With Nixa having long since completed its Class 6 District 3 win over Lee’s Summit West last Friday, many of the Eagles’ players and coaches gathered in the coaches’ room to watch a live feed of Joplin’s game with Lee’s Summit.
Once Joplin won in double-overtime, there were mostly moans from the Nixa players and coaches. They no doubt were hoping to be at home for the semifinal round.
Coach John Perry smiled, didn’t say a word and simply rose from his chair and walked to his office
“You’d rather play at home if you had your druthers. It worked out the way it was supposed to work out,” Perry said. “We’re just happy to still be playing. I’m happy we get another opportunity to play them. Not often do you get a chance to re-do something. We’re excited to get that chance.”
Nixa (8-2) will have revenge on its mind, as it preps for its trip to Joplin (9-1) on Friday. Joplin won the teams’ Week Two contest 28-25.
“We want to take advantage of this,” linebacker Jaden Aven said. “We want to show them we can beat them and we will beat them. We have a chip on our shoulders and something to prove.”
What Perry remembers most from the teams' first game is Joplin’s offense mounting long scoring drives.
“On defense, we couldn’t get them off the field on third downs,” Perry said. “They converted on a lot of third downs.”
Joplin features quarterback Always Wright. He was among seven Joplin starters who were suspended for last week’s game due to a bullying incident in the team’s locker room.
Joplin is no doubt using the suspension as part of its strategy this week. There has been no word if Wright and the other suspended players will return to action Friday.
Nixa will prepare as if Wright will play.
“He’s a great quarterback and does a fantastic job keeping plays alive with his legs,” Perry said. “He will be a great challenge.”
“Always Wright is a dude,” Nixa defensive lineman John Gholson said. “He’s a dual-threat quarterback. We have to take care of him.”
Taking over for Wright last week at quarterback was Hobbs Gooch. He threw three interceptions and two touchdowns in 17 pass attempts. Running back Drew VanGilder rushed 33 times for 111 yard and Donovyn Fowler returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown.
Linebacker Draven VanGilder has 131 tackles on the season. He had 15 solo stops last week.
Nixa wide receiver Kael Combs enjoyed a breakout game in September at Joplin by catching nine passes for 241 yards. He has 38 receptions for 756 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.
Quarterback Connor Knatcal is rewriting Nixa’s single-season passing records. He has completed 99-of-185 passes for 1,562 yards and 23 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
Aven’s season totals include 92 tackles, four tackles for a loss and two quarterback sacks on defense and 274 yards rushing on 38 carries on offense.
The other half of the District features No. 4 seed and defending state champion Ray-Pec (8-2) at No. 1 seed Lee’s Summit North (9-1).
