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By Jim Connell (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
NIXA – As he milled around the Eagle Stadium field after Friday night’s home opener, Alex Allen proudly showed off a red, swollen right hand.
As a tight end with high-Division I prospects, it’s not an ideal situation.
But Allen wouldn’t have had it any other way.
The 6-foot-6, 220-pound senior turned in the play of the game, blocking a 32-yard field goal as time expired, sealing the Eagles’ 21-19 victory over Branson.
“My hand’s all swollen, he kicked it hard,” Allen said.
“I’m just really excited. We started off slow, then picked it up in the second half.”
Allen said he suggested a change before the fateful kick, moving from his position on the outside of the field goal block formation to a spot on the middle of the line.
That wound up being a perfect change, as the boot from Branson kicker Justice Webber slammed directly into Allen’s outstretched hand, giving Nixa a 2-0 record.
It also will give Allen a new spot on the field goal kick team.
“He’s really not one of our kick-blockers, but he will be the rest of the year,” Nixa coach Rich Rehagen said.
“He said, ‘Hey, put me in there,’ and I said, ‘Let’s do it – put the tall guy in there.’ ”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Nixa quarterback Jack Sanders turned in a three-touchdown performance, connecting with Stephen Belcher on a 36-yard scoring pass in the second quarter, hitting Zach Rehagen on a 14-yard score in the third period, and running in from 42 yards out midway through the third quarter.
The 42-yard run – the eventual game-winning touchdown – came after a crucial defensive stop that put all the momentum in Nixa’s corner.
The Sanders-to-Rehagen TD pass came on the first possession of the second half and gave the Eagles a 14-13 lead, and Branson moved the ball to near midfield on the next possession.
Nixa’s defense stopped Branson quarterback Ryan Still for no gain on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1.
On the next play, Sanders found room through the middle, then cut it to the outside and outran the defense to the end zone. That made it a 21-13 Nixa lead.
“That was absolutely huge,” the Nixa coach said. “You’ve got fourth-and-inches on our side and they go for it. We get a stop in there. The defensive line did a great job.
“That was a big sequence in there.”
Branson answered with a 6-yard run by Kyle Hunn on the next possession to cut the margin to 21-19, but the Nixa defense came through and met Jaylon Williams in the backfield on the two-point conversion attempt.
Sanders rushed for 141 yards on 13 rushes, and passed for 84 yards. He threw a key interception on Nixa’s final drive, with Deshaun Craigg stepping in front of a receiver to pick off a third-down pass over the middle.
Craigg returned it to the Nixa 38-yard line, giving the Pirates (1-1) new life with 2:18 remaining.
Branson quarterback Ryan Still, who finished with 132 yards rushing and 68 yards passing, had a key 8-yard keeper to give the Pirates a first down on their final drive and put them in position for the potential game-winning kick.
Hunn had 102 yards on the ground for the Pirates. Still ran for a 3-yard touchdown to open the scoring, then hit Cam Pead with a 26-yard TD pass to give Branson a 13-7 lead at the half.
“Any win’s a good win, but we know we have to work on some things,” Allen said. “The COC is, I believe, the hardest conference in the state of Missouri.”
Nixa will put its perfect record on the line with a trip to Central next week. The struggles in the first half on Friday give the team plenty to work on, but the ability to overcome that adversity is something a young team can work with.
“Getting a tight, tough win, at least you know that you can,” Rich Rehagen said. “The kids just keep battling – down at half and have to come back after half, make some plays and then have to hold on.
“There’s a lot to be said for that. Our kids can build on that … hopefully they’ll keep getting better and improve on some of the mistakes. I was happy it turned out the way that it did.”
Nixa 21, Branson 19
Second quarter
Branson – Ryan Still 3 run (Justice Webber kick)
Nixa – Stephen Belcher 36 pass from Jack Sanders (Andrew Anello kick)
Branson – Cam Pead 26 pass from Still (kick failed)
Third quarter
Nixa – Zach Rehagen 14 pass from Sanders (Anello kick)
Nixa – Sanders 42 run (Anello kick)
Branson – Kyle Hunn 6 run (run failed)
