Webb City remains unbeaten

RALPH POKORNY/HERALD-TRIBUNE Nevada senior Jacob Anderson looks for running room to get by Webb City's Adam Williams (86) during Friday nights game with Webb City at Logan Field in Nevada, Mo. The Tigers fell 34-13 to the visiting Cardinals in Southwest Conference play. Webb City is the No. 1-ranked team in Missouri Class 4.

Now, spin back to present. Friday's 34-13 loss to the visiting Cardinals at Logan Field marked the 83rd renewal of a rivalry that began in 1923. Beginning in 1984, it has been all Webb City a total of all 25 times they've met.

The 21-point margin of victory for Webb City, ranked No. 1 in M issouri Class 4, Friday was not indicative of the solid effort put forth by the Tigers, who refused to be intimidated by the undefeated visitors who have already defeated their strongest conference rival in Carthage and seem destined to win the Southwest Conference championship in the league's final year of existence.

Webb City was led by the strong running of Andrew Smith and sure handed catches of Alan Pink along with the shiftiness of quarterback Mack Kyle. Without that trio to bedevil them, the Tigers might well have come off the field with the win on what was a warm night for late September as everyone was in shirtsleeves.

Nevada, defending the east goal, took the opening kick and came within a whisker of taking the initial lead as Colby Shepherd fielded the ball on the 15, cut to his right and eventually hit the sideline where a Webb City defender had the angle on him at the Webb City 45-yard line.

The Tigers missed a golden opportunity when a third down pass to a wide open Kyle Hughes fell incomplete, forcing the game's first punt, a beauty by Ryan Herda that went out-of-bounds at the 9-yard line. Not that it helped, though. On the first play from scrimmage, Kyle hit Austin Lepper, who was behind Nevada's secondary. Powell was unable to go all the way on account of a touchdown saving tackle by Dan Lovinger, who slammed him to the ground on Nevada's 5-yard line.

Two tries later, Kyle was passing to Caleb Powell for the score with 8:56 showing. Shane VanStavern kicked the extra point for a 7-0 Webb City lead.

The Tigers opened shop at their own 29 after a good return from the goal line by Shepherd. The Tigers recovered a first down fumble and wound up punting. A second down pass was intercepted by Jake Anderson, who stepped in front of the aerial and took off. He went 20 yards to Webb City's 24-yard line. Jake Cherry carried for four yards, but the Tigers were throttled down at that point and turned the ball over on downs at the 21.

Webb City moved swiftly. After Smith made 13 yards, Kyle broke loose for what appeared to be a touchdown until Cherry saved the score with a sidleine tackle at the 43 of Nevada. It was only a temporary respite, however, as Kyle passed to the sure-handed Pink, who made a diving touchdown catch with 2:55 on the clock. The PAT kick failed, leaving the score at 13-0.

When the second quarter opened, Webb City had possession again as the Tigers had yet to make a first down. Starting at their own 34, the Cardinals marched the distance in eight plays, culminating when Pink made an oustanding fingertip catch near the edge of the end zone with 8:56 left. The run failed and the Tigers lagged behind at 19-0.

After an exchange of punts, Nevada's offense finally came to life. Quarterback Austin Baldwin scrambled for a gain and got a face mask penalty to boot, placing the ball in favorable position at his own 47. Cherry followed with a strong run all the way to Webb City's 30 where he went out-of-bounds after gaining 23 yards. It marked Nevada's initial first down.

On a wild play, Webb City intercepted a pass, fumbled and Nevada recovered at the 1-yard line. Cherry plunged in from a yard out on third down with 0:33 left in the half. Austin Payne added the extra point and Nevada trailed 19-7 at the half.

Webb City took the second half kick and drove 60 yards in 10 plays. Kyle dove in from five yards out with 7:18 showing after the lengthy drive. Kyle ran the conversion, and it was 27-7.

Webb City's final scoring drive started with five plays remaining in the third quarter. The fourth opened with the Cards still drving. On the first play of the final frame, Smith broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage and broke through for clear sailing and a 22-yard score with 11:52 left. Van Stavern's kick made it 34-7.

Nevada's scoring drive began at the 20-yard line. Cherry picked up 9 yards on first down and Tigers began to make short, important gains that resulted in a first down at their own 47. When they got within range, Cherry and Baldwin took care of the rest with Baldwin making the touchdown at 1:43. The drive covered 80 yards and took 10 plays.

Webb City improved to 2-0 in the conference and 5-0 overall while Nevada fell to 0-2, 2-3 with Neosho coming to Logan Field Friday for the final Southwest Conference meeting between the two long-time rivals.