By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Webb City plunged the proverbial dagger into the heart of the Kearney football team at this juncture of the MSHSAA Class 4 playoffs last season.
The Cardinals, in a clash of unbeatens, prevailed 14-7 in a semifinal at No. 1-ranked Kearney.
The third-ranked Cardinals won their eighth championship the following week by beating Jefferson City Helias.
The roles are considerably reversed this season for Kearney and Webb City.
The fifth-ranked Bulldogs (11-2) visit No. 1 Webb City (13-0 with a 28-game winning streak) today with kickoff scheduled at 1:30 p.m. in Cardinal Stadium.
Kearney, which lost two of its first five games (13-7 at Independence Fort Osage and 21-7 at Kansas City Staley), has won eight games in a row with lopsided wins in the playoffs.
The Bulldogs stymied No. 4 Harrisonville 41-0 last week, jolted No. 3 Staley 28-0 in the second round and handled Kansas City Westport 63-7 in the opening round.
Said Kearney coach Greg Jones: “We had a great defensive game plan in the two last two games and the kids executed very well. They seem to be gelling at the right time.”
Said Webb City coach John Roderique of the Bulldogs: “We have to match their intensity or they will make us pay.
“They’re playing with a lot of confidence,” Roderique said. “The last two games indicate their strength on defense. But they’re a two-platoon team and they’re playing at a high level on both sides of the ball.
“Obviously, they’re fast on both sides,” Roderique said. “They’re very fast and explosive on defense. It creates opportunities for the offense.
“They make you earn every inch,” Roderique said. “They put terrific defensive pressure on you.”
Roderique pointed to three returning senior starters on defense as keys to the Kearney defense.
They are cornerback Tyler Funk; 6-foot, 190-pound linebacker Stephen Juergens and 6-1, 215 tackle Joe Windsor.
Shane Hartzler, a 6-3, 190 junior, is the quarterback this season after concentrating on secondary duties in 2008.
“They are more apt to run the ball this season,” Roderique said. “Still, they will throw it.”
Hartzler has completed 101 of 165 passes for 1,466 yards and 14 touchdowns. Taylor Woolf (6-4, 190, senior) is the leading receiver with 41 receptions for 715 yards and six touchdowns.
The Kearney rushing leader is Ashton Hiatt (6-3, 195, senior) with 110 carries for 991 yards and 18 touchdowns.
The Cardinals’ Patrick Drake has completed 68 of 114 passes for 1,155 yards and 13 touchdowns. His leading receivers are Austin Daniel (33 receptions, 547 yards, seven TDs) and Chris Hance (16-213-2).
The Webb City rushing leader is Braxton Baker with 1,430 yards and 22 touchdowns on 184 carries. Drake has added 820 and 10 scores on 104 carries and Jamison Cady 435 and five on 52 carries.
Linebackers Christian Hoffman (total of 95), Nate Ervin (89) and Bart Starkey (75) pace the Cardinals in tackles. Cornerback Hance has eight interceptions and linebacker Scott Roderique and free safety Breckin Williams five apiece. Ervin has recovered three fumbles.
The winner of the Webb City-Kearney game will meet the survivor of today’s game at Jefferson City between Helias (13-0) and Sikeston (13-0) at 4:15 p.m. on Friday in St. Louis to decide the championship.
Kearney ousted Webb City in the semifinals in 2002 and 2003 — both games were contested in Cardinal Stadium — in winning back-to-back titles.
“We’re a different team,” Jones said in reference to carryover of the rivalry from last season. “So is Webb City.
“Motivation won’t be lacking on either side,” Jones said. “You don’t need the motivation of last season.”
Naturally, though, the Bulldogs look at Webb City as being another reason for winning.
“It’s going to feel good when we win against them (the Cardinals),” Juergens told Tod Palmer in the Kansas City Star. “It’s going to feel good making them feel like we felt last year.”
