BY JASON PEAKE
The Webb City Cardinals escaped with their perfect record intact.
But the Branson Pirates made them earn it.
Webb City made enough plays down the stretch to hold on for a hard-fought 22-20 victory over Branson on Friday night in a Central Ozark Conference thriller at Pirate Stadium.
"Branson played really well, so hats off to those guys," Webb coach John Roderique said. "They played lights out. They gave us some problems. When we look at the film, we'll probably see a lot of undisciplined football ... a lot of mistakes tonight."
In their longest trip of the regular season, the Cardinals were clinging to a 2-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Branson had the ball on the 34-yard line, but an incomplete pass on third down forced a short punt.
Taking over with 4:14 left in the game and pinned deep on the 2-yard line, the Cardinals were able to string together four first downs on the ground to run out the clock.
"I'm really proud of our kids and their fight," Pirates coach Anthony Hays said. "The message all week was to play as hard as you can and see what happens. Our kids just went out and played football. But I'm disappointed for them. I feel for the kids."
The No. 1 team in Class 4 by the Missouri Media, Webb City (4-0) recorded 351 yards of total offense, 302 rushing and 49 passing.
Sophomore Devrin Weathers rushed for 171 yards on 22 carries, while senior Durand Henderson ran 18 times for 103 yards.
The Pirates compiled 370 yards of offense, with 309 passing and 61 rushing. Junior quarterback Gabe Sylvester completed 10-of-19 passes for 309 yards.
It was a slow start for the Cardinals, who did not score in the opening frame for the first time this season.
After picking up a pair of first downs through the air, Branson took an early lead after Justice Webber knocked in a 29-yard field goal with 9:07 left in the first half.
The speedy Weathers took the ensuing kickoff and sprinted 99 yards past the defense all the way to the house to give the Cardinals the lead.
Weathers added a 54-yard touchdown run with 5:28 left in the first half and Henderson contributed a 1-yard touchdown plunge at the 2:50 mark, giving the Cardinals a 22-3 lead.
But the Cardinals would not score again.
Upset-minded Branson scored with 16 seconds left in the first half when Sylvester completed a 36-yard touchdown strike to Brady Blackwell, cutting his team's deficit to 22-10.
The Pirates pulled within five in the third period after a 1-yard touchdown run by fullback Stephen Derks. A long pass by Sylvester and a roughing the passer penalty on the Cardinals set up the score.
After a turnover on downs by the Cardinals, Webber's 26-yard field goal cut Webb City's lead to 22-20 with 11:18 left in the game.
The Cardinals couldn't respond, as the Pirates came up with a defensive stand on the 1-yard line.
After a 15-yard penalty on Webb City, Sylvester completed a 62-yard pass to Blackwell to get the Pirates within striking distance.
But Webb City's defense tightened, allowing only a couple of short gains on the ground before the key incomplete pass fell short near the end zone.
"I felt like we were a little out of field goal range," Hays said of his team's final series. "And with as well as our defense had been playing and with all three timeouts, I thought maybe we could play the field position game. Of course, you think would've, could've, should've after the fact. In a 2-point game, you second guess yourself."
With the pressure on, Henderson, Weathers and junior quarterback Kade Hicks all picked up first downs on the ensuing drive before the Cardinals were able to take a knee.
"We did barely enough in the fourth quarter to get out of here," Roderique said.
Webb City hosts Carthage next Friday.
Joplin Globe 9/15/2018 (Used by Permission)