Webb City scored 35 points in the first half sinking the Pirates 42-6 in their 2024 district opener.

Belton won the toss and elected to receive, but the Cardinals surprised the Pirates with an onside kick that Brody Eggleston recovered giving the Cardinals the ball first.  Striking almost as quick as last year against these same Pirates, the Cardinals scored on their second offensive snap when Jackson Lucas sprinted in from 39 yards out and a 7-0 lead after only 37 seconds of game time.

Later in the first quarter the Cardinals took over at the own 18 yard line.  Two runs by Andrew Elwell for 23 yards and two from Jackson Lucas for another 31 yards plus a Pirate penalty put the ball at the Belton 10 yard line.  Jackson found Fisher Derrick wide open over the middle for the second Cardinal touchdown pushing the lead to 14-0 as the first quarter came to an end.

Andrew Elwell scored the third touchdown taking the ball around the left side and after a block from running mate Slade Hurd to seal the edge, walked in from 13 yards out and after another successful PAT the score stood at 21-0. 

A quick two play drive accounted for the next score.  A 55 yard completion to Derrick Wagner and a 30 yard scoring strike to Gus Karnes was all that was needed to cover the 85 yards.

One final drive in the first half ended with Jackson Lucas scoring with no time remaining on a fourth and one quarterback sneak.  

Webb City scored its final touchdown on the first drive of the second half even as the starting backfield was given the rest of the night off.  This time Garret Powell started the drive with a 10 yard run and then one play later took the ball into Pirate territory with a 22 yard run.  Braden Strickland, now in at quarterback, kept the ball on the next play for seven and then handed off to Isaiah Tela for 14 yards more.  On the sixth play of the drive, Strickland lofted a scoring strike of 14 yards to Cohen Epler in the back corner of the endzone in front of the band stands for the 42-0 lead.

Lucas finished with 155 yards rushing on only 11 attempts with two touchdowns.  He was as also 4 for 7 passing with two scoring strikes.  

The defense held the Pirates to only 134 yards of offense through 3 and 1/2 quarters, before a final 75 yard drive to end the game as the Cardinals were shuffling in a lot of underclassman.  

Next week the Cardinals will travel to Grain Valley in a district semi final meeting with the Eagles.