FOOTBALL: Joplin hits the road for district semifinals matchup with Raymore-Peculiar

After earning a forfeit win in the district opener, fifth-seeded Joplin’s first taste of playoff action comes on the road against top-seeded Raymore-Peculiar on Friday in the Class 6 District 3 semifinals.

“They are about 50-50. They run some zone like us, and some power-and-counter,” Joplin coach Curtis Jasper said. “Their defensive line is really good. … They lost to the same team (De Smet) we did a year ago, they just did it a round earlier. They are a veteran-type team.”

Ray-Pec’s spread offense, which is averaging 35 points and 365 yards a game, is based out of the shotgun formation. The Panthers typically use an offset running back and two receivers out wide, with the tight end lining  up all over the field.

Quarterback Conrad Hawley has completed 131-of-220 passes this season for 2,271 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Running back Phillip Fager leads the team in rushing with 657 yards and 15 touchdowns on 135 carries, while RB Nick Karr has 76 carries for 361 yards and two touchdowns. WR Jacob Doss leads the team in receiving with 34 receptions for 770 yards and seven touchdowns. TE Weston Ropp has 395 yards receiving and six touchdowns, while Tucker Miller has 382 yards receiving and four touchdowns.

“They have a 6-6 quarterback (Conrad Hawley) who is good,” Jasper said. “Guys seem to bounce off of him. … He moves around in the pocket and scrambles to buy more time. He can throw on the run. Their receiving corps is solid. … They do a lot of things with (their tight end).”

For Joplin’s defense, playing a complete game will be the biggest key on that side of the ball. Jasper noted making sure of tackles, winning in the trenches and applying pressure on the quarterback will give them the best chance to be successful.

Linebacker Scott Lowe leads the Eagles with 123 solo tackles this season, 80 solo, while Jayden Holt has 105 total tackles, 67 solo. Marcelino Puente, who has a team-high six tackles-for-loss and three sacks, has 65 total tackles, Donovyn Fowler has 54 and Jacob Prosser, who has a team-high four sacks, has 53 total tackles.

Joplin’s offense is averaging 35.4 points and 450 yards a game. Quarterback Always Wright has completed 158-of-216 passes for 2,008 yards, 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Nathan Glades has 202 carries for 1,375 yards and 23 rushing touchdowns to go along with 310 receiving yards and another score. Keaton Renfro leads Joplin in receiving with 516 yards and three touchdowns, while Trayshawn Thomas has 449 yards and two touchdowns. Dante Washington has 261 yards on 21 receptions and a team-high five receiving touchdowns.

Ray-Pec’s defense is limiting teams to 17 points per game, holding teams to 10 points or less five times this season. OLB Benjamin Einess leads the team in tackles (63). DT Isaac Cook has a team-high 11 tackles for loss, while DL Ethan George has a team-high nine sacks.

There is a lot of unfamiliarity between Joplin and Ray-Pec, as neither are on each other’s schedule, and the only same-opponent this season is Rockhurst, which Joplin defeated by forfeit. And that makes for an interesting district semifinal game.