fumbled the ball over to Nixa for the game’s first turnover.
Nixa, who lost starting running back Ramone Green Jr. to an apparent shoulder injury midway through the first half, looked like it gave the ball right back with an interception on the first play of the ensuing drive but it was negated by a personal foul penalty on Joplin to keep the NHS drive alive. Two plays later, Knatchal hit Combs over the middle for a 48-yard touchdown to put Nixa on top of Joplin 10-0 with 7:51 to play in the first quarter.
Joplin’s offense found its groove on the next drive, marching 71 yards on 16 plays with VanGilder punching it in from 2 yards out to cut Nixa’s lead to 10-7 with 2:28 left in the opening period of play.
Scoring opportunities were limited in the second quarter. Nixa drove the ball inside the Joplin 20 early in the period before the JHS defense forced a turnover on downs at the 17 near the 10-minute mark. A 42-yard completion from Joplin QB Always Wright to WR Hudson Moore put JHS inside the Nixa 20-yard line before Wright was picked later at the goal line to end the drive. The game went into halftime with Nixa on top 10-7.
“Our offensive line,” Jasper said when asked about the biggest difference in play by the offense in the first and second half. “Especially against a defensive line like that, they’re tremendous. Our offensive line really took care of business.”
Much like Joplin’s first scoring drive, JHS came out of the intermission and put on a methodical 17-play drive that spanned over 79 yards, with Wright finding Moore over the middle in the end zone on fourth down for a 13-yard score at the 5:57 mark. With the point-after from Joseph Ipsen good, Joplin took its first lead of the game, 14-10. Joplin converted on fourth down three times in the drive, including the touchdown pass.
“I was just mad at myself,” Wright said about his interception in the first half. “I shouldn’t have made that play, but that was the best thing that could have ever happened to me in that situation. Coming back and responding with my teammates, and they deserve more credit than I do. They lifted me up and let me know I was still their leader and I could come back and do this.”
Nixa continued to pick up chunk gains through the air, as Knatchal connected with Combs on third-down and 13 for 37 yards to ultimately set up a 1-yard rushing scored from Casen Hammitt to give NHS the lead right back, 17-14, with 2:21 left in the third.
Joplin answered back quickly, driving 69 yards in less than five minutes of game action with Quinton Renfro punching it from 3 yards out to put JHS back on top 21-17 with 9:57 left in the game.
After the Joplin defense forced a three-and-out punt, the offense went to work, led by Wright and his ability to make plays with his legs. Wright highlighted the drive with scrambles of 12 and 18 yards that ultimately set up a 16-yard passing score to Whit Hafer to give Joplin a 28-17 lead with 6:07 left in regulation.
“I feel like they have to account for it,” Wright said about his ability to stretch the field with his legs. “It makes everyone’s life easier—the offensive line. If a play breaks down on their end, I can go scramble with my legs.”
“I love my o-line to death,” Wright added. “If I didn’t have them I wouldn’t be nearly as successful as I am. It’s all credit to them and the receivers.”
“He is making really good decisions right now,” Jasper said of Wright’s play. “I knew he threw that interception (early) but he is making really good decisions on third (and fourth) down.”
Nixa didn’t go away, as Knatchal found Combs again for a 1-yard touchdown pass with 2:06 left. Hammitt converted on the two-point conversion to cut the lead to three, but the rally ended there as Joplin’s offense ran the clock out in victory formation.
“That was a hard-fought win,” Wright said. “We are proud of it, but it’s time to move on. We can’t simmer in this victory for too long.”
STATS
Wright completed 14-of-23 passes for 195 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He added nine rushes for 52 yards. Renfro rushed 23 times for 84 yards and a score, while VanGilder picked up 74 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, losing one fumble. Moore led Joplin in receiving with five catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.
Knatchal completed 14-of-29 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns. Combs caught nine passes for a game-high 234 yards and two touchdowns.
UP NEXT
Joplin hits the road for a matchup at Ozark in Week 3.
