WC line helps Cards dominate possession

Following a 28-7 home win against Republic, the Carthage Tigers were eager to reestablish an offensive rhythm against Webb City in the first week of Class 4 District 12 play.

It never materialized for Carthage, however, during the Route 66 Showdown. Webb City allowed the Tigers to score only once as the Cardinals decommissioned Carthage by scoring 28 points before the end of the first half in a 35-7 win at K.E. Baker Stadium.

Embattled Webb City running back Braxton Baker, who was listed as doubtful for Friday’s game, had more than 100 yards rushing before the break.

“He did a great job,” Carthage Head Coach Jon Guidie said of Baker. “He’s hard to bring down. He gets most of his yards after contact and we didn’t do a very good job of wrapping him up.”

With the win, Webb City, ranked No. 3 in Missouri Class 4, locks up its first conference championship in the newly formed Large Division of the Central Ozark Conference.

For the No. 8 Tigers, it’s now two losses in the past three weeks. If they have any aspirations of advancing to the postseason, the Tigers will need to regroup and take care of business the next two weeks against Carl Junction and then Nevada to wrap up district play.

The Tigers, now 6-2 overall and 4-2 in the COC, caught a break with Nevada beating Carl Junction, 19-14, on Friday. After one week of district play, the Cardinals sit atop the district 12 standings along with Nevada. Carthage and Carl Junction will battle next week, with playoff implications on the line.

Sparkling line play by Webb City — on both sides of the ball — paved the way to victory from the onset.

Webb City’s offensive line constantly created running lanes for Baker, quarterback Mack Kyle and running back Seth Helton.

“Those guys up front played really well,” said Webb City Head Coach John Roderique. “I thought our offensive line got off the ball very well.”

Stellar line play allowed the Cardinals to sustain several lengthy drives throughout the first half. More importantly, in kept Carthage’s offense off the field.

Carthage ran only 19 plays in the first half.

“They had great field position and they dominated time of possession,” Guidie said. “There again, it’s one of those things that has hampered us all year when we don’t match up well, physically, up front. There’s the result.

“We’ve had fewer possessions and when we can’t control the line of scrimmage, we’re in trouble.”

The Cardinals mounted an eight-play, 63-yard drive to open the game. Baker broke for 26 yards to setup a 6-yard touchdown run by Kyle to give Webb City an early advantage.

Carthage answered quickly on its first offensive play. Senior quarterback Trey Derryberry hit Clay Kinman over the middle for an 80-yard touchdown. The point after try tied the game at 7.

But Webb City’s offense was able to put together drives of nine, eight and seven plays to keep Derryberry and company off the field for much of the first half.

“That was a part of our game plan against Carthage,” Roderique said. “You always want to keep their offense off the field.”

Down by three scores — 28-7 — to start the second half, the Tigers were forced to go to the air.

“When you’re down 28-7 at half,” Guidie said, “you have to come out and try to get a couple of quick scores.”

It never happened for the Tigers.

“We came out six inches short on a fourth down,” Guidie said of Carthage’s offensive opportunities in the second half, “and then we fumbled (inside the 20-yard line).
“Webb City played a great game.”

The Tigers will try to get back on track when they head to Carl Junction at 7 p.m. next Friday.