By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Willard has opened the prep football season in somewhat unusual fashion.
“We’re a decent team,” Tiger coach Phil Wickwar said Thursday. “We’re moving the ball a bit. We’ve had nearly 800 yards of offense in our first two games. It’s encouraging because we’ve been playing pretty well.
“We haven’t played well enough, though,” Wickwar said. “We’ve been a bridesmaid. There is no consolation prize (for losing).”
Willard visits Webb City for its Central Ozark Conference Large Division opener at 7 tonight at Cardinal Stadium.
Willard (0-2, 0-1) has lost 31-20 to visiting Rolla, from the Ozark Conference, and 29-26 last week at Ozark in the COC.
Webb City, meanwhile, is ranked third in Class 4 and is savoring narrow wins against Harrisonville and Arkansas Class 7A Rogers.
“We lost two fumbles and had four holding penalties against Rolla,” Wickwar said. “Ozark (opening its new stadium before an estimated 5,000) executed a two-minute drive — we dropped an interception — to score with 23 seconds left.
“We have a mature group and we want to finish strong,” Wickwar said. “These are great measuring games (Carthage visits Willard next week).”
Webb City coach John Roderique and his staff naturally have been emphasizing the evils of looking past the Tigers.
“Coach Wickwar and his staff have done an outstanding job,” Roderique said. “They (the Tigers) opened last season with five wins before settling for a 6-4 record (after 2-8 in 2006).
“They’ve played two good teams this season,” Roderique said. “They could have won that first game except for the fumbles and mistakes. They easily could have won last week.
“Willard has been able to move the ball,” Roderique said. “We believe they want to win by running the ball. But they will throw the ball. Their quarterback, (junior) Marc Propst, is a good athlete.
“Willard is big and physical,” Roderique said. “They also have some speedy guys.”
Wickwar said that 200-pound senior Ryan Barker and 185 classmate Garrett Mayfield have paced the Tigers on the ground. Propst is completing 67 percent of his passes.
“We’re shifting gears into the conference,” Roderique said. “We have some familiarity with Willard. Obviously, we want to start off well in the conference.”
Notes: Roderique said that senior offensive tackle Parker Graham won’t play tonight because of an injury. Seniors Kelly Scott (5-foot-10, 285) and Shane Watson (5-10, 210) likely will share time at the position. ... Receiver-cornerback Jerry Workman, another senior, is “questionable,” Roderique said.
Sports
Willard to pose first COC hurdle for Webb City
- 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
