By Joe Cress
sports@joplinglobe.com
Mack Kyle’s first career start at quarterback wasn’t off to a good start, and his coach was letting him know about it.
Midway through the second quarter of Friday’s season opener, Kyle’s Webb City Cardinals and the host Kickapoo Chiefs were locked in a scoreless battle with neither team doing much on offense.
Kyle had yet to lead his team to a first down on its first three possessions and the Webb City faithful — not accustomed to many such scoring droughts in the past — had to be getting restless.
Cardinals coach John Roderique was getting frustrated with his junior quarterback, who was missing reads.
But it all clicked on one play. Kyle hit Alan Pink on a slant pass, and Pink took it all the way to the end zone for a 53-yard touchdown with 3:24 left in the first half. That finally got the defending Class 4 state champions rolling, and the Cardinals went on to claim a 27-0 win against the Chiefs at a packed Pottenger Stadium.
“That was a big play by Alan,” Kyle said. “He broke a tackle and (kept going).”
The play certainly lit a spark under Kyle, too, who was a different player the rest of the way. He completed 6-of-10 passes for 119 yards and three touchdowns, and gained 132 yards on six carries, the final 98 on a touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
Kyle’s run came one play after the Cardinals stopped the Chiefs at the 2-yard line on a fourth-and-goal from the 4, halting a 14-play, 61-yard drive.
The quarterback didn’t miss his read this time, faking a pitch, then tucking it and running untouched down the sidelines.
Roderique said he had to remind himself not to be too hard on Kyle early on.
“Mack brings a strong, fast athlete to that position,” Roderique said. “We want our quarterback to be a third running back out there, and he did a good job.”
New Kickapoo coach Don Knock said there were positives to take from the game, namely the effort his team put out.
“We hung in as long as we could,” Knock said. “Our kids were fighting. We’ll keep getting better on offense. (Senior quarterback) Nick Jackson is a tremendous leader ... but we have to get better up front and not keep our defense on the field as long as we did.”
Jackson managed 44 yards on 17 carries despite being harassed by the Cardinals all night. Kickapoo was 0-for-7 passing.
Sports
Related Photos
Discussion
Defending champs get motor running
- Sports
-
-
Kickapoo girls race past Joplin
Annie Armstrong poured in 21 points to lead the Kickapoo girls to a 65-28 victory over Joplin on Thursday night in an Ozark Conference basketball game at Missouri Southern’s Young Gymnasium.
-
Cheever is ultimate blue-collar snowboarder
As a World Cup snowboardcross racer, Jonathan Cheever has taken his share of spills over the years.
-
District wrestling tournaments begin tonight
Neosho’s wrestling lineup will have a different look when the Class 3 district wrestling tournament begins at 6 p.m. today at Carthage.
-
Late board work carries Lions past Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State displayed its offensive rebounding muscle during Wednesday night’s game at Missouri Southern.
-
Pitching holds key for softball Lions
Pitching is the main question Missouri Southern must answer as the Lions open their softball season today in Abilene, Texas.
-
Quapaw completes 12-0 run through Lucky '7' Conference
Quapaw High School girls basketball coach Rod Graves expected the 2011-12 Wildcats to compile another successful season.
They haven’t been a disappointment. -
Hillsdale women stop OCC
Visiting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist handed Ozark Christian a 68-47 loss in women’s college basketball on Thursday night.
-
Tomlin, Steelers welcome Haley as new coordinator
Throughout the 16 minutes that followed him glowingly introducing former Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley as his new offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stood proudly in the corner of the second-floor media room at the team’s facility.
-
Rangers, Cruz strike $16M, 2-year deal
Two-time defending AL champion Texas has avoided arbitration with another of its core players, agreeing Thursday to a $16 million, two-year contract with AL championship series MVP Nelson Cruz.
-
Auburn’s Ward adapts game after injury at Texas
Auburn’s Varez Ward can’t take to the air quite like he used to. The onetime Texas starter is still trying to regain strength and explosiveness more than two years after rupturing his right quadriceps tendon while dunking during pre-game warmups.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
