Webb City built an early lead and held onto it for nearly the entire game before pulling away to a 42-28 win over Joplin to wrap the regular season On Friday.
The Cardinals led the Eagles for two scores for most of the first half before Joplin closed the first half with a score and tied the game up late in the third quarter. It was all Webb City from there, as the Cardinals scored twice unanswered in the final quarter of play to seal the win.
The Cardinals close the regular season with a 6-3 record, while the Eagles head into the postseason with a 4-5 record.
As of now, Carthage (8-1) is the top seed in the Class 5 District 6 Tournament followed by Republic (7-2), Webb City, Branson (7-2), Neosho (4-5), parkview (4-5) and Willard (1-8)
Nixa (9-0) is the top seed in the Class 6 District 5 Tournament, with Joplin as the second seed, Ozark (2-7) in third, Kickapoo (2-7) in fourth and Raymore-Peculiar (0-9) in fifth.
Webb City took the opening series and put points on the board when RB Mason Williams broke off a 31-yard rushing touchdown near the nine-minute mark of the first period.
Williams found paydirt again early in the second quarter when he ripped off a 24-yard score on the ground for a 14-0 lead.
Joplin used the big play to get on the scoreboard when WR Layne Royle hauled in a 35-yard touchdown pass on an over-the-shoulder throw from QB Daniel Rose to cut the deficit to 14-7 with 8:55 left in the first half.
Webb City capped its ensuing drive with a 2-yard touchdown run from ATH Gabe Johnson for a 20-7 advantage with 5:53 on the clock.
The Eagles again used the big play through the air when Rose found WR Trenton McCadney with a play-action pass over the middle before for a 54-yard touchdown to make the score 21-13 with 5:24 left in the second quarter.
The Cardinals pushed the lead back to two scores with less than three minutes to play in the first half when Williams scored from 10 yards out for a 28-13 lead.
Joplin answered back again before the end of the half, getting on the scoreboard again just before the intermission when Rose led Royle over the middle for a 25-yard touchdown with 31 seconds left to cut the score to 28-19 at halftime.
Joplin rallied all the way back to tie the game up at 28-28 late in the third quarter when RB Traevian McCadney scored a short-yardage touchdown with 3:22 left in the period.
The Cardinals jumped back in front on their next possession when Gabe Johnson scored from 9 yards out for a 34-28 advantage with 8:10 left in the game.
Webb City put the game out of reach with another big play, as Johnson broke loose for a 62-yard score to push the lead to 42-28.