By Don Abernathy (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Behind Nixa’s big offensive line, senior running back Dylan Rebura racked up 234 yards and had 6 touchdowns on the ground as Nixa captured its second-straight Class 6 District 5 title in dominating fashion 48-21 over Joplin Friday at Eagle Stadium.
“It’s super exciting, when you think about what these guys have done over the last two years,” Nixa coach John Perry said. “To go undefeated in southwest Missouri is pretty awesome.
“When I got here five years ago, we sold out to the weight room, and now our guys are big and strong, and we are built for running the football.
“I don’t care where you’re at, playoff football is won by the team who wins in the trenches.”
Nixa (11-0) set the tone with a 31-yard gain on its first play with Rebura, then another 21-yard dash by Rebura two plays later.
Rebura scored on a 4-yard run to cap an 8-play, 80-yard drive less than three minutes into the game.
“We ran a lot of power counter wide zone,” Nixa senior offensive lineman Jacob Lile said. “We just kept running it because it kept working.
“We were getting about 7 to 9 yards a carry, so we kept doing that. That’s our bread and butter.”
On the ensuing possession, Joplin (7-4) ran the ball successfully and methodically, moving 70 yards in 11 plays.
Senior Toryn Jones ran on all but one play during the drive and scored the tying touchdown on a 1-yard run, powering his way across the goalline.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Seeing Joplin answer to tie the score was nothing new to Nixa junior offensive lineman Jackson Cantwell.
“We’ve had a lot of shootouts with Joplin in the past where we’ve had to just outscore them,” Cantwell said. “But our defense is much better now, so we don’t have to do that, but we were prepared to do it again tonight if we needed to.
“We know Joplin has playmakers and we just had to match that on our side.
Nixa answered right back, again using Rebura to tote the rock, scoring his second touchdown on a 9-yard run, giving Nixa a 14-7 lead with 13 seconds left in the first quarter.
Nixa sophomore quarterback Adam McKnight was 2-for-2 passing for 33 yards during the drive.
“We have an awesome offensive line, even when we pass, they give us plenty of time,” McKnight said. “Then we have Dylan back there knocking through people.
“This feels awesome. This team is great.”
After forcing a punt, Nixa went back on the attack, when McKnight connected with senior wide receiver Keivon Flint for a 37-yard touchdown pass and a 21-7 lead just two minutes into the second quarter.
“We’ve punted eight times all year long,” Perry said. “We expect to score every time we have the ball, and we dang near do.”
Senior safety Parker Mann blocked Joplin’s punt on its next possession, setting up Nixa in Joplin territory.
Senior tight end Lane Meltabarger reeled in a pass from McKnight at the Joplin 1-yard line, in spite of a Joplin defender being flagged for pass interference on the play.
Rebura punched it across for his third touchdown on the very next play. as Nixa took a 28-7 lead.
“That dude is just something else,” Lile said of Rebura. “We try to protect him. Same thing with Adam. We’ve got to block our tails off. We’ve got to make them look good.”
Joplin answered on its next possession, using all passes from junior Daniel Rose, to cut the Nixa lead to 28-14, but that is as close as Joplin could get.
Nixa quashed the threat with a methodical drive of its own, moving 65 yards in 13 plays, using runs from both McKnight and Rebura.
Rebura’s fourth touchdown of the game made the score 34-14 with 1:22 left in the first half.
“We had great intensity tonight,” McKnight said. “We’ve got to keep this intensity up, have confidence, and play like we know who we are.
“Our goal is to go 5-0 in the playoffs. We’ve got bigger goals now. We’re going for that state title.”
It was more of the same for Nixa after halftime, scoring touchdowns by Rebura on long drives to take a 48-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
“I think we are headed down a really long road this year, because we’ve got a really good team, and I think we are going to be putting a lot of people on notice just from that,” Cantwell said.
“It’s always good to prove you’re the best Class 6 team in the area, and it means a lot to win districts, but I’m excited to see what we can do when we get out of this area and play schools from all over the state in the state championships.”
Flint had six catches for 94 yards and a touchdown, while McKnight rushed five times for 56 yards and went 7-for-8 passing for 112 yards and a score.
Rose finished 17-for-31 passing for 182 yards and a touchdown and senior Davin Thomas had six catches for 77 yards and a score.
Nixa travels to face fellow unbeaten Lee’s Summit North in the Class 6 state quarterfinal round next Friday.
