By Don Abernathy (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
It didn’t take long for Nixa’s Spencer Ward to get the attention of the capacity crowd against visiting Webb City on Friday.
On the fourth play from scrimmage the senior running back took the handoff, broke tackles at the line, then bounced it outside to the boundary for a 66-yard touchdown, sending the raucous Nixa student section into a frenzy.
The early spark was key as Nixa scored twice in the first half and beat Central Ozark Conference rival Webb City, 14-7, as both teams struggled with game time temperatures in the 90s.
“Spencer is the best player in southwest Missouri, and he could be the best player in the state,” Nixa coach John Perry said.
“If you don’t tackle him at the line of scrimmage, you’re not going to catch him once he gets loose. He has the capability to go 95 yards on any snap. Then he turns around on defense and probably made 20 tackles tonight. I am glad that he is a Nixa Eagle.”
Ward’s run stood as an example of his running style and mentality carrying the football, and perhaps a warning to the rest of the COC.
“The thing about me is, I’m going to run like a chicken with my head cut off,” Ward said.
“The first guy isn’t going to bring me down too easy. My speed is pretty deadly too, so don’t let me get to the second level or that will happen.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Webb City answered Nixa’s touchdown with a 10-play 64-yard drive that culminated on a touchdown run by Breckin Galardo for a 7-6 Cardinals lead.
Nixa trailed until midway through the second quarter when senior quarterback Drew Blevins connected with senior Rylan Michel for a 32-yard touchdown pass and a 14-7 lead.
“It’s a blessing to play Webb City the first game of the year,” Perry said.
“It’s like a heavyweight fight. What an awesome atmosphere. What a fun night. Playing a team like Webb City, you learn a lot about yourself.
“We didn’t do everything perfect, but we’re going to celebrate this win and then go to work Sunday to figure out a way to get better.”
Ward totaled 92 yards rushing on 13 carries and a score while Nixa senior and newcomer Malachi Rider totaled 131 yards rushing on 10 carries in his debut in an Eagles uniform.
“This is my first year playing Webb City and playing for Nixa, but just hearing about the history you can tell everyone here cares a lot about it,” Rider said.
“Just to be a part of that is pretty cool. The atmosphere was awesome, the fans, the student section, I never felt anything like that back home in Kentucky.
“I’m glad we got the win tonight and I’m glad to be here with this good group of guys.”
Galardo led Webb City with 64 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown.
The Cardinals mounted three lengthy drives in the second half, but failed to convert or score points on fourth down at the end of each of those drives.
“Probably the most frustrating part of the night was that we had a couple fourth down situations where we just couldn’t convert,” Webb City coach Ryan McFarland said.
“We were making one mistake per drive that would set us back, like a penalty or a missed block, and if we could have fixed that then who knows how the outcome would have been.”
