Keagan Hartman
Webb City Cardinals football second week of action was a double dose (sequel) of rivalry weeks. Cardinals Stadium was alive and kicking as the crowd brought the energy (as always). Yet, the Carthage Tigers were looking to redeem themselves after opening up the season with a 26-20 loss against the Ozark Tigers. As for the Cardinals, they were looking to go up 2-0 after a crisp season opener win against the Carl Junction Bulldogs 27-12.
Cardinals would begin action as they would defer to the second half. Tigers first play of the game would be a 32 yard run by quarterback Zeke Sappington to get the Tigers near midfield. That play would sum up the first drive for Tigers. Senior Quarterback Cash Link would start things off for the Cardinals as he ran a nice 7 yard keeper to get an additional 1st down on the possession. Cardinals maintained momentum as they marched down the field. With 3:33 to go on the clock, ball on the 7 yard line, ironically enough, Link would keep the ball on the run and punch 6 in for the Cardinals. Score late in the 1st quarter would be in the Cards favor, 7-0.
Later, Tigers would get the ball back to try to get something going but the Cardinals defense managed to maintain the run game, as Carthage would try to battle for yards at midfield. They managed to get a big play in the beginning of the drive as they got a few solid run plays from Running back Clay Newman. After a big fight for yards, on a 4th and 1, the Tigers would fight for a new set of downs courtesy of running back Clay Newman. Later, while inside the five (yardline) Carthage would put points on the board after quarterback Bobby Kendrick punched 6 in on a keeper. Tying the game up to an even 7-7 with roughly 9 minutes to go in the second quarter.
Cardinals would get the ball back and go right back to work. Cash Link kicked the drive off with a nice 10 yard keeper up the middle for a new set of downs, but after a few penalties, the Cardinals would resort right back to square one. Later in the drive, Cash Link would connect in the air with a pass to junior wide receiver Treyton Simmons for a 16 yard TD. After sophomore kicker Sergio Perez's extra point, it put the Cardinals up 14-7, with a little over halfway to go in the second quarter.
It didn't take much more time for the Cardinals to spark another note as senior linebacker Javis Berlin picked off Sappington's pass at midfield. Cardinals' offense would come back on the field to try to increase the lead. Cardinals would soon run out of attempts and were unable to convert on the drive, and a missed field goal attempt. At the half, the score would give the Cards the edge going into the locker room, 14-7.
To open up the second half, Webb City would receive and made quick work of the possession after junior return man/ running back Durand Henderson would get great field possession for the Cardinals off of a 45 yard return to put the Cardinals just shy of midfield. The offense would take care of the rest. Senior Will Larson would have about 15 total yards rushing and Durand Henderson would get a piece of the workload by getting 10 total rushing yards on the drive. Cardinals would put the nail in the coffin on a nice 13 yard touchdown pass by Cash Link connecting with Alex Gaskill making the score 21-7 after the extra point. Cardinals would still be a dominant force early in the 3rd quarter.
At the start of the 4th, the Carthage tigers got the ball to start things off, but couldn't get anything done as the ball was picked off by junior cornerback Cade Beason within 25 yards on the Tigers side of the field. Webb's offense started their reps, with Will Larson carrying most of the workload on the ground. On the scoring play, Cash Link would pitch to the outside for senior running back Luis Perez to march the 15 yards for the touchdown. Webb City would remain atop of the game, scoring 21 unanswered points since the first half. Score being 28-7. Staying in the 4th quarter, the Cardinals defense had a notable highlight as sophomore Terrell Kabala would snag a pick for almost a 50 yard return to conclude the night. Yet another excellent turnaround from last year and great start to the season for Webb City. Final: Webb City-28 Carthage-7.
Webb would go onto 2-0 on the season, an excellent start to the season and a far more different outcome than last season. The Cardinals look to go on the road next Friday, September 1st and face off against the Republic Tigers. Kickoff is set for 7pm.