By Greg Grisolano

ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com

WEBB CITY, Mo. — When it’s Friday night during Webb City football season, Gale Mahurin will be at the game, cheering on his beloved Cardinals.

“It’s a small town, and that’s what we grew up doing,” he said. “The old boy upstairs is going to have to get me if I’m going to miss a game.”

Saturday’s state title game in St. Louis will mark Mahurin’s 441st consecutive Webb City game, a streak he has no plans of ending.

“The games are all exciting,” he said. “Very few fans see this many championship teams. Webb City has seven, and hopefully we’ll have eight come Saturday.”

The undefeated Cardinals take on the one-loss Jefferson City Helias Crusaders at 3:15 p.m. Saturday for the Class 4 championship at the Edward Jones Dome.

For 37 years, nothing has stopped the 59-year-old retiree from Dyno Nobel from attending every home and road game — including the playoffs. He said he even skipped his daughter’s wedding rehearsal to attend a playoff game.

“Friday night is mine,” he said. “I told my daughter I’d be able to say ‘I do’ or whatever without going to the rehearsal.”

His wife, Terry, is a good sport about her husband’s Friday night ritual.

“I know I can’t die in November,” she said with a laugh.

The walls of a detached garage at Mahurin’s home in rural Oronogo are festooned with memorabilia, including autographed team pictures, banners and photos of the old stadium. A large banner also bears the signatures of the entire 1991 team, a gift from a buddy who Mahurin said regularly accompanies him to games. He has a group of friends with whom he travels, as well as a son-in-law from Carl Junction who makes frequent trips with him.

“My son-in-law has started to go,” he said. “I’m kind of converting him, and he’s getting into it.”

The streak began in 1971, before the Cardinals became the Class 4 powerhouse they are today.

Mahurin said his passion for Webb City football goes back to his childhood, when he and his father would catch as many games as they could at the old Rock Stadium.