By Anvil Welch

awelch@joplinglobe.com

KEARNEY, Mo. — The Webb City faithful just call him “Boo.”

Their screams become louder and longer depending on how meaningful a play Boo makes.

Well, Boo earned a “Booooooooooooooooooooooooooo” on Saturday.

That’s because Marc “Boo” Rodgers, a junior receiver-free safety, shocked Kearney with a frightful number of big plays in a Class 4 semifinal of the MSHSAA football playoffs.

Mix in some unreal defense, enough offense and coolness under pressure and Webb City, winning 14-7 in the clash of 13-0 teams, is returning to the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis in search of its eighth state championship.

Jefferson City Helias (13-1), which eliminated St. Louis Gateway 58-19 in the other semifinal, and Webb City will meet at 3:15 p.m, next Saturday.

Kearney, which ousted the Cardinals at this juncture in 2002 and 2003, and Webb City entered their latest semifinal showdown ranked No. 1 and No. 3, respectively, in Class 4.

“It was a great game for our defense,” Webb City coach John Roderique said. “It especially played well in the second half. It was an outstanding game. ... hard to describe.

“We were elated when we went into overtime trailing just 7-0,” Roderique said. “We’d lost three of five fumbles. We’d had penalties. We killed ourselves on offense. We could have been down 33-0.”

Rodgers stymied the Bulldogs by knifing in to block two field goal attempts. returned a punt to set up the first Webb City touchdown and intercepted a pass on Kearney’s final play of the game.

The 6-foot, 165-pound Rodgers insisted the blocked field goal attempts were a first for him.

“The quarterback overthrew the ball and I was there to get it,” he said of the interception.

“We had to prepare a lot,” he said of the test. “Everyone was saying they (the Bulldogs) were the best team in the state. We had to prove people wrong.

“We came too far to fail now.”

Boo?

“When I was little, a cousin used to scare me all the time, and it just stuck with me.”

Rodgers’ block on an 18-yard attempt came on the final play of the first half. Kearney faced a fourth-and-1 — thanks to a 10-yard completion on third down — with 26.6 seconds on the clock and opted for the field goal.

“That block gave us some confidence,” Roderique said.

Said Kearney coach Greg Jones: “It would have been huge to have kicked that field goal.

“Then they (the Cardinals) held us to start the second half to really grab the momentum,” Jones said. “ ‘Old Mo’ was on their side.”

Rodgers returned the ensuing punt about 15 yards to the Kearney 45-yard line. The Cardinals responded with an 11-play drive that was capped by junior Jeremiah Box’ 2-yard run on first-and-goal after a 3-yard run by Braxton Baker secured the first down by inches.

Jake Brasfield’s conversion kick at 4:41 tied it.

Webb City, on its next possession, marched 60 yards in nine plays with Baker, who had a 10-yard carry in the series, plunging the final yard on the last play of the quarter.

Said the Bulldogs’ Jones: “We just couldn’t get anything going in the second half. Credit the Webb City line. We were unable to take over in the second half.”

Rodgers continued his heroics early in the fourth quarter by blocking a 29-yard attempt. Kearney had a first down at the Cardinal 15 before settling for the try.

The Cardinals’ next defensive stand came after a first down at the Webb City 19. The Bulldogs’ runner on fourth-and-2 was swarmed under for a 2-yard loss. Earlier, Cardinal end Austin Lepper tackled the runner for a loss of three yards on second-and-9.

The Cardinals then came up a yard short for a first down and were forced to punt from their 23. Brasfield fielded a low snap and managed to get off a 24-yarder.

Kearney went to the air for one first down before twice throwing incomplete. Rodgers’ theft came on third down.

Baker and quarterback Mack Kyle rushed for 86 and 66 yards on 18 and 14 carries, respectively. Kearney quarterback Conrad Schottel threw for 212 yards on 18-of-28 with two picks.

The Bulldogs, who scored in the second period on Mark Krause’s 10-yard run, finished with just 75 rushing yards on 34 carries. Webb City totaled 45 passing and 193 rushing on 49 carries.

Said Jones: “I hate to say it, but this probably was the state championship game. Obviously, it hurts. For the fans, though, what more could you ask.”