Joplin’s defense pitched a shutout until the last play of the game on defense and the offense built a two-score lead into the intermission before pulling away in the second half for a 28-6 win over Kickapoo in the Class 6 District 5 semifinal action.
With the win, the Eagles (5-5) advance to take on top-seeded Nixa (10-0) in the district title.
Joplin jumped out in front with the initial lead of the game late in the opening period when RB Trenton McCadney scored from 6 yards out to cap off a 65-yard drive with 1:10 to play in the first quarter for a 7-0 advantage.
The Eagles took a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter when QB Daniel Rose took a bootleg 7 yards to the end zone for the score with 6:26 on the clock.
Joplin had a chance to make it a three-score game at the end of the first half before missing a 25-yard field goal with seconds remaining.
The Eagles looked to take a three-score lead out of the locker room when RB Traevion McCadney broke loose for a 35-yard touchdown but it was ruled he fumbled the ball before entering the end zone, resulting in a touchback going the other way after Kickapoo fell on the loose ball.
Joplin had another touchdown called back on their next possession when WR Layne Royle returned a punt for a score but a blindside block was called to negate the score.
The Eagles eventually pushed the lead to three scores when Rose kept the ball for a 20-yard touchdown run for a 21-0 lead with 2:00 left in the third quarter.
Traevoin McCadney found paydirt from 4 yards out to make the score 28-0 with 8:03 left in the game.
Kickapoo scored on the last play of the game as time expired.