Minutes after Kickapoo's 49-20 victory over the Joplin Eagles at Junge Field, four impact seniors that have profoundly contributed to the Chiefs' perfect start to the season could be seen hoisted on the shoulders of their fellow teammates.
One of those seniors was running back Maverick McGee, who elevated his game in impressive fashion on Friday – just as his teammates elevated him following the win.
And according to McGee, nobody should have been surprised.
“At the very start of the game, I knew I was going to have a big game,” McGee said. “I felt good coming out because I've been battling a hamstring injury all summer and I just felt really strong this game.”
McGee, who was held to 76 rushing yards on six carries in abbreviated action in last week's win over Rolla, made a statement in Week 3 – compiling 19 carries for 160 yards and four touchdowns – reminiscent of his numbers in opening-week action.
McGee's loudest run of the night came with 1:24 to play in the second quarter. With the Chiefs (3-0) on their own 30-yard line and already sporting a 27-7 lead, the senior rusher was set to power up the middle for some positive yardage, but McGee made a detour at the last second – darting to the right and utilizing the sideline to scamper for a 70-yard touchdown.
“As soon as the play happened, everyone just went in the middle, including their defense,” McGee said about his long TD run. “There was nothing in the middle, so our line just stayed on their blocks which allowed me to bounce it to the outside and make something out of nothing.”
The touchdown run was his third of the evening, coming after a short 2-yard rushing TD with 4:23 remaining in the first period and another strike from nine yards out in the second.
McGee, who is just one of several offensive threats for the brown and gold, would reach the endzone for his fourth and final time late in the third quarter, again from two yards away.
“We're able to spread the ball around a little bit and we have weapons on the perimeter,” said Kickapoo head coach Kurt Thompson. “[McGee] was the one that was the benefit of it tonight.”
Not to be outdone by McGee's performance was the early electricity brought from fellow senior Corey Dye, who returned a 65-yard punt return to the house after a Joplin three-and-out on the first possession of the game.
Travis Vokolek and Robbie Merced also notched scores on 14-yard and 56-yard passes from QB Chris Lawson, respectively.
“I couldn't be more pleased with how we're playing offensively right now,” Thompson said.
Joplin's (1-2) dangerous rushing duo of Jokiem Crawford and Dustin Hunter were largely held in check, totaling just 46 yards a piece in the loss. However, they were responsible for all three of their team's scores.
Despite the Eagles' struggles on Friday, second-year head coach Curtis Jasper knows his young team is improving every week, which could bode well when it's time for postseason play and a potential rematch with Kickapoo, a fellow member in Class 6, District 4.
“We've got a lot of new faces and our job is to get better every day,” “You never know, we might end up facing Kickapoo again come district time and we're going to be a lot better the second time around.”
Kickapoo will look to remain perfect on the season when it faces its toughest challenge yet in state-ranked Camdenton at home next week. Joplin travels to Rolla to square off with the winless Bulldogs.
Kickapoo 49, Joplin 20
Kickapoo 14-21-14-0 – 49
Joplin 0-7-7-6 – 20
First quarter
Kickapoo – Dye 65 punt return (kick good)
Kickapoo – McGee 2 run (kick good)
Second quarter
Joplin – Hunter 2 run (kick good)
Kickapoo – Vokolek 14 catch from Lawson (kick good)
Kickapoo – McGee 9 run (kick no good)
Kickapoo – McGee 70 run (2 point conv good)
Third quarter
Kickapoo – Merced 56 catch from Lawson (kick good)
Joplin – Crawford 1 run (kick good)
Kickapoo – McGee 2 run (kick good)
Fourth quarter
Joplin – Crawford 1 run (kick no good)
