Webb City quarterback Mason Young ran for 196 yards and three touchdowns and threw for another score to lead the Cardinals (6-3) to a 42-35 come-from-behind win over the Joplin Eagles (3-6) in both teams' regular season finale on Friday night at Junge Field.
Eagles return man Brayden Reed energized Joplin fans early when he took the opening kickoff 46 yards to near midfield. Seven plays later, Elijah Hurrell reeled off a 31-yard touchdown run and Lacota Nichols' extra point was good to give Joplin a 7-0 lead with 8:16 left in the opening quarter.
Webb City quarterback Mason Young answered Hurrell's score with a six-yard touchdown run with 5:02 left. Brady Wallace's kick was true and the game was tied at 7. The Eagles regained the lead with 28 seconds left in the first quarter off a Trenton McCadney quarterback keeper from three yards out that, with the PAT, gave Joplin a 14-7 advantage.
The Eagles increased their lead to 21-7 off a McCadney one-yard pass to Aydin Harvey and another Nichols' point after with 2:24 left in the half, but the Cardinals trimmed the lead to 21-14 as time expired in the first half off a nine-yard Young pass to Colton Rickman.
Young scored on a three-yard keeper at the 8:39 mark of the third quarter and with the extra point, the teams were tied at 21.
Joplin reclaimed the lead at 28-21 when Hurrell ran the ball in from two yards out with 4:13 left in the third, But Webb's Barek Hoffman took the ensuing kickoff the distance to tie the game at 28.
Webb City defensive lineman Cooper Ray recovered a Joplin fumble on the Eagles' next possession and the Cardinals took over on the Joplin 42-yard line.
The Cardinals earned their first lead of the game at 35-28 with 1:48 left in the third quarter on a Young keeper from 10 yards out.
On their next possession, the Eagles made it to the Cardinals 37-yard line but had to turn the ball over on downs at the 11:45 mark after back-to-back incomplete passes.
Drake Claborn extended Webb City's lead when he scored on a nine-yard run after an eight-play 63-yard drive. Wallace drilled the PAT to give the Cardinals a 42-28 lead with 8:59 left.
With 5:36 left, Joplin turned the ball over on downs at the Webb City 34-yard line. After a failed Webb City 46-yard field goal, McCadney found receiver Malakai Peckham for an 80-yard touchdown strike. With the extra point, Joplin trailed by just a score at 42-35 with 2:09 left.
An Eagles' onside kick attempt was smothered by Webb's D'Mitri Ndzentuv and the Cardinals were able to run out the clock and hold on for the 42-35 win.
McCadney was 11 for 18 for 158 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He also rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Elijah Hurrell ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
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