Bob Foos
There’s going to be a rematch between Webb City and Carthage that wasn’t expected to be so soon.
As the Class 5 District 6 tournament opens Friday, the fifth-seeded Webb City Cardinals will travel to Carthage, where the Tigers are seeded fourth.
Prior to last Friday, it was assumed Webb City would travel to Branson. But Neosho upset the rankings by getting a 51-48 win at Carthage.
Neosho is now the second seed behind Republic. They’re both 8-1.
The Cardinals increased their wins to six with their 42-35 win at Joplin. Their three losses have been against Republic, Neosho and Carthage. They were 5-0 when Carthage beat them 36-14 on Oct. 2.
It’s not unusual for the Cardinals to get revenge in the districts for losses during the regular season.
Republic will have a bye the first week of districts, awaiting the winner of the Webb City-Carthage game. Neosho will host Parkview, and Branson will host Willard.
By breaking their three-game losing streak at Joplin, Webb City coach Ryan McFarland told KNEO’s Scott Boudreax during a post-game interview that the Cardinals now have momentum going into districts.
The momentum began to build with seconds before halftime. Trailing by two touchdowns, quarterback Mason Young capped a 65-yard drive by completing a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Colton Rickman. 14-21
Webb City took the second-half kickoff. After two first downs, Young, on a quarterback keeper, ran 43 yards for the touchdown. 21-21
Joplin responded with a 71-yard drive. 21-28
On the succeeding kickoff, though, Barek Hoffman ran the ball back 82 yards to tie the score again. 28-28
Cooper Ray got the ball back for Webb City when he recovered a Joplin fumble at the Eagles’ 42-yard line.
On back-to-back plays, Young ran 32 yards and 8 yards to give the Cardinals the lead. 35-28
Webb City’s defense held Joplin on fourth down as the fourth quarter began.
Starting at Webb City’s 37-yard line, Levi VanBecelaere ran for three first downs (31 yards total). Drake Claborn and Abel Getz took it from there, with Claborn getting the touchdown on a 9-yard run. 42-28
The Cardinals stopped the Eagles again on downs but settled for a field-goal attempt on their next possession.
Joplin fought back with an 80-yard touchdown pass and then attempted an onside kickoff. However, the ball was smothered by D’Mitri Ndzentuv.
Young rushed for 196 yards and completed 6 of 9 passing attempts for 46 yards. Malachi Njoroge caught 3 passes for 18 yards.
Ray led the defense with 9 tackles (3 unassisted). Braylen Coleman and Gauge Heilbrun both had 6 unassisted tackles.
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