By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
WEBB CITY, Mo. — A terrific start for the unbeaten Webb City High School football team finished in a monumental struggle on Friday night in Cardinal Stadium.
Blame Ozark and its scrambling quarterback Jordan Nuckolls.
Nuckolls, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound senior, threw for 392 yards on 36-of-60 to no avail as Webb City repelled the Tigers 41-26 in a Central Ozark Conference Large Division game.
Webb City, ranked third in Missouri Class 4, improved to 4-0 and 2-0 in the league. Class 5 Ozark fell to 1-4 in the league.
Senior quarterback Mack Kyle and junior running back Braxton Baker combined to spark the Cardinals’ offense.
The 6-1, 190-pound Kyle, who rushed for 70 yards on seven carries and completed 5-of-10 passes for 104 yards, scored three touchdowns on runs of 5, 8 and 25 yards. He also hooked up with senior tight end Adam Williams for a 20-yard scoring pass.
Baker, a 5-11, 180-pounder, picked up 187 yards on 19 carries and had a 15-yard scoring run.
The Cardinals jumped in front 20-0 after one period before the Tigers came alive with a 17-point second quarter to trail 28-17 at halftime.
“Our players are worn out. I’m worn out,” Webb City coach John Roderique said.
“Ozark played very well,” Roderique said. “Give the quarterback (Nuckolls) credit. He’s probably icing down his arm right now. His receivers worked themselves open.
“We lost some energy,” Roderique said. “My first impression is that we didn’t do a good job of tackling. We were playing on our heels. It’s very difficult to rush the passer and also play pass defense.”
Said Tiger coach Chris Allison: “I can’t say enough about the effort of our players. We brought it back to one possession.
“The coaches worked very hard in preparing for this game, too,” Allison said. “That was our fourth different defensive scheme.”
Webb City finished with 425 yards on offense with 321 on the ground. Ozark piled up 457 behind the passing of Nuckolls (who was intercepted by Ryan Powell and Boo Rodgers).
Nuckolls hit Ryan Holmes and Sam Jones for scores in the second period covering 36 and 75 yards. The Tigers’ third touchdown was on a 1-yard plunge by Cleave Perryman late in the third.
Holmes, a 6-3 junior, caught 12 passes for 127 yards.
The Tigers’ Drew Crain, a junior, booted field goals from 39 and 31 yards and the first came with just 1.1 seconds left in the first half to add to their momentum.
Junior Jeremiah Box scored in the second period for the Cardinals on a 2-yard run and Baker ran for the conversion. Sophomore Jake Brasfield kicked three extra points.
Kyle’s TDs in the fourth — 8 and 25 yards — came at 9:00 and 1:06. The second came after the Tigers failed on an onside kick.
The teams stay in the COC next Friday night with Webb City traveling to Nixa and Ozark visiting Republic.
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