BRANSON, Mo. — Joplin found itself in a one-score game late but held off Branson 21-16 on Friday to get back into the win column.
Joplin (7-1) jumped out in front on its second drive of the game before Branson used a halfback pass for a big play to tie the game by the end of the first quarter. The Pirates forced the Eagles into a turnover and turned it into a field goal for a 9-6 advantage. Joplin responded with a score to take the lead into the half and added a score out of the locker room to push the lead to 19-9. Branson used a pick-6 to cut the lead to three early in the fourth quarter before Joplin forced a safety late to help seal the win.
The Eagles currently sit in third in the Class 6 District 3 standings with 40.59 points. Nixa is in second at 43.32 and Lee’s Summit North in first at 43.68.
Joplin took the initial lead after marching down the field on its second drive to go up 6-0 on an Always Wright 5-yard touchdown run. Wright faked the second-down-and-goal handoff and kept it to the left before crossing the goal line.
Branson went to the trickeration near the end of the first quarter with running back David Hadaller connecting on a 64-yard halfback pass to Cooper Saxon for a touchdown to tie the game at 6-6.
The Eagles looked like they would be taking the lead a few plays later when Wright found Terrance Gibson on a 50-yard deep ball up the seam before the ball was punched out from behind as Gibson crossed the 15-yard line with the Pirates recovering for a turnover.
Branson drove the ball deep into Joplin territory before a pair of penalties forced them into a 32-yard field goal try, which was converted by Cade Grimm. The make gave Branson a 9-6 lead with 3:34 to play in the first half.
After a long return down to the Branson 47 by All Wright, the Eagles were facing a fourth-down-and-6 in positive territory when Always Wright went up the near sideline to find a wide open Bruce Wilbert, who glided into the end zone for a score to give Joplin a 13-9 lead with 2:07 left to play in the first half.
Joplin scored first in the second half when RB Quinton Renfro broke off a 28-yard run for a touchdown at the 5:43 mark to give the Eagles a 19-9 advantage, making it a two-score game.
Branson climbed to within three points of the lead when Landon Atwood returned a Wright interception for a long touchdown to bring the score to 19-16 at the 10-minute mark.
Joplin turned the ball over on downs inside the Pirates’ 15-yard line on its ensuing drive, but the defense continued its strong play when DE Brayden Thomas came up with a safety for two points and possession, sealing the win.
Joplin wraps up the regular season next week, hosting Neosho at 7 p.m.
