By Ryan Atkinson

ratkinson@joplinglobe.com

If the Joplin Eagles want to reclaim the Ozark Conference crown, they’ll have to get through a major test tonight. The Eagles face the 2-1 Camdenton Lakers at 7 p.m. Laker Stadium.

“This is no doubt our biggest test to date,” Joplin coach Doug Buckmaster said. “They have so much tradition and consistency and nothing has changed this year. Football is king in Camdenton.”

The Lakers took a surprising hit to open the season, dropping a 24-21 decision to Kickapoo on the road. But Camdenton has rebounded nicely, thumping Hillcrest 42-14 and Glendale 26-6.

“I think we have definitely improved,” Camdenton coach Bob Shore said. “We’ve still got a ways to go to be the kind of team we want to be ... but everything would indicate that we’ve gotten better.”

The Lakers again rely on a solid ground game. Camdenton rushed for 316 yards last week against Glendale and 416 against Hillcrest. Josh Glover and Blaine Bach lead the Laker ground game.

“They’re going to line up and try to run the ball right at you,” Buckmaster said. “They don’t do anything real fancy ... they’re run some play-action and throw in a trick play every now and the, but they hang their hat on running the ball between the tackles. They’re physical.”

That may not be good news for Joplin defense that has struggled in its first three games. The Eagles are allowing 35 points and 411 yards per game.

“We have to tackle better for starters,” Buckmaster said. “That’s been our Achilles heel. We have to tackle more physically. We worked on that all week.”

Shore said the Joplin defense that he has seen on film look solid.

“They run to the ball well, they’re quick, they play good defense,” he said “It just looks like they give up big plays ... and I don’t know that we’re a big-play team, so that’s a little worrisome.”

While the Joplin defense is looking for improvement, the Eagle offense has been in midseason form from week 1.

The Eagles are averaging 479 yards and 47 points per game. Quarterback Devin St. Clair has completed 52 of his 73 passes for 885 yards and nine touchdowns. Dane Kolkmeyer has 27 catches for 504 yards and five scores while running back Ron King has rushed for 388 yards and three touchdowns.

“I just hope we can keep up with them,” Shore said. “We have to do three things. We have to keep the their receivers in front of us ... we have to contain the quarterback, because he can turn negative plays into positive plays ... and we have to keep the ball on offense. We have too keep it as long as we can and keep it away from them.”