By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
No distractions – a Thursday night game, homecoming week, Republic looming next – could slow down the Nixa Eagles.
A motivated Nixa squad took care of business, pummeling Willard 47-14 at Eagle Stadium on Thursday night.
Nixa, behind the one-two punch of running backs Dylan Rebura and Malachi Rider, gashed Willard for over 300 yards on the ground.
“We have two great running backs,” said Nixa coach John Perry “Gosh, Alabama, when they’ve had two great ones they’ve won a lot of ball games. It’s a luxury for us and we’re grateful to have it.”
Rebura, a junior, finished with 138 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Rider, a senior and move-in from Kentucky, added 110 yards and four touchdowns on 10 carries.
In Nixa’s system, Rebura and Rider alternate offensive series as the featured running back.
Whoever’s turn it is, they’ll rarely come off the field.
At one point in Thursday’s game, Rebura had all seven carries on a 7-play, 54-yard scoring drive.
“It’s a little aggravating at times because if the other guy messes up, you’re like, ‘Maybe I could’ve gotten that one,’” Rider said. “Either way, I like it because he gets his turn and I get my turn. We both do great. We bond well and know how to work together.
“My biggest thing is: Get ready no matter what. I don’t know if I’m going to get the ball once or 20 times. As long as I stay ready, I’ll be fine.”
Nixa’s victory sets up a Central Ozark Conference showdown next week.
The Eagles (7-0 overall) will travel to Republic (5-1 overall) for a game that should have major implications in the Central Ozark Conference title race.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
With a win, the Eagles would be on the verge of an outright COC title as the league’s lone undefeated team. A Republic victory over Branson this Friday night and Nixa next week would set up a three-way share of the conference title (Nixa, Republic, Webb City).
“It’s one we’ve been talking about for a while,” Rider said of the matchup. “It’s all I’ve heard since I came here. It’s almost become a rivalry now. If we clean up the mistakes and focus like we do, we’ll be fine.”
In last year’s Week 8 matchup, Republic beat Nixa 36-35 in overtime at Eagle Stadium. It was Nixa’s first loss of the season and forced the Eagles to share the league title with Carthage.
“It’s a game we’ve had circled for a long, long time,” Perry said. “They got us here last year, and it was a game I lost sleep over. We did a lot of things right, a lot of things wrong. It is what it is. We’ll be ready to play next Friday night, that’s for sure.”
Nixa wasn’t caught looking ahead on Thursday night. The Eagles led 20-7 after the first quarter and 33-7 by halftime.
For the players, it was just another game. Mostly.
“I woke up this morning and was like, ‘Oh yeah, we have a football game tonight and then we have to go to school tomorrow,’” Rider said. “I have a test (Friday) and I’m not ready for it.”
Nixa supported its strong run game with a dominant defense. The Eagles held Willard’s starting offense under 200 yards and recorded four sacks.
But it wasn’t a perfect team outing. Nixa committed three redzone turnovers, including two in the first half while the game was still close.
“I think we’ve had like one fumble in the last two years,” Perry said. “Tonight, we had two. We don’t do that. It’s uncharacteristic, but that’s the great thing about athletics: We get to wake up tomorrow and be better at this.”
Willard (3-4 overall) will host Carl Junction (1-5 overall) for senior night on Friday, Oct. 13.
Nixa 47, Willard 14
Willard 7 0 0 7 — 14
Nixa 13 20 7 7 — 47
First quarter
Nixa – Rider 2 run (Cribbs kick)
Nixa – Rider 55 run (kick blocked)
Willard – Rakestraw fumble recovery in endzone (Lupescu kick)
Second quarter
Nixa – Rebura 35 run (kick failed)
Nixa – Rebura 3 run (Kahmke kick)
Nixa – K. Flint 61 catch from Uber (Kahmke kick)
Third quarter
Nixa – Rider 10 run (Kahmke kick)
Fourth quarter
Nixa – Rider 1 run (Kahmke kick)
Willard – Dickinson 60 run (Lupescu kick)
Willard stat leaders (unofficial)
• Passing: Roweton 8/18, 62 yards, 1 INT
• Rushing: Walker 14 carries for 39 yards; Roweton 12 carries for 33 yards
• Receiving: Amodeo 3 catches for 49 yards
Nixa stat leaders (unofficial)
• Passing: Uber 6/10, 136 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Rushing: Rebura 19 carries for 138 yards, 2 TDs; Rider 10 carries for 110 yards, 4 TDs
• Receiving: K. Flint 3 catches for 97 yards, 1 TD
• Defense: 4 sacks
