Conor Knatcal and Kael Combs teamed up for one of the best quarterback-receiver combinations in Nixa history Friday, but it wasn't quite enough as Joplin pulled out a 28-25 triumph..
Knatcal completed 14-of-29 passes for 284 yards, with Combs being his primary target. Combs hauled in nine passes for 234 yards. They hooked up for a pair of touchdowns.
On Nixa's first play from scrimmage, Knatcal fired a 60-yard pass to Combs. It set up a 31-yard field goal by Kaleb James.
Nixa jumped out to a 10-0 lead, thanks to more Knatcal-Combs fireworks. Knatcal found Combs for a 48-yard touchdown pass with 7:51 to play in the first quarter.
Nixa maintained a 10-7 lead at halftime.
Joplin gained its first lead by starting the second half with 71-yard scoring drive in which it converted on fourth down three times. Always Wright threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Hudson Moore.
A 37-yard pass from Knatcal to Combs set up a one-yard touchdown run by Kasen Hammitt to give Nixa its last lead, 17-14.
Joplin went up 28-17.
Nixa made it 28-25 on a one-yard scoring strike from Knatcal to Combs and a two-point conversion run by Hammitt.
Nixa totaled only 39 yards rushing, as running back Ramone Green spent most of the game sidelined with a shoulder injury.
