Scouting Nixa’s Week Seven home contest Thursday with Willard:
This is Nixa’s Homecoming game. …
This is Nixa’s first Thursday contest since a 2011 Thursday game at Branson. The Eagles also broke from the Friday night norm two years ago while playing on a Saturday at Neosho. …
Nixa (6-0) last lost to Willard in 2018 by an 8-3 count. …
Willard (3-3) was 1-10 in both 2021 and 2022. The Tigers are seeking their first winning season since 2017. …
Willard’s defense is likely the most improved unit in the state. The Tigers are giving up an average of 23.7 points a game, after allowing 47.3 points a night last season. …
Dylan Rebura and Malachi Rider are both on track to become the first 1,000-yard running backs at Nixa not named Ramone Green since Sean Sample ran for 1,079 yards in 2018. Rebura has 657 yards rushing and Rider 652. It was only four years ago that Alex Wentz’s 638 yards rushing topped Nixa. …
The general consensus is Nixa’s passing game isn’t nearly as dangerous as it was a year ago. But screen passes and intermediate routes essentially resulting in a catch-and-run have resulted in a low-risk, high-reward payoff for the Eagles. Nixa receivers are averaging 23.8 yards a catch. With 18 receptions for 423 yards, wideout Ryan Michel is on pace to equal or better his totals of 39 catches for 621 yards last season. …
Nixa QBs have yet to throw an interception. …
There was a reason why Nixa defensive back Parker Mann seemingly was in every picture from last week’s game against Carl Junction that appeared in the Headliner. Mann was involved in nearly every Eagles defensive stop. He was in on a career-high 17 tackles, including nine solo stops. He had two TFLs. …
Mann leads Nixa with four TFLs on the season. Michael Henegar has three TFLs and three quarterback sacks. …
Nixa’s special teams stats include an oddity, with the Eagles averaging more yards on punt returns, 16.3, than on kickoff returns, 11.1. …
The Eagles have outscored their six victims 216-113. …
Willard led Webb City (5-1) 13-0 last week, before losing 43-16. …
Willard features as polished a quarterback as there is in the COC in senior Russell Roweton. He’s 61-of-112 passing for 864 yards, with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. He throws well on the run and is best described as a game-manager. His decision making while scrambling out of the pocket often results in the Tigers moving the chains. He has 184 yards rushing. …
Roweton threw for 120 yards or more in each of Willard’s first five games, but was only 8-of-19 passing for 64 yards against Webb City last week. He actually had more yards rushing, 75 on six carries, than passing against the Cardinals. …
Willard wide receiver Timmy Ruble has 23 catches for 323 yards and three touchdowns.
If Nixa goes on to be the No. 1 seed in Class 6 District 5 and reaches the District final, the Eagles will enjoy a stretch of being at home for five of six games.
