Bob Foos
In post-game interviews after losses, Coach Ryan McFarland told KNEO listeners he was more concerned about the Cardinals improving each week than getting “Ws” – because it wouldn’t be until districts that winning would really matter.
Now look. The Cardinals entered districts with a 3-6 record. Now they’ve evened their record and are the district champs.
To keep on playing, they have to beat the 11-0 Platte County Pirates.
The Cardinals will entertain the Pirates in the Class 5 quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Friday at Cardinal Stadium. Admission will be by digital ticket only. They’re $10 and available here.
Webb City has a 2-1 record against Platte County, with the most recent being a 24-21 home loss in 2020. The Cardinals defeated the Pirates 21-18 here in the 2017 semifinals and 48-0 in the 2019 championship game.
The chances of third-seeded Webb City upsetting the once-beaten (by Nixa) first-seeded Carthage didn’t look good early, as the Cardinals spotted the Tigers 14 points in the first quarter.
Ryan Reid was punting after a third unsuccessful Cardinal drive when Webb City’s luck changed. The punt return was bobbled and recovered by Mason Williams at the Carthage 30.
Ten plays later, Isaiah Tela pushed 2 yards into the end zone. 7-14
Another Carthage player fumbled on the kickoff return. The loose ball was recovered by Karsen Myers at the Carthage 24.
That began another Cardinal 10-play drive that ended as Jackson Lucas completed a 21-yard pass to Cohen Epler as he stepped into the end zone. 14-14
Carthage fumbled the second kickoff return in a row. Gauge Heilbrun recovered it at the Carthage 24. And Lucas scored a TD from 11 yards out. 21-14
Carthage made it a new game before the half to tie it at 21 all.
In the second half, after trading possessions, Webb City regained the lead with Lucas running on seven of 10 plays, the last two for 23 and 20 yards. 35-21
Webb City’s defense held Carthage on fourth-and-four to take possession on the Carthage 40.
Slade Hurd finished the 12-play drive with a 5-yard run. 42-21
On their next possession, the Tigers scored a touchdown and recovered an onside kickoff. 42-28
But Mason Williams ended their drive with an interception.
Carthage got one more drive, but it ended with an interception when Jackson Dodson caught Brady Carlton’s pass at the goal line.
The Webb City Sentinel isn’t a newspaper – but it used to be, serving Webb City, Missouri, in print from 1879-2020. This “newspaper” seeks to carry on that tradition as a nonprofit corporation.
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