May 11, 2008 12:16 am
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By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Joplin scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to beat the Arkansas Warriors 21-6 on Saturday night to win the Northern Division of the Central Football League playoffs at Junge Field.
It was the Crusaders’ 23rd straight win in a row overall and they go for a repeat CFL championship at 6 p.m. next Saturday against the Oklahoma Outlawz at Tulsa.
The Outlawz defeated the visiting Oklahoma Rebels 14-7 earlier Saturday for Southern Division laurels.
Arkansas, which finished 7-3, led the Crusaders (10-0) 6-0 after scoring late in the third period on quarterback Lester Clark’s 9-yard scamper.
But a poor snap made sure the Warriors botched the conversion.
A Jeremy Massey punt backed up the Warriors deep in their end of the field early in the fourth quarter. The Crusaders’ Cleavon Williams then recovered an Arkansas fumble at its 5.
Joplin, left with fourth-and-goal from the 2 after three running plays, scored at 9:09 as Clay Lasater lofted the soft strike to slotback Sam Sturgis.
“They (the Warriors) were looking for a pass with all five of our receivers out there,” Sturgis, former Baxter Springs athlete, said. “They had a guy lined up across from me. He dropped back when I faked inside and that created the separation.”
Aaron Doll kicked the first of three conversions for a 7-6 lead.
The Crusaders made it 14-6 at 3:34 on Lasater’s 48-yard scoring pass to tight end Matt Gassaway.
Joplin scored again as Chip Taylor recovered an onside kick from the 14 set up by four unsportsmanlike penalties.
“We expected this type of competitive game from the Warriors,” Joplin offensive coordinator Brenden Gubera said. “Our defense obviously played well. The wind affected our passing game. We ran the ball well.”
Joplin ran for 110 of some 175 yards.
Said Arkansas center Scott Wilmoth (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Bacone): “It was a good game until the fourth quarter. Then we lost our focus.”
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