By Jeff Kessinger (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Sometimes to score fast, you’ve got to slow things down. That was the trick for Reid Potts, at least.
Nixa’s junior quarterback threw for three touchdowns in nine minutes as the Eagles erased a 14-point deficit to beat Carl Junction 21-14 Oct. 4 at Eagle Stadium.
All the touchdowns came in the second quarter of the Central Ozarks Conference game.
“They were loading the box on us, so we knew we had to beat them in the passing game,” Potts said. “My wide receivers did a good job getting open and my line gave me time to throw, so praise to them.”
Potts drew some praise, too, from coach Rich Rehagen. He’s seen his QB make impressive improvement.
“He’s definitely coming along,” Rehagen said. “I know he got a little playing time last year, but this is only his sixth varsity start. He’s made a mistake here and there, but he’s doing less and less of those things now. He’s getting rid of the ball when he needs to, knowing when the opportunities are there. He really played well and hopefully we can keep him improving.”
Not only were all three of Nixa’s touchdowns scored in the second quarter, but all of them were dramatic. After falling behind 14-0, Potts hit Evann Long racing down the right sideline for a 77-yard touchdown to get the Eagles on the board at the 9:08 mark.
Nixa (3-3) thought it had tied the game on a deep ball to the end zone four minutes later. But the official on the play, after initially signaling touchdown, ruled the pass incomplete. The Bulldogs sacked Potts on the next play to set up a 4th-and-15 from the CJ 28.
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No worries. Potts dropped a rainbow into the end zone for Long to even the score at 14. He threw that pass while under heavy pressure.
“I think the whole game is slowing down and helping me make decisions faster,” Potts said. “If I don’t have a decision fast enough, I just get rid of the ball and live another day.”
Clayton Uber nearly put Nixa in front just three plays later, picking off a pass and running it back 50 yards to the end zone. But an illegal block penalty wiped the touchdown off the board. It also bummed Uber out.
“I wanted a varsity touchdown,” Uber said with a laugh. “I just play defense, so I haven’t gotten to touch the ball in a while. I really wanted that touchdown. But it put the team in a good spot and we were able to punch it in.”
Indeed, it took Nixa six plays to move the ball 22 yards. Potts threw a swing pass into the flat for Alex Wentz and a 2-yard touchdown to cap the rally. All of a sudden, it was 21-14 Nixa at the half. Uber and the Nixa defense played shutout football the rest of the way to secure the win.
“Our defensive backs got going a little bit and we changed a couple of things coverage-wise,” Rehagen said. “And we were able to get a little pressure on them in the second quarter. That got them off-balance a little bit, but the No. 1 thing was our guys just covered a little better.”
Potts powered the Nixa offense with 202 yards and three touchdowns on 13-for-18 passing. Long was his favorite target, hauling in seven of those passes for 165 yards and a pair of scores. Freshman Ramone Green led the Nixa ground attack with 60 yards on 15 carries.
Carl Junction (2-4) cruised for the first quarter-plus, scoring on two of its first three possessions. Drew Patterson hit Cole Stewart on a 32-yard pass for the first score. He did it all by himself for the second touchdown. Patterson’s 5-yard keeper — including a leap into the end zone — gave the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
“Everything was clicking, but then we let the easy plays go,” Patterson said. “I feel like we just beat ourselves with penalties and I overthrew some routes. We got in our own way. I’m still always proud of my guys.”
Patterson finished the night 12-for-21 passing, for 163 yards and a score. He also rushed 9 times for 15 yards. Stewart led the Bulldogs with three catches for 77 yards, while Brady Sims rushed 21 times for 64 yards.
Carl Junction plays its home regular season finale next Friday, Oct. 11. Neosho will be the guest.
Nixa will also be at home in Week 7, hosting Branson. The Eagles have now won two of their last three games and are building some confidence as district play draws closer.
“Our whole team is very confident and we’ve been grinding in practice,” Potts said.
SCORING SUMMARY
CJHS 7 7 0 0 — 14
NHS 0 21 0 0 — 21
First Quarter
Carl Junction — Cole Stewart 32 pass from Drew Patterson (Reese Vogel kick), 7-0 6:48
Second Quarter
Carl Junction — Patterson 5 run (Vogel kick), 14-0, 9:56
Nixa — Evann Long 77 pass from Reid Potts (Andrew Anello kick), 14-7, 9:08
Nixa — Long 28 pass from Potts (Anello kick), 14-14, 2:36
Nixa — Alex Wentz 2 pass from Potts (Anello kick), 21-14, :09.1
