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PREP FOOTBALL: Late comeback falls short for Webb City in loss to Nixa

 

NIXA, Mo. — A valiant effort wasn’t enough for the Webb City Cardinals.

A late comeback fell short and Webb City suffered a 41-27 loss at Nixa on Friday night in a Central Ozark Conference clash at Eagle Stadium. 

After trailing by 16 early in the second half, the Cardinals kept coming. In fact, the visitors had a chance to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. 

But it wasn’t meant to be, as an ill-timed turnover halted the comeback attempt before the hosts added a late score for the final margin. 

“Nobody likes to lose…but I’m so proud of our kids,” Webb City coach John Roderique said in a postgame interview with KNEO radio. “They never gave up and never quit. We got a turnover and we were driving to tie the game up potentially. I’m very proud of our guys. Nixa is a very good football team. We’ll get better from this game. We just didn’t have enough tonight.”

Ranked fourth in Class 5 by the Missouri Media, Webb City fell to 4-3. Ranked sixth in Class 6, Nixa improved to 6-1. It was Nixa’s first-ever win over Webb City in football. 

The Cardinals never held the lead, as the Eagles were up 14-12 at the half and 28-20 entering the final frame. 

 

GAME RECAP

After Webb City went three and out to start the night, Nixa took a 7-0 lead with 4:49 left in the first quarter when Connor Knatcal connected with Kael Combs on an 8-yard touchdown strike. 

Webb City had a great opportunity to score early in the second quarter, but the Cardinals were stopped on the 5-yard line on a fourth down play.

After forcing a Nixa punt, the Cardinals broke through with 4:56 in the second quarter, as Omari Jackson charged into the end zone from 2 yards out to cap a 61-yard drive. 

The kick was blocked, however, keeping the hosts up 7-6.

The Eagles answered on the next series, as Combs hauled in a 13-yard TD reception with 1:07 to finish off an 80-yard drive.

Webb City responded in a big way just before intermission, as speedy junior Dante Washington returned the kick 76 yards to get the visitors within striking distance with just under a minute remaining in the half.

Two plays later, junior QB Landon Johnson scrambled and found Washington open for a 17-yard touchdown. 

The 2-point conversion failed, and Nixa led 14-12 at the break.  

Nixa went up 28-12 in the third quarter after a pair of touchdown runs by Jaden Aven. The second TD was set up by a 34-yard pass to Combs. 

Dupree Jackson’s 6-yard TD scamper, along with Washington’s 2-point conversion, cut Webb City’s deficit to 28-20 with 1:01 left in the third quarter.

Facing third down and 15, Nixa pulled off a 59-yard touchdown pass to Jordyn Turner with 10:11 left, giving the Eagles a 34-20 advantage.

The Cardinals pulled within seven when Cade Wilson scored on a 10-yard run and Cooper Crouch converted the PAT kick with 7:28 remaining. 

Next, the Webb City defense came up with a key takeaway, as Dupree Jackson grabbed an interception. 

But the Cardinals turned the ball over on the ensuing drive, as the Eagles recovered a Webb City fumble with 3:41 left. 

The Eagles added a score with just under two minutes to play on a 4-yard run by Aven. 

 

NAMES & NUMBERS

Webb City finished with 353 yards, 237 rushing and 116 passing. 

Wilson ran 26 times for 153 yards, while Dupree Jackson had 48 rushing yards and Omari Jackson added 22. 

Johnson completed 8 of 16 passes with one TD and one INT. Washington had three catches for 50 yards, while William Hayes hauled in two passes for 42 yards. Cole Cavitt and Kaden Turner also had receptions.

Nixa had 487 yards of offense, with 267 on the ground and 220 through the air. 

Spencer Ward ran 24 times for 157 yards, while Aven had 10 carries for 101 yards and three touchdowns. 

Knatcal completed 12 of 18 passes, with five going to Combs for 85 yards. 

 

WHAT’S NEXT?

Webb City hosts Ozark (2-5) next Friday. 

 

NIXA 41, WEBB CITY 27

Webb City      0      12       8       7—27

Nixa                7       7      14     13—41

 

SCORING SUMMARY

NIXA: Kael Combs 8 pass from Connor Knatcal (Kaleb James kick)

WC: Omari Jackson 2 run (Kick blocked)

NIXA: Combs 13 pass from Knatcal (James kick)

WC: Dante Washington 17 pass from Landon Johnson (Run failed)

NIXA: Jaden Aven 27 run (James kick)

NIXA: Aven 4 run (James kick)

WC: Dupree Jackson 6 run (Washington run)

NIXA: Jordyn Turner 59 pass from Knatcal (Kick failed)

WC: Cade Wilson 10 run (Cooper Crouch kick)

NIXA: Aven 4 run (James kick)

THEY MEET AGAIN: Webb City hosts Platte County in Class 5 semifinal

A rematch of last year’s Class 4 title game will determine who gets the opportunity to play for this year’s Class 5 championship.

Webb City (11-1) hosts Platte County (11-1) at 1:30 on Saturday afternoon at Cardinal Stadium in a semifinal clash of the Missouri Class 5 state football tournament.

Saturday’s winner advances to the championship game, where they’ll meet either Jackson (12-0) or Fort Zumwalt North (11-1) at 1 p.m. on Dec. 5 at Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City.

The Cardinals hammered the Pirates 48-0 in last year’s Class 4 championship game in Columbia.

“There’s no question they’re a better football team than they were a year ago,” Webb City coach John Roderique said of the Pirates. “They have several guys back from last year and I’m sure they are a year better. They’re a really good team with a high-powered offense.”

Webb City is in the semifinals for the 19th time in Coach Roderique’s 24 seasons. This year’s trip is the program’s 12th semifinal appearance in the last 13 years.

“We’ve had some memorable Saturday games at our place for sure,” Roderique said. “There’s something special about playing a home game the week of Thanksgiving at Cardinal Stadium. And being able to play at this stage of the season is the biggest part of it. We’re just pleased to still be alive in the playoffs.”

Webb City advanced to the Final Four with last Friday’s 42-14 win over Lebanon. (Big third quarter leads Webb City past Lebanon, Cards advance to semifinals)

Platte County advanced to the semifinals by knocking off Grain Valley 31-28. The Pirates overcame a 14-point halftime deficit and scored 17 unanswered points in the second half. Cole Rhoden connected on a 43-yard field goal that ended up the game-winner.

Pirates quarterback Chris Ruhnke completed 22-of-42 pass attempts for 327 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Colby Rollins had 103 receiving yards with one score, while Carter Salzman (63 yards), Dayton Mitchell (51 yards) and Joey Schultz (49 yards) all had multiple receptions.

The Pirates didn’t have much success on the ground, as they ran 22 times for just 23 yards. Cayden Davis’ 20 rushing yards were a team-high.

Grain Valley (10-2) finished with 365 yards, with 229 passing and 136 rushing, but the Platte County defense held the Eagles scoreless in the second half after surrendering 28 first-half points.

A Northwest Missouri recruit, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Ruhnke recently became his program’s all-time passing leader, as he’s currently at 5,673 career passing yards.

“Their quarterback makes them go,” Roderique said. “He’s the best quarterback we’ve seen all year. They spread you out and throw it all over the place. They have several weapons at receiver and they have a good running game. They give you a lot to defend. They do a lot of good things offensively.”

Winners of eight straight games, Platte County is averaging 35 points per game and allowing just 15.

“Defensively, they play really hard and they tackle well and look fundamentally sound,” Roderique said. “They’re really aggressive and fast on defense.”

Platte County’s lone loss came to North Kansas City, 42-37, in Week 4.

Winners of 11 straight games, Webb City is averaging 42 points per game and allowing 15.

The Cardinals average 290 rushing yards and 64 passing yards per game.

A Kansas State recruit, senior running back Devrin Weathers has rushed for 1,590 yards and has scored 27 touchdowns. Junior Dupree Jackson has rushed for 776 yards and 11 touchdowns, while senior quarterback Cole Gayman has 553 rushing yards with eight scores.

Gayman has passed for 787 yards and seven touchdowns. Top receivers are Cohl Vaden (245 yards), Gary Clinton (224 yards) and Mekhi Garrard (182 yards).

Defensive leaders for the Cardinals are Treghan Parker (106 tackles), Matt McDaniel (78 tackles), Brayden Hollingsworth (75 tackles) and Jaystin Smith (59 tackles). Parker, Shane Noel and Eli Goddard have four interceptions apiece.

Cameron Clark has knocked in 59-of-65 PAT kicks, while Cooper Crouch is averaging 36 yards per punt.

THEY MEET AGAIN

In last year’s meeting, the Cardinals led 28-0 at halftime and then added three second-half touchdowns in the lopsided victory that gave Webb City its 15th state championship.

Webb City ran all over the Pirates, as the Cardinals racked up 412 yards on 42 attempts.

On the other hand, Platte County was limited to 62 rushing yards. Ruhnke completed 13-of-29 passes for 121 yards.

Webb City beat Platte County 21-18 in the 2017 semifinals in what was the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

THIS ‘N THAT

Webb City is ranked second in Class 5 by the Missouri Media, while Platte County is ranked fifth.

Both schools bumped up to Class 5 this season. And now, one of them will play for a state championship on Dec. 5.

 

 

CLASS 5 SEMIFINAL: PLATTE COUNTY AT WEBB CITY

WHEN: 1:30 p.m. on Saturday
WHERE: Webb City’s Cardinal Stadium
RECORDS: Platte County 11-1, Webb City 11-1
WHAT’S AT STAKE: The winner advances to the Class 5 championship game against either Jackson or Fort Zumwalt North on Dec. 5 in Jefferson City.
HOW’D THEY GET HERE: Platte County defeated Grain Valley 31-28 in the quarterfinals, while Webb City handled Lebanon 42-14.
LAST MEETING: Webb City defeated Platte County 48-0 in last year’s Class 4 championship game in Columbia.
TICKETS: Tickets are $7. Kids 5 and under are admitted free. There are no capacity limits. Gates open at noon and masks are required upon entry.
HOW TO LISTEN: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/webbcity/
HOW TO WATCH: https://www.mshsaa.tv/?B=209739 ($10 fee)