Bob Foos
Webb City welcomes the Neosho Wildcats to Cardinal Stadium this Friday following their 33-14 loss at Republic last week.
The 5-2 Cardinals and 6-1 Wildcats are fighting for position on the Class 5 District 6 bracket when the post season begins on Oct. 30. Webb City’s final game of the regular season will be on Oct. 23 at Joplin.
Webb City didn’t score at Republic until the fourth quarter, when Drake Claborn completed a 45-yard drive with a 1-yard carry. The touchdown was set up by a 12-yard run by D’Mitri Ndzentuv and a 25-yard by quarterback Mason Young. The 2-point conversion attempt failed. 6-26
Brady Wallace’s kickoff was a successful onside kick, as River Lenker gathered the ball at Webb City’s 40-yard line and returned it 14 yards to the Republic’s 46-yard line.
Young completed a 19-yard pass to Malachi Njoroge for the touchdown, and then he completed a pass to Micah Njoroge for the 2-point conversion. 14-26
Wallace tried an onside kick again, but Republic got the ball and wound up scoring with 3:16 left in the game. 14-33
It was a long night for Webb City’s defense since Republic’s time of possession was nearly twice as long as Webb City’s.
Republic, not throwing a single pass, ran for 389 yards, compared to Webb City’s 116.
Young was Webb City’s leading rusher, with 73 yards.
Cooper Ray had 11 tackles for the Cardinals. Ethan Keller and Lenker both had 9, and Braylen Coleman had 8.
In his post-game interview with KNEO, coach Ryan McFarland said his players “put up a fight in the fourth quarter” but need to do the same for all four quarters.
