By Bridget Bauer
sports@joplinglobe.com
MONETT, Mo. — Defending Class 3 champion Harrisonville took advantage of short-field opportunities and defeated Monett 28-0 in sectional play Wednesday at Burl Fowler Stadium.
Wildcat senior quarterback Sean Ransburg scored all four of Harrisonville’s touchdowns. The Kansas University signee reached the end zone on runs of 1, 7, 3 and 21 yards. The first, third and final scores began at the Monett 41, Wildcat 46 and Cub 24-yard lines, respectively.
The second touchdown came on an 86-yard drive and was highlighted by Ransburg’s 80-yard pass to Taylor Saunders.
“Our defense did a good job of putting us in advantageous positions,” Harrisonville Coach Fred Bouchard said. “We started (the season) with eight new starters and were young. I’m really pleased with the defense.”
Bouchard also had high praise for the Monett defense. Harrisonville (11-0) kept its undefeated mark intact but saw the Cub defense hold it to its lowest point total of the year. Additionally, the Wildcats lost three fumbles compared to Monett’s one fumble and one interception.
“They might be as good of defense we played against all year,” Bouchard said. “All year, we have never not had more takeaways than we gave up. Their defense runs to the football well.”
Other than the 80-yard pass play, Monett (9-2) held Harrisonville’s passing game in check. However, Ransburg was deadly on the ground and piled up 123 yards on 26 carries. Junior running back Derek Naida added 53 yards on 11 attempts as the Wildcats finished with 213 rushing yards.
“We felt we could do some things and take away some things and make some defensive stops,” Monett coach Alan Spencer said. “We had one mismatch, though, and that was at quarterback. If he got into space, we were in trouble.”
While the defense held its own, the offense sputtered. The Cubs finished with 156 totals yard with only 13 coming on the ground. At the end of the first quarter, Monett minus-5 yards. Meanwhile, the Wildcats totaled 327 yards.
“We knew we had to nickel and dime it with short passes, and they took that away in the second half,” Spencer said. “We felt like our defense would have to make big plays, and it did. We had to get big breaks on offense, and we couldn’t in the second half.”
With Harrisonville only possessing a 14-0 lead at the half on Ransburg’s 1-yard in the first quarter and his 7-yard run in the second quarter, Monett was still in the fight. The Cubs even reached the end zone between the Wildcats’ two scores, but the touchdown was called back because of a penalty.
However, Harrisonville had back-to-back touchdowns to begin the second half.
The Wildcats scored on the opening possession on Ransburg’s 3-yard run.
The Cubs then fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and gave Harrisonville the ball at the 24 where Ransburg eventually scrambled to the end zone.
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