Bob Foos
The Webb City Cardinals took a 35-0 lead before the half and went on to defeat Belton 42-6 here Friday in the first round of the Class 5 District 7 tournament.
Seeded third, with a record of 4-6, the Cardinals now travel to Grain Valley (east of Blue Springs) to play the second-seeded 7-3 Eagles.
Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Grain Valley High School, 552 Eagles Parkway, Grain Valley. Tickets (digital only) will be available until 10 a.m. Friday for $6 per person (age 6 and older).
The Eagles advanced by defeating seventh-seeded Ruskin 49-7.
No. 1 seed Carthage had a bye last week and will host fourth-seeded Neosho this week. The Wildcats defeated fifth-seeded Raytown 42-6.
Although the Cardinals deferred on the opening kickoff, they still got the first possession after Brody Eggleston recovered Jared Castro’s onside kick at Belton’s 45-yard line.
On the second play of the game, quarterback Jackson Lucas ran 39 yards for a touchdown. 7-0
Still in the first quarter, Lucas completed an 82-yard drive with a 10-yard pass to tight end Fisher Derrick in the end zone. 14-0
Lucas got the Cardinals into scoring position again with a 34-yard run. Andrew Elwell, in his first full game after healing from an injury, finished the drive with a 13-yard run. 21-0
Webb City went ahead 28-0 on just two Lucas passes. The first was caught by Derrick Wagner for a 55-yard gain. The second was to Gus Karnes for a 30-yard touchdown pass. 28-0
Castro kicked an onside kick again, and the Cardinals’ Ethan Keller recovered corralled the ball at the Belton 44.
With 3:55 before the half, Lucas ran for 27 yards and then 16 yards to the 1-yard line. After a false-start penalty, Andrew Young caught a 5-yard pass, and then Lucas ran it in as the second quarter ended. 35-0
Webb City received the kickoff to start the second half and took six plays to complete a 72-yard scoring drive. Garrett Powell had carries of 10 and 22 yards. Isaiah Tela carried for 14 yards. And Braden Strickland threw a 14-yard pass to Cohen Epler for the touchdown.
Jared Castro kicked all six PATs plus both on-side kicks.
Belton scored its lone touchdown as the game ended.
