By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Facing a 21-14 deficit after a sluggish first half, Nixa coach John Perry used a theme of blunt honesty in his halftime talk with the team.
He ended it by issuing a challenge that came down to this: It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
“(Joplin) outplayed us, they outcoached us, they had more energy,” Perry said. “I told them at halftime, ‘The team that should be winning the first half is winning the first half. No doubt.’
“But nobody ever remembers who won the first half, so I challenged them: ‘Let’s go win the half that matters.”
Over the next two quarters, the Eagles show they are viable state title contenders among the eight remaining schools in Class 6.
Nixa erupted for four touchdowns in the third quarter and rolled to a 42-28 win over Joplin in the Class 6 District 5 Tournament championship game at Nixa High School.
Senior running back Jayden McCaster led Nixa in rushing with 121 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. Quarterback Adam McKnight tallied 232 total yards and three scores.
It’s a district title three-peat for the Eagles (11-0 overall), who faced their toughest competition since late September – and played like it early on.
“We didn’t have any energy, any momentum, on our side,” said Nixa linebacker Reed Wilson. “We played (Joplin) back in Week 3 and we just kind of thought we would be able to walk through them and win again. Obviously, that didn’t happen.”
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“We know we’re a better football team if we play like it. We didn’t play like it in the first half. We made it a goal to come out and play like the Nixa Eagles.”
The homestanding Eagles used quick scores and a pair of interceptions to unload on their Eagle counterparts in the third quarter.
Nixa began the second half with a 10-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 22-yard touchdown run from McCaster. On the second play of Joplin’s ensuing drive, Wilson nabbed an interception. Two plays later, McCaster had another touchdown run to put Nixa in front for good.
“My zone is pretty much in the middle,” Wilson said. “I didn’t see anything deep. If it goes deep outside, we got it covered. If it comes to the middle, that’s mine. I saw it and I took it.”
The onslaught continued when Nixa senior defensive back Randy Flint made a head’s up play by knocking down the pass as Joplin attempted a fake punt on 4th and 3 from its own 37 yardline. Flint’s knockdown would set up another Nixa touchdown four plays later to make it 35-21.
In practice this week, Flint said Nixa was expecting Joplin to try a few trick plays – particularly on special teams.
“All week, we repped (punt) fakes and different things (Joplin) has done and what they did last time,” Flint said. “After a bunch of reps, you see it. When it comes to the game, you’re ready for it. We were prepared.”
Flint made another splash play moments later when he intercepted a pass to the boundary and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown.
“It was a little slant (route) and back out,” Flint said. “We had good reps in practice, so we were ready for it. It was a zone (coverage) and I saw the (receiver) put his foot in the ground and come back out. The quarterback was staring at it, and I broke on it and got the pick-six.”
Senior running back Traevian McCadney led Joplin’s early surge. He finished with 187 yards and two scores on 28 carries.
McCadney tallied 145 of those yards in the first half as Joplin gashed Nixa with its inside zone run scheme.
“The problem is, they’re big, they’re well-coached and their running back (McCadney) is probably bigger than 10 of our 11 starters on defense,” Perry said. “When he gets running downhill and they get four yards a pop, it’s hard.
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“That’s not a great matchup for us because we’re more of a fast (unit), we can move and make plays. Their running back is tough. They were doing what they needed to be successful.”
Nixa will host Helias Catholic (11-0) in the quarterfinal round next Friday night, Nov. 21. Helias, which finished runner-up in Class 5 last year, defeated Blue Springs 26-21 at home Friday night to win the District 6 crown.
Perry thinks the Eagles won’t come out nearly as flat next week after shaking off the rust from a ho-hum, 1.5-month stretch of blowout wins.
“I think (tonight) was a great game for us,” Perry said. “The back-half of our schedule didn’t do us any justice. When you go out there and win by 40 or 50 and play two quarters, you’re on cruise control.
“We came out on cruise control tonight. Second half, we came out and played like a team that has the possibility of playing for a state championship.”
Nixa 42, Joplin 28
Joplin 14 7 0 7 — 28
Nixa 7 7 28 0 — 42
First quarter
Joplin – Traevian McCadney 18 run (Ipsen kick)
Nixa – Brown 50 catch from McKnight (Kahmke kick)
Joplin – Trenton McCadney 27 run (Ipsen kick)
Second quarter
Joplin – Traevian McCadney 22 run (Ipsen kick)
Nixa – McKnight 6 run (Kahmke kick)
Third quarter
Nixa – McCaster 22 run (Kahmke kick)
Nixa – McCaster 17 run (Kahmke kick)
Nixa – McKnight 4 run (Kahmke kick)
Nixa – Flint 27 interception return (Kahmke kick)
Fourth quarter
Joplin – Trenton McCadney 9 catch from Rose (Ipsen kick)
Joplin stat leaders (unofficial)
Passing: Rose 13/21, 132 yards, 1 TD and 3 INTs
Rushing: Traevian McCadney 28/187, 2 TDs; Trenton McCadney 8/54, 1 TD
Receiving: Williams 1/29; Trenton McCadney 3/28, 1 TD; Wolf 3/28; Royle 4/25
Nixa stat leaders (unofficial)
Passing: McKnight 7/10, 137 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT
Rushing: McCaster 14/121, 2 TDs; McKnight 11/95, 2 TDs; Adams 3/27
Receiving: Brown 2/55, 1 TD; Lock 2/37; Flint 2/38
Turnovers: Joplin 3, Nixa 1
