JOPLIN AT NIXA
Last week: Joplin def. Webb City 41-40; Nixa def. Branson 42-6.
Last year: Joplin def. Nixa 45-14.
OUTLOOK: Joplin hits the road for the first time in 2020 with a trip to the newly remodeled Eagles Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Joplin is coming off a back-and-forth battle with Webb City, while Nixa’s season opener was anything but close against Branson. Joplin’s offense gained 379 yards of offense against Webb City, with quarterback Always Wright completing 18-of-22 passes for 197 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Running back Nathan Glades carried the ball 24 times for 161 yards rushing and three scores on the ground to lead the rushing attack, averaging 6.7 yards per touch. Wideout Dante Washington caught a team-high six passes for 78 yards and a score, while Trayshawn Thomas caught four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown. On the defensive end, Joplin held Webb City scoreless in the third quarter and earned a takeaway in the fourth quarter to help seal the win in the second half.
Nixa is under new management, with John Perry in his first season at the helm of the Eagles. Sophomore quarterback Austin McCracken started in place of suspended QB Reid Potts and lit up Branson with four touchdown passes, a record-setting performance at the school.
HOW TO WATCH: Fox Sports Joplin’s live stream for Friday’s game can be found here: http://www.citylinktv.com/channel/joplin-web-tv/.
