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PREP FOOTBALL: Wilson scores 4 TD, Webb City bounces back with 41-6 win at Carl Junction

By:
Jason Peake

 

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — When the Webb City Cardinals took the field on Friday night at Bulldog Stadium, it’s safe to say they were highly-motivated to rebound from last week’s disappointing setback.

And despite missing two key performers, the Cardinals looked like a team on a mission. 

Senior running back Cade Wilson scored four touchdowns and Webb City’s defense didn’t give up a touchdown as the Cardinals earned a 41-6 Central Ozark Conference victory over Carl Junction in Week 5 of the 2021 prep football season.

The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Wilson noted the Cardinals desperately wanted to get well after last Friday’s tough loss at Carthage.

“We showed we can bounce back,” Wilson said. “It was a great week of practice honestly. All the seniors have been on everyone after last week. We’ve all just bounced back. We all have one goal…everyone knows what that is.” 

Wilson ran for a touchdown in each of the four quarters. 

“Cade’s an experienced guy and he was out there giving it everything he had,” Webb City coach John Roderique said. “But it all starts up front. Let’s make no mistake about that. It always starts up front. I thought we did a good job of controlling the line of scrimmage.” 

Webb City’s Cade Wilson is tackled by Carl Junction’s Chance Benford on Friday night at Bulldog Stadium. Photo by Israel Perez.

Ranked fifth in Class 5 by the Missouri Media, Webb City improved to 3-2. 

“I thought we played better,” Roderique said. “I still scratch my head about last week, but the kids did what they needed to do tonight. We created some turnovers on defense. Offensively, we did a good job. We’ve watched Carl Junction play outstanding on defense against everyone they’ve played. I thought our guys did a good job against a really stout defense.”

Webb City was without two starters, as senior quarterback Cohl Vaden missed the game for undisclosed reasons and senior running back and leading rusher Dupree Jackson is currently out of action after having hand surgery. 

Webb City QB Landon Johnson is brought down by Carl Junction’s Carter Kennedy. Photo by Israel Perez.

Junior Landon Johnson filled in at QB for the Cardinals, while classmate Max Stovern started in place of Jackson.

“I thought Landon did a fantastic job,” Roderique said. “Those situations can be tough for a kid. But he did a nice job.” 

“LJ’s played quarterback before and when he’s in there, I have faith in him 100 percent,” Wilson said. “And Max stepped up tonight. He helped me get those four touchdowns.”  

Webb City led 14-3 at halftime and 21-6 at the end of the third period en route to victory. Defensively, Webb City allowed just two field goals. 

“Our defense played really well,” Roderique said. “It was more of a bend but don’t break deal. It was a good bounce-back game for the defense.” 

Wilson wasn’t the only Cardinal to perform well on Friday night. 

Junior wide receiver and defensive back Dante Washington made an impact in various ways. He hauled in a touchdown pass, grabbed an interception and also had a number of stellar kick returns. 

“He’s a pretty dynamic kid,” Roderique said. “It was a pretty good night for him. It was nice to see him have some success.” 

The Class 4 Bulldogs fell to 2-3. 

Carl Junction coach Doug Buckmaster said he was pleased with the play of junior quarterback Nathan Planchon, who is starting in place of the injured Kyler Perry. Buckmaster also noted there are still areas of concern at this point of the season. 

“We needed to improve as a football team tonight, and I think our quarterback, Nathan Planchon, made a big step up from where he was a week ago,” Buckmaster said. “I think we took a big step forward in our passing game. We did very well in the passing game for the most part. We just didn’t have the running game to complement it. Unfortunately, we did turn the ball over a couple of times in the second half. But we moved the ball a lot tonight. We had multiple opportunities to put points on the board, but we just really struggled getting the ball in the end zone. That’s primarily due to a lack of a running game between the tackles. We’ve got to get better at running the football between the tackles. Hopefully we can fix that.”

Webb City senior running back Cade Wilson sprints to one of his four touchdowns on Friday night at Carl Junction. Photo b Israel Perez.

GAME RECAP

Wilson’s 3-yard touchdown run with 2:48 left in the first quarter gave Webb City a 7-0 lead.  A nice punt return by Washington and a penalty on the Bulldogs set up the lone score of the opening frame. 

Carl Junction got on the board with 7:37 remaining in the first half when Xavier Perkins converted a 27-yard field goal. 

The Cardinals responded on the second play of the ensuing drive, as Wilson sprinted past the defense 57 yards.

The Bulldogs had a scoring chance just before the half, but a pass from the 3-yard line fell incomplete. 

“We had an opportunity to score right before the half, but unfortunately we didn’t make a play,” Buckmaster said. “Those things happen. We just didn’t get it done.”

After the break, Webb City had a turnover on downs before Carl Junction’s Perkins knocked in a 33-yard field goal, trimming his team’s deficit to 14-6.

But the Cardinals extended their lead to 21-6 when Wilson scored his third TD of the game, this time on a 4-yard run at the 6:29 mark of the third period.

Wilson added a 16-yard touchdown scamper to start the final frame, giving the visitors a 28-6 advantage. 

Washington hauled in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Johnson with 6:23 left and had an interception moments later. 

Webb City’s Billy Wolfe put the finishing touches on the win with a 47-yard pick-six with just under two minutes to play. 

Buckmaster noted there were positives in the loss.

“We’re a good defensive football team,” Buckmaster said. “When we can put some points on the board, we’re going to be a tough out for a lot of people. We just need to cash in on our opportunities. I am proud of our kids. We’re competitors. We’re lacking in numbers and depth this year. But we’ll compete. We don’t play anyone in our own classification until the playoffs and we may play the toughest schedule in the state of Missouri. And I believe we got out of here without losing anybody to injuries and that’s big to get through this stretch healthy after having Carthage, Joplin and Webb City in three of four weeks.” 

 

NAMES & NUMBERS

Webb City compiled 337 yards of offense, with 271 rushing and 66 passing.

Wilson ran 14 times for 149 yards. Omari Jackson ran five times for 53 yards, while Stovern had 28 yards on eight carries. Johnson ran six times for 27 yards.

Johnson completed five passes for 66 yards with one TD and one INT. 

Washington caught two passes for 49 yards. He also had a 36-yard kick return and a 35-yard punt return. 

Cooper Crouch averaged 38 yards on three punts. 

Lucas Ott was credited with nine tackles, while Kaylor Darnell had eight and Brentan Wilson had six. 

Carl Junction had 303 yards, 268 passing and 28 rushing. 

Planchon completed 21 of 42 pass attempts for 256 yards. He was picked off three times. Dexter Merrell caught eight passes for 106 yards, while Ayden Bard had two receptions for 66 yards and Dalton Mills hauled in six passes for 54 yards.

Chance Benford was credited with five tackles for the CJ defense.  

 

WHAT’S NEXT?

Webb City hosts Branson next Friday, while Carl Junction hosts Neosho in Week 6. 

 

WEBB CITY 41, CARL JUNCTION 6

Webb City       7    7     7    20— 41

Carl Junction  0    3     3    0 — 6

SCORING SUMMARY

WC: Cade Wilson 3 run (Cooper Crouch kick)

CJ: Xavier Perkins 27 field goal. 

WC: Wilson 57 run (Crouch kick)

CJ: Perkins 33 field goal. 

WC: Wilson 4 run (Crouch kick)

WC: Wilson 16 run (Crouch kick)

WC Dante Washington 14 pass from Landon Johnson (Crouch kick)

WC: Billy Wolfe 47 interception return (Kick failed)

 

Webb City’s Kaylor Darnell attempts to tackle Carl Junction’s Dexter Merrell during Friday’s game. All photos by Israel Perez.

 

Webb City’s Cooper Crouch (49) and Kaylor Darnell (1) converge on Carl Junction QB Nathan Planchon on Friday.

 

Webb City’s Kaylor Darnell stops CJ’s Dexter Merrell on Friday night.

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