By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Carthage is the last team to beat Webb City High School in football.
The Tigers pulled out a 23-22 victory on Nov. 7, 2007, in the first round of the MSHSAA Class 4 playoffs.
They’ve lost two games in a row to the Cardinals during the regular season since the cliffhanger that was decided by Stephen Poston’s late field goal.
Ninth-ranked Big Blue (9-2) visits top-ranked Webb City (11-0) tonight in a second-round game of the playoffs with kickoff scheduled at 7 in Cardinal Stadium.
Webb City, defending Class 4 champion, puts a 26-game winning streak on the line.
Webb City, buoyed by a strong first half, opened its District 4-12 schedule on Oct. 16 by beating visiting Carthage 35-14.
Said Carthage coach Jon Guidie: “We need to play a lot better than the last time. We didn’t move the ball well enough in the first half and the defense had to play too many snaps.”
Guidie believes that Carthage had three turnovers in the earlier game and Webb City four.
“But field position (providing Webb City a short field) ... especially early — was a factor in the first game,” Guidie said.
Carthage earned the shot at Webb City last Wednesday night by winning 39-36 at Neosho on Derek Peterson’s 14-yard pass to Trevor Hole with two seconds left to cap a six-play, 75-yard drive in less than a minute.
It was a game film that Webb City coaches — and probably its players — eagerly wanted to watch.
Said Webb City coach John Roderique: “It was quite an exciting game. It was wild.”
Carthage players surely lured some non-believers into their camp with the comeback.
“Our players continue to fight for four quarters,” Guidie said. “It may be a cliche but we want to play hard for four quarters and we’ll see what happens.
“Our kids, by now, are used to playing at Webb City and certainly are used to playing in that atmosphere,” Guidie said.
Webb City, finishing strong, turned back visiting Branson 40-21 in the first round.
“Obviously, we’re glad we’re still playing,” Roderique said. “Good field position as well as the defense really helped in that first meeting with Carthage.
“We believe the Carthage coaching staff does a great job,” Roderique said. “Offensively, they utilize motions and formations well to move the ball and really create confusion for the defense. Chris Wilkerson, the Carthage defensive coordinator, is like our Mike Smith. Wilkerson will break you down and find your tendencies, strengths and weaknesses.
“Brian Poston (Stephen’s brother) has been running like a mad man,” Roderique said. “We need to slow down Poston. He ran exceptionally well and so hard against Neosho.
“Peterson has wound up doing a nice job in his first season as a starting quarterback,” Roderique said. “He doesn’t make a bunch of mistakes and gets the ball out when needed. Hole is very versatile and a big part of their offense. Mason Siebert is an outstanding receiver.”
Poston has rushed for 1,659 yards and 17 touchdowns on 204 carries. Peterson has completed 87 of 143 passes for 1,500 yards and 13 TDs. Siebert has 36 receptions for 745 yards and eight TDs. Hole, the Carthage kicker, has snared 17 passes and rushed for 241 yards and totaled 10 touchdowns.
Offensive leaders for the Cardinals include quarterback Patrick Drake. He’s completed 54 of 85 passes — completing 21 in a row in one stretch — for 935 yards and 11 TDs. He’s rushed 78 times for 596 yards and four TDs.
Maddy Johnson has added 363 yards and eight touchdowns on 55 carries.
Austin Daniel has caught 25 passes for 414 yards and five scores and Chris Hance 11 for 155.
Hance is the Cardinals’ leader in interceptions. Their leaders in tackles are linebackers Christian Hoffman and Nathan Ervin.
End Cody Caster and linebacker Lincoln Cooper are the Carthage leaders in tackles. Hole paces the team in pass thefts.
