High school football action delivered a split slate across the area on Friday night, featuring decisive offensive showcases alongside fourth-quarter thrillers that came down to the final possessions.
Webb City, Carthage, and New Heights Roll to Lopsided Wins
Offenses dictated the pace early in several matchups. Webb City dismantled Waynesville 63-19, riding an explosive ground attack to remain firmly in command from kickoff. Carthage followed a similar blueprint, overwhelming Lebanon 49-12 with a balanced, high-tempo offensive output that put the game out of reach before the fourth quarter.
In eight-man action, New Heights Christian Academy posted the highest point total of the night, firing on all cylinders to cruise past Watts 64-14. Neosho rounded out the comfortable double-digit wins with a commanding 42-21 showing against Glendale, pulling away behind sustained second-half drives.
One-Score Battles: Joplin, Carl Junction, and Seneca Suffer Narrow Setbacks
The remaining area games provided high drama in the final minutes. In Joplin, the Eagles engaged in a back-and-forth slugfest against Nixa. Despite a standout dual-threat performance from Joplin quarterback Trenton McCadney—who racked up 142 rushing yards, two ground scores, and 191 yards through the air—Nixa held on late to secure a 30-27 victory.
Carl Junction staged a tight battle against Nevada, trading leads in the second half before Nevada capitalized on key late stops to edge out a 32-28 decision. Meanwhile, Seneca traveled into a defensive grinder against Lamar, where the Tigers' front seven held firm in the final frame to seal a 20-12 win over the Indians.
Friday Night Final Scores at a Glance:
Webb City 63, Waynesville 19
New Heights Christian 64, Watts 14
Carthage 49, Lebanon 12
Neosho 42, Glendale 21
Nixa 30, Joplin 27
Nevada 32, Carl Junction 28
Lamar 20, Seneca 12