Hot Wildcats looking to avenge loss to Webb City

Sports

Discussion

November 9, 2008

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Sun Nov 09, 2008, 11:24 PM CST

By Anvil Welch

awelch@joplinglobe.com

Neosho High School has won five football games in a row since losing 27-14 to visiting Webb City on Oct. 3.

The Wildcats can avenge that loss tonight as the teams clash in the sectional round of the MSHSAA Class 4 playoffs.

Neosho must travel to Cardinal Stadium for the test. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Shawn Flannigan’s Wildcats (8-3) already have avenged one of their losses. Carthage, a 55-27 winner during the regular season, fell 39-13 last Wednesday night at Neosho in the regional round of the playoffs.

Webb City (11-0), ranked third in Class 4 under John Roderique, ousted Branson 34-0 in the first round.

Webb City, in the earlier game against Neosho at Bob Anderson Stadium, snapped a 14-14 deadlock by scoring twice in the final quarter. Mack Kyle tossed scoring passes covering 53 and 29 yards to Boo Rodgers and Austin Daniel, respectively.

“It was a very tough game to win and a very physical game,” Webb City coach John Roderique said. “Each team probably felt they could have played a better game. I know we felt that way.

“Our defense stepped up huge with so many mistakes we were making,” Roderique said of the first game. “They (the defense) did well to hold them to 14 points.

“But there’s no question both teams have improved since that game,” Roderique said. “Their (the Wildcats) overall execution on offense is so much better, for example.”

“We (the Neosho staff) agree,” Flannigan, who’s in his first season at Neosho, said. “Both teams have improved. It seemed, in fact, that Webb City really took off after our game. Definitely, Webb City was sharp against Branson.

“Webb City’s No. 1 attribute could be the way it wears down people,” Flannigan said. “The Cardinals play with such confidence based on their tradition as well as ability. They wait for you to make a mistake. They don’t panic.

“They made the plays when necessary and we didn’t in that first game,” Flannigan said.

Added Roderique: “Neosho has all the elements of an outstanding team. They have athletic kids with a good physical presence about them.

“They’re very difficult to defend,” Roderique said. “They’ve settled in with (sophomore) Alex Wise at quarterback. He does some good things and that includes making good decisions. He throws the ball to skilled athletes. They have hard-nosed running backs.

“They also give you a lot of different looks on defense,” Roderique said.

“This is a game that shapes up as outstanding,” Roderique said. “That’s true regardless of the weather.”

Roderique naturally hopes it’s a plus for the Cardinals to be playing on their turf.

“There’s an element of added confidence (because of playing at home),” Roderique said.

Notes: Union (11-0) is at Bolivar (10-1) tonight to determine a quarterfinal opponent for the Neosho-Webb City survivor at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. ... Neosho is making its first appearance in the playoffs since 1999. Seven-time state champion Webb City and Neosho have won 19 and nine district titles, respectively. ... Correction: It was Xavier Morrison, rather than Garrett Williams, who scored for Neosho on an 8-yard pass from Wise in the Wildcats’ win against Carthage.

Text Only

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.

February 10, 2012 3 Photos
Cheever is ultimate blue-collar snowboarder
As a World Cup snowboardcross racer, Jonathan Cheever has taken his share of spills over the years.

February 10, 2012
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.

February 10, 2012
Late board work carries Lions past Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State displayed its offensive rebounding muscle during Wednesday night’s game at Missouri Southern.

February 10, 2012
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.

February 10, 2012
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.

February 10, 2012
Hillsdale women stop OCC
Visiting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist handed Ozark Christian a 68-47 loss in women’s college basketball on Thursday night.

February 10, 2012
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.

February 9, 2012
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.

February 9, 2012
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.

February 9, 2012
More Sports Headlines

City wants to buy weather radios for those without

Sports

Search Results

Discussion

Hot Wildcats looking to avenge loss to Webb City

The Joplin Board of Education has placed a $62 million bond issue on the April ballot. Will you support the plan?

Site Map

Contact Us