By Chris Parker
Hang banners. Break records.
That is the standard for Webb City football.
“Chasing history was our motto this year,” Webb City quarterback Kade Hicks said. “We wanted to follow through with our tradition with Webb City getting to this game and proving that we were the best team in Class 4. That was our motto: Chasing 15.”
The Cardinals left zero doubt that they were the best team in Class 4 this year in a 48-0 state championship game. It marked the 15th time that Webb City football has won a state championship.
A new state record.
“Our breakdown is ‘fifteen’. They started doing that back in June,” Webb City Head Coach John Roderique said. “It is just a compliment to those kids. They have had that drive and are motivated by something that happened last year. They kept focused on that and kept working.”
That thing that happened last year was a 17-13 state semifinal loss at home to eventual state champion Ladue Horton Watkins.
“We always talk to our kids about this game is kind of a microcosm of life. When you leave high school life is going to get tough and there are going to be challenges. Everything isn’t going to work out you way,” Roderique said. “Last year, the semifinal game against Ladue, we could have easily won that game. You have to have that adversity. You have to have things not go your way to make you buckle down and go back to work. If it was easy everybody would be doing it.”
How did Webb City respond? With a run to a state title that included wins, in order, over Class 4’s No. 8, 2, 3 and 9 ranked teams over the past four weeks.
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Friday’s game was a master class in Webb City football. The Cardinals rushed for 415 yards on 42 carries for six touchdowns. Terrell Kabala led the way with 10 carries for 126 yards. Hicks added in 13 carries for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Dillon Harlan just missed out on 100 yards with six carries for 94 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Cardinals were even more impressive. Webb City held a Platte County aerial attack averaging more than 200 yards per game through the air to 121 yards. The Pirates also mustered just 62 total rushing yards.
Webb City has now played two state title games at Faurot Field in Columbia and has yet to yield a single point.
“Darrell Hicks replaced a great defensive coordinator two years ago in Mike Smith. He has done nothing but continue everything that has been going on here. We have a great staff. They do a tremendous job of working during the week and preparing our kids. When we go out to practice they get them ready and get them prepared,” Roderique said. “Your confidence is built through your preparation.”
The Cardinals will lose 25 seniors to graduation this year who will be sorely missed by the Webb City football program.
“It is a bunch of guys that show up together every day, and they have one common denominator: they want to be the best that they can be as a football team. I am proud of every one of them and love these guys to death,” Roderique said. “That is the tough thing is that it is over. The daily grind and daily work is what you appreciate from these kids. They are going to go on and be successful in what they do because of how they work.”
