It was merely coincidence Nixa quarterback Connor Knatcal had a haircut this week for the first time all season following the Eagles’ first loss all season last week versus Republic.
“It had been almost a year since I cut it,” he said. “It had got very annoying, I had to cut it. It was time.”
Knatcal may not be a superstitious sort. But he learned since his haircut many Nixa fans apparently are.
“They were telling me about some dude in the Bible who cut his hair and lost everything,” Knatcal said in reference to Samson being sapped of his strength after having his hair cut by Delilah. “People were joking with me that I would lose something and wouldn’t be able to throw anymore. But it turned out fine.”
Indeed, Knatcal threw for three touchdown passes Friday in Nixa’s 51-7 Backyard Brawl win at Ozark.
Knatcal had his haircut Wednesday and upon reporting to school Thursday, gave Nixa coach John Perry a pleasant surprise.
“I was proud of him,” Perry said. “He was shaggy. But when I saw him, I thought he looked really good. He looks like an upstanding young man.”
Knatcal also did his part to help the economy by going out to eat for breakfast with some of his teammates Friday morning. They ventured to Billy Gail’s Restaurant in Ozark.
“We enjoyed a good breakfast. We’re going there (Saturday morning), too. It’s kind of funny that it’s in Ozark and we were playing Ozark. But we all had been there before and know it’s good food. We got some pancakes. We didn’t finish them because they’re huge.”
Knatcal was part of one of the bigger plays of the Backyard Brawl, as he spiraled a 38-yard touchdown pass to wideout Rylan Michel on fourth-and-18. It gave Nixa a 21-7 second quarrter lead.
“It was an awkward spot on the field in which it was too far to kick a field goal and there was no point in punting it. I assumed we would go for it,” Knatcal said. “It shows coach has trust in us. We made the play and proved him right.”
Just as Knatcal was untouched while standing in the pocket before making the throw, Michel was all by his lonesome in the end zone.
“It felt like I was sitting back there forever,” Knatcal said of the protection provided him by the Eagles’ offensive line. "It was at least four or five seconds, which is crazy for high school.”
Michel gained separation from his defender and then waited for the ball.
“I had to beat my guy and got past him,” Michel said. “You have to give a head-fake. He bit.
“I was back there and couldn’t see the ball at first. I was kind of worried,” he added. “Then, I saw it out of nowhere and was thinking, ‘Thank God.’ When I looked back at first, I expected the ball to be in the air already, but it wasn’t. Then, it came out. (Knatcal) was in the pocket so long.”
Knatcal also had time to throw touchdown passes to Noah Engelman and Gaven Krans.
The senior signal-caller has thrown for 21 touchdowns on the season. He had a single-season school record 24 scoring strikes last season.
