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Eagles set themselves up for showdown with Carthage by outlasting Carl Junction

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CARL JUNCTION — Ty Hartman did his part to help keep Nixa from overlooking Carl Junction on Friday.

Hartman picked off a tipped Bulldogs pass from his outside linebacker post and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown in the Eagles’ 49-21 triumph.

Nixa’s trip to Carl Junction was the proverbial “sandwich game,” in between the Eagles’ historical win versus Webb City a week ago and next week’s showdown for a share of the COC championship with Carthage.

Nixa (7-1) began to pull away from Carl Junction (3-5) by putting up 28 points over the final nine-plus minutes of the second quarter.

You can't change your mindset based on who the opponent is,” Hartman said.

Quarterback Connor Knatcal finished the night with four touchdown passes, tying the single-game school record for scoring strikes for the second time this season.

The Eagles’ scoring started with a Knatcal 30-yard touchdown pass to wideout Connor McCracken with 9:27 left in the second quarter.

Running back Spencer Ward had two straight touchdowns, one through the air on a 22-yard reception from Knatcal and one on the ground.

Nixa went up 28-14 when Knatcal and McCracken hooked up for a 16-yard touchdown pass with :03 remaining in the first half.

The Eagles’ second-half fireworks included a 59-yard touchdown pass from Knatcal to wide receiver Kael Combs, Hartman’s pick-six and running back John Gholson’s one-yard touchdown run.

Hartman’s touchdown was a popular play among Nixa’s coaches and players, as the unheralded junior got his turn in the spotlight.

He’s one of the best flying under the radar players we have,” coach John Perry said. “He's always where he is supposed to be every single time the ball is snapped. He has been absolutely right on.”

Hartman has been a linebacker throughout his career and has made a successful transition from inside linebacker to outside linebacker.

I was an inside linebacker, but then everyone started growing on me. I figured I could be a little faster and go outside,” Hartman said. “I’ve always liked being at linebacker. You're not too far away from the ball, like you are in the secondary. But you're not right up on the line, either. You have a second to get your read and then you fire and go.”

Nixa finds itself tied with Joplin (7-1) in second place in the COC standings behind Carthage (8-0). A win at home versus the Tigers would give the Eagles their first share of a COC championship.

Nixa has lost eight straight to Carthage, since sweeping a regular-season game and playoff contest from the Tigers in 2014.


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