Few teams can say they have won four state championships in nine years. But, then again, few teams can say they have a legitimate chance at capturing a state championship every season.

For more than 20 years, though, the Webb City Cardinals have been a model of consistency, beginning with their first state title in 1989. Since then, the Cardinals have never gone more than four years without championship. Webb City, which has won 28 games in a row since falling to Carthage in the sectional playoff in 2007, is now 51-1 in its last 52 games and 72-3 over the last five years.

Winning aside, John Roderique, Webb City head football coach, refuses to let success go to his player’s heads. Each week Roderique, and the rest of the Webb City coaching staff, reminds the Cardinals they can always improve, which in turn has led to another undefeated regular season.

Webb City, for the most part, has breezed through the postseason, which included last week’s 42-20 victory over Bolivar in the quarterfinal round of the 2009 MSHSAA Class 4 playoffs. But Webb City, now 13-0 this season and ranked No. 1, has its hands full this week, when the Cardinals return home to face Kearney in a rematch of last year’s semifinal game.

“I have to hand it to our defense,” said Roderique, “they have played outstanding this season. We struggled a bit up front against Bolivar, which is a big, physical football team and, obviously, we struggled with that part of it.”

Senior running back Braxton Baker, playing in his first game following a two-game suspension, wracked up more than 100 yards on the ground against Bolivar, though he failed to add to his 22 touchdown total. Sophomore running back Jamison Cady, whose playing time has increased significantly in the postseason, had two touchdown runs of 10 and 4 yards. Overall, Webb City gained more than 400 yards on offense against Bolivar, which struggled to find a rhythm. The Cardinals entertain Kearney at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Cardinal Stadium.

Kearney, which lost 14-7 last season to Webb City in the state semifinal game, is 11-2 this season and has won eight games in row since falling to Staley in Week 5. Kearney, by the way, avenged its loss to Staley two weeks ago in the state sectional playoff with a 28-0 victory. Last week, Kearney, under fourth-year head coach, Greg Jones, knocked off Harrisonville in the quarterfinal with a 41-0 shutout victory at Harrisonville High School.

Let’s just say, Kearney has been biding its time for another chance to play Webb City.

“We always focus on the next opponent, but it was always in the back of our heads,” senior defensive end Joe Windsor told the Kansas City Star. “But now it’s here, so we’re going to have our best week of practice and take it from there.”

Shane Hartzler, Kearney’s junior 6-foot-3, 190-pound signal caller, has completed 101 of 156 passes for 1,466 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 206 yards and six touchdowns on 76 carries.

Webb City’s defense, which has dominated opponents for the most part this season, will have its hands full defending a solid core of running backs, including Ashton Hiatt, Dillon Brink and Aaron Henrichs. Hiatt, 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, has gained 991 yards this season to lead the Bulldogs.