For the second consecutive game, the Cardinals come up one point, this one a heart breaking overtime loss to Joplin in the final regular season contest.
Webb City started quickly, receiving the opening kickoff and on the second play of the game Jackson Lucas rattled off a 65 yard run deep into Eagle territory. Three plays later Andrew Young carried in from eight yards out for the score. However, the PAT was missed, which would become a story of its own throughout the game, and the Carddinals led 6-0 after only two minutes of play.
The Eagles answered back five minutes later to take a 7-6 advantage. After a Webb City punt, Joplin went on a long drive and threatened to extend the lead as they lined up for a 26 yard field goal. Brody Eggleston, coming in hard from the edge, was able to block the attempt and Andrew Young picked it up at the 20 yard line and 80 yards later was standing in the end zone for six more points and 12-7 Cardinal lead.
The next two minutes found the Eagles scoring twice aided by a Webb City fumble and looked to take a 21-12 half time lead. The Cardinals put energy back into the stadium when they scored with only eight seconds left in the half. Taking over at their own 38 following a Ryan Reid interception, the offense ripped off three long running plays, Isaiah Tela for 11 yards, Jackson Lucas for 13 and Tela for another 32 yards, setting up a first and goal from the Eagle six yard line. After Tela picked up two more yards, the Cardinals called timeout with only 12 seconds on the clock. Lucas found Fisher Derrick in the back of the end zone on the next play for a touchdown. The PAT was good and Webb City had closed to 21-19 at the break.
Webb City claimed the lead quickly in the second half. Mason Williams forced an Eagle fumble on the first play of the half, recovered by Gavin Stodghill at the Joplin 36 yard line. Tela ran for 26 yards on the drive that was finished with a Slade Hurd 8 yard score. A two point conversion pass from Jackson to Gus Karnes put the Cardinals ahead 27-21 just two minutes into the half.
Both teams traded punts but the Eagles took the lead 28-27 just as the third quarter came to a close.
The Cardinals had a chance to reclaim the lead on their next possession but was unsuccessful on a 29 yard field goal attempt. Forcing the Eagles to punt and a 19 yard return from Andrew Young gave Webb City one final opportunity. This time they marched down the field, converting a fourth down along the way, completing a 8 play drive capped off from another Slade Hurd touchdown run. Adding two points on a Joseph DeGraffenreid run put the Cardinals ahead 35-28 with less than two minutes remaining.
The Eagles used a big 37 yard run to start the possession and four plays later found themselves at the Cardinal 10 yard line. The tied the score on the next play with only 26 seconds left in the game and went to OT all knotted at 35 each.
In overtime, the Cardinals struck first, needing only six plays to score from the 25 yard line. A Jackson Lucas qb sneak from the one and a successful PAT kick from Stodghill put the Webb City up 42-35.
The Eagles only needed three plays to answer and then chose to make the game come down to one final play as they lined up for a two point conversion. The defense flushed the Eagle quarterback out of the pocket to his right and seemed to have the play covered, but he threw back across the field to the left and found his receiver open in the end zone and the final score was 43-42 in favor of Joplin.
The Cardinals rolled up 370 yards of rushing offense, led by Lucas with 123 yards. Slade Hurd, with two scores, and Isaiah Tela finished with 95 and 94, respectively.
Prior to the game, the senior were recognized for the contribution to the program.
Webb City will be at home next Friday night to open the 2024 district playoffs.