Bob Foos
After a 52-21 home win last week against Parkview, the districts get real Friday when Webb City’s Cardinals visit the Republic Tigers.
The 7-3 Cardinals (seeded third) and 8-2 Tigers (seeded second) have duplicate records – except the Cardinals lost their homecoming game in week 6 on Oct. 3 to the Tigers, 27-21.
The winner will advance to the Class 5 District 6 tournament final against Carthage or Neosho. Carthage (seeded first) had a bye while fifth-seeded Neosho beat fourth-seeded Branson 42-20.
In the opening round of districts, the Cardinals scored two touchdowns in each of the first three quarters and taked on a seventh as they defeated Parkview 52-21.
A trio of Cardinals, Mason Williams, Drake Claborn and Braden Strickland, rushed for over 70 yards.
Williams was the first to put Webb City on the scoreboard, as he completed a 4-play 62-yard drive with a 3-yard run. Quarterback Braden Strickland completed passes to Trae Turner (34 yards) and Gabe Johnson (12 yards). On the third 1st-and-10 play in a row, he kept the ball for a 13 yard run that ended just 3 yards shy of the end zone.
Webb City’s second possession ended with a fumble that was recovered and run in for a touchdown by the Vikings.
Still in the first quarter, Strickland scored a touchdown on a 5-yard carry.
Williams opened the second quarter with a 5-yard touchdown. Karsen Myers stopped a Parkview drive with an interception, and Strickland completed a 15-yard pass to Trae Turner.
The Cardinals got another interception from Mason Young. Five plays later, Diego Aldrete kicked a 32-yard field goal for a 31-7 halftime lead.
Talan Haslip opened the second half for the Cardinals with a 1-yard carry. Mason Young completed a 34-yard pass to Gus Karnes for the second touchdown of the third quarter.
Austin Arft finished Webb City’s scoring with a 4-yard touchdown, making the final score 52-21.
Strickland completed six on nine attempts for 82 yards passing, and Young was one for one with his 34-yard touchdown pass.
Ethan Keller had an 11-tackle night, nine of which were unassisted.
