NEOSHO, Mo. — Neosho cashed in on its first win of the season after battling to a 21-14 win over Willard on Friday at Bob Anderson Stadium.
The Wildcats (1-7) jumped out in front in the first quarter before the Tigers (0-8) tied the game up midway through the second period. Neosho and Willard traded scores to keep the game tied before the Wildcats found the end zone with less than two minutes to play. The Wildcats held Willard from scoring in a goal-to-goal situation as time expired to preserve the win.
Neosho jumped out in front on its second drive of the game when Jared Siler broke free for a 28-yard touchdown run up the middle, weaving his way to the pylon of the end zone to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead at the 8:44 mark of the first quarter.
Willard’s Gary Walker tied the game up with a 43-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7.
Neosho battled back across with the goal line in the third quarter when Siler found paydirt for a second time with a 2-yard run near the six-minute mark to give the Wildcats a 14-7 lead.
Willard tied the game up at 14-14 with 7:45 left in the game after Tyler Janes crossed the goal line from 2 yards out.
Neosho took the lead back with less than two minutes to play when Siler rushed for a touchdown from 6 yards out to make the score 21-14 with 1:55 left to play. The touchdown was set up by a long pass from Quenton Hughes to Isaiah Green.
The Tigers drove the ball down inside the Wildcats’ 10 with time dwindling, but Neosho prevented Willard from crossing the goal line with enough stops by the time time expired.
Neosho closes out the regular season with a road matchup at Joplin on Friday.
