WEBB CITY, Mo. —
Webb City pulled away in the second half to subdue stubborn Carthage 41-17 in a MSHSAA Class 4 District 11 football opener on Friday night.
Carthage trailed only 10-9 at halftime before Webb City made it 20-9 entering the fourth period at packed Cardinal Stadium.
Phoenix Johnson rushed for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Cardinals improved to 8-0 overall and 7-0 in the Central Ozark Conference Large Division. Carthage fell to 5-3 overall and 4-3 in the conference.
The teams continue district play next week with Webb City traveling to McDonald County and Carthage entertaining Carl Junction.
Webb City, defending Class 4 champion and ranked No. 1 in the class, won its 79th straight regular-season game in hiking its overall winning streak to 23.
Said Carthage coach Jon Guidie: “I’m proud of our effort. They fought hard and didn’t give up.
“We ran out of steam,” Guidie said. “We basically played 14 kids.”
Carthage controlled the ball in the first half — Webb City had four possessions — and the Tigers had double the plays.
“That’s what we wanted,” Guidie said of controlling the ball. “We really had to work for it. You have to earn everything against those guys.”
Said Webb City coach John Roderique: “Luckily, we had a one-point lead. We were outplayed big-time in the first half. That’s as tough as we’ve had it (from an opponent) in a long time.
“That first stop by our defense in the third quarter was big,” Roderique said.
Carthage was forced to punt from its 24-yard line and the Cardinals took over at their 38. They zipped the 62 yards in just seven plays with wide receiver Jarvis Jones hooking up with fellow senior Breckin Williams for a 51-yard completion. Jamison Cady scored on a 5-yard run on fourth-and-3 with 5:50 left in the third quarter.
“That gave us some breathing room,” Roderique said.
Junior Alex Easley’s 37-yard field goal — his second of the game — extended the lead at 2:26.
Johnson’s scoring runs in the fourth quarter covered 8, 42 and 1 yard. The final TD by the 175-pound junior was set up by classmate Logan Williams’ interception.
Carthage juniors Seth Beckner, who came out of the backfield, and Jordan Musser combined for a 68-yard scoring strike at 7:24 in the fourth period to draw Carthage within 27-17.
“Possibly, we wore them down some in the second half,” Roderique said. “Give them credit. Some of those guys probably didn’t leave the field.”
Beckner, who rushed 30 times for 100 yards, scored in the first quarter on a 2-yard run and senior Aaris Vogt kicked a 23-yard field goal at 1:30 in the second quarter to give the Tigers a 9-7 lead.
But Webb City answered on Easley’s first field goal with only 30 seconds left.
Breckin Williams and junior receiver Jalen Vaden combined for a 37-yard scoring play early in the second quarter.
Johnson finished with 135 yards on 20 carries, Breckin Williams 102 on 10 carries and Cady 35 on six. Breckin Williams, who set up Easley’s first field goal with two first-down completions to senior Klay James, completed seven of 11 overall for 166 yards. Jones and junior Kohl Slaughter also had two receptions.
The Cardinals finished with 287 rushing yards and the 166 passing compared to the Tigers’ 116 rushing and 107 passing on Musser’s 6-for-11 accuracy.
Sports
Related Photos
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Globe/Roger Nomer Webb City's Klay James secures a pass as he's hit by Carthage's Michael York during Friday's game.
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Globe/Roger Nomer Carthage's Seth Beckner pushes away Webb City's Keaton Teal during Friday's game.
Discussion
October 15, 2011
Webb City pulls away from Carthage
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
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- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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