By Ryan Atkinson

ratkinson@joplinglobe.com

Brandon McCoy and Les King — senior defensive linemen for the Joplin Eagles — would be excused if they did a little dreaming heading into tonight’s prep football game.

The Yellowjackets, one of the state’s most pass-happy teams, invade Junge Field for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

And with Lebanon quarterback Ryan Howerton dropping back to pass an average of 39 times per game, it might be easy for Joplin’s defensive linemen to let their minds wander with visions of sacks.

Not so, said McCoy.

“Everybody has to do their job. Those little dreams in your head saying ‘Yeah, I’m gonna go get the sack,’ it’s only a dream, it’s not reality,” he said. “The thing about it is, if you don’t keep your hole, you’re going to get yelled at during film. If you do your job, you’re going to get a good pat on the back and you’re going to be satisfied with the score at the end of the game.”

King agreed, sticking with a simple view on those dreams of bountiful quarterback takedowns.

“We see that as selfish,” King said. “But if you can get off your block and get the quarterback, hit him.”

Joplin’s defenders up front will play a key role in trying to slow Howerton and the Yellowjackets.

Howerton has completed 150 of his 235 passes for 2,012 yards — an average of 335 per game — and 20 touchdowns. Philip Archer has caught 49 of those passes for 480 yards and eight touchdowns while Tyler Bethel has 24 catches for 521 yards and three scores.

“The more pressure (the defensive line) can create without us having to blitz, the more successful we’ll be,” co-defensive coordinator Tobin Schultz said. “So we expect them to stuff the running game and put pressure on the quarterback.”

Co-defensive coordinator Craig Lynch one of the biggest advantages the Eagle defense has is having an offense that is also well versed at passing the ball.

“One of the nice things about it is, we can simulate (Lebanon’s offense) in practice with Coach Buck’s offense,” Lynch said. “We can adjust what they do and call the plays Coach Buck calls and put them in his terms so the kids completely understand.”

The Eagles, who have shown the ability to run and pass, should not have trouble putting up points.