By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Webb City, as you would expect, had plenty of heroes in turning back visiting Rogers 36-33 on Friday night in Cardinal Stadium.
The Cardinals, 2-0, needed a 71-yard drive — capped by Seth Helton’s 9-yard run on fourth-and-4 with 3:27 minutes left in the game — to take a 34-33 lead and spoil the Mountaineers’ season debut.
Webb City coach John Roderique naturally had to wonder if the Cardinals’ touchdown at that juncture meant the Mounties had too much time with which to work.
There was no doubt about that, of course, after Austin Young returned the ensuing kickoff 56 yards to the Cardinal 40.
Sophomore kicker Jake Brasfield made the tackle on Young.
“It’s a touchdown if Jake doesn’t make the play,” Roderique said Tuesday. “It was an outstanding tackle.”
Rogers still had junior quarterback Andy Couture, who’d given the Cardinals fits, momentum and 3:13.
But a Rogers penalty made it first-and-25 and a scrambling Couture eventually was stopped two yards short of a first down on fourth-and-10.
The Cardinals took over at their 32-yard line at 2:41, picked up a first down on the ground and ran out the clock.
Roderique said that senior quarterback Mack Kyle was superb in directing the decisive 71-yard scoring drive for the Cardinals.
Backup quarterback Patrick Drake came in after the touchdown by Helton off the counter lead option and hit fellow sophomore Austin Daniel for the conversion pass.
Roderique said Kyle’s best play during the drive probably was a completion to tight end Austin Lepper for a 16-yard gain on third-and-8.
“That was a phenomenal athletic play by Kyle to keep from getting sacked,” Roderique said. “Lepper made a nice catch, too, and it wound up being a huge play.
“Those two plays — the completion to Lepper and the Helton touchdown — stick out on the drive,” Roderique said.
Junior Braxton Baker, who carried for two scores and Helton three, had another strong effort to hike his total for two games to six TDs and 295 yards on 45 carries.
“We didn’t play him a lot as a sophomore (26 carries, 206 yards, three TDs), but Braxton did a nice job when we called on him,” Roderique said. “We aren’t surprised by his play, but we’re really pleased.
“Braxton has worked very hard to put himself in this position,” Roderique said. “He kept busy in the winter by wrestling. He ran track (sprints) in the spring. He’s a workhorse.
“Braxton is a fun kid to coach because of his personality,” Roderique said.
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Webb City’s win highlighted by handful of heroes
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