Mason Williams and Gabe Johnson each scored three times as the Cardinals finished the regular season with a 42-28 win at Joplin.
Winning the coin flip, the Cardinals chose to receive the opening kickoff. Needing only five plays, Webb City jumped out to a 7-0 lead. On the drive, Gabe Johnson ripped off a 30 yard run with Mason Williams busting into the end zone from 31 yards out. The Eagles threatened with their opening drive, but on third and short at the Webb City 23, River Lenker tackled the ball carrier for a three yard loss and then the defense stopped the fourth down play giving the ball back to the offense.
This drive only needed eight plays for the Cardinals to push their lead to 14-0. Mason Williams scored for the second time, this time a 24 yard run early in the second quarter.
Joplin struck back thru the air to pull within 14-7. Once again the offense went to work, this time starting off with a 34 yard pass from Braden Strickland to Grayson Gannaway that moved the ball into Eagle territory. Gabe Johnson scored his first touchdown to end the eight play drive with a two yard run. Diego Aldrete converted his third PAT of the half and the Cardinals were back in front 21-7.
The two teams traded scores, a long pass play for Joplin and Mason Willams with his third score from nine yards out. With less than three minutes left in the half, the Eagles scored again but missed their second consecutve PAT, the score now 28-19 for the Cardinals. Getting the ball with only 31 seconds left, the Cardinals went into a hurry up offense and Mason Young connected with Gabe Johnson for a 47 yard pass play putting the ball inside the Eagle ten yard line with only five seconds left. A 25 yard field goal attempt from Aldrete was partially blocked as the half ended.
The game tightened up early in the second half. Slade Hurd intercepted a pass at the one yard line to end an Eagle drive. However, on the next play, the Cardinals suffered a safety and then Joplin scored on the their next possession to knot the score up at 28.
Taking the ball near the end of the third quarter, the offense put together a 12 play drive over the next six and half minutes to take the lead back, but missed conversion left Webb City leading 34-28.
Joplin put together another drive that entered into Cardinal territory, but once again the defense stiffened and held up on another fourth down attempt getting the ball back with four minutes left in the game.
Looking for another sustained drive to eat up the clock, Gabe Johnson had other plans. On the second play he went 62 yards for his third score. A successful two point conversion pass from Braden Strickland to Grayson Gannaway pushed the lead to 42-28. A last drive from the Eagles was unsuccessful, and the Cardinals earned the victory.
Mason Williams went for 220 yards on 18 carries, closely followed by Gabe Johnson and his 195 yards on 16 carries to lead the 430 yard rushing totals. For the game, the Cardinals averaged over 11 yards per snap.
Webb City will open district play at home next Friday.