Breaking down Week 2 Springfield area high school football action
· Yahoo Sports
SPRINGFIELD — It was another busy night of high school football action in the Springfield area on Friday, Sept. 5. Amidst hot conditions, the games lived up to the hype, delivering big results, important touchdowns, and defensive clinics.
Here’s everything that happened in Week 2 high school football for the Springfield area.
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Springfield Catholic survives wild finish
Springfield Catholic (2-0) used some late-game heroics from Sam Boster to earn a Week 2 victory. The Irish defeated Houston 36-29 in a wild finish.
With the game tied 21-21 with 2:25 left in the game, Boster took a 75-yard kick return to the house for a touchdown. It’s his second consecutive game that featured a kick-return touchdown.
Following Boster’s score, Houston’s Tucker Venn responded with an 80-yard kick return for a touchdown. Houston’s two-point conversion was good, giving them a 29-28 lead.
Springfield Catholic didn’t succumb to the pressure. The Irish marched down the field and were set up in the red zone following a pass interference call. Quarterback Jett Lewis tossed a slant route to Boster for the game-winning touchdown with less than 40 seconds to play.
The Irish defense stood tall on the final possession to secure the win. This is the first 2-0 start for the Irish in back-to-back seasons since 2010-11.
Nolan Lashley leads Republic with big first half
Republic (2-0) put on another show for its fans in Week 2. The Tigers enjoyed a dominant 54-10 home opening win against Kickapoo (0-2).
Not many teams could slow down Nolan Lashley in Week 2. The running back exploded for four touchdowns in the first half. Three of his touchdowns came from short yardage. His big play was a 35-yard touchdown through the heart of Kickapoo’s defense.
Missouri safety commit Kieran Govan showcased his speed, too. He threw a stiff arm and broke two tackles for an 80-yard touchdown run. Greg Hicks and Alex Russell added short rushing touchdowns, too.
In the third quarter, Alex Johnson’s interception for a touchdown gave Republic all of the momentum needed to secure a big win.
Republic’s win sets them up for a huge Week 3 game on the road against Nixa.
Nixa hangs on for close win against Joplin
Nixa’s last regular season road loss came against Joplin in 2021. It almost happened again, but big plays down the stretch led Nixa to a 30-27 victory.
With 3:28 remaining, Nixa quarterback Adam McKnight scored a clutch 15-yard rushing touchdown on fourth down. The designed quarterback run gave Nixa a 30-20 lead.
Joplin would march down the field and respond with a touchdown. Joplin’s on-side kick would not be successful. Nixa secured a first down on the drive to ice the clock.
Nixa played from ahead for the entire game. Chris Henegar sacked Joplin’s quarterback in the opening five minutes for a safety. On the next possession, McKnight scored the first of his two rushing touchdowns, delivering Nixa a 9-0 lead.
Later in the first half, McKnight tossed a 47-yard post route to Carter Mabe. The pass and the route were flawless, showcasing the quarterback and wide receiver’s continuity together.
Nixa took a 23-14 lead into halftime after a 50-yard touchdown reception from McKnight to Jax Adams. With McKnight flushed out of the pocket, Adams made himself available. Adams caught the ball in the flat before going upfield. With Joplin defenders around him, Adams juked to his left and cut back up the field for an incredible touchdown.
It was a stern road test for Nixa, but they held on for a win. The Eagles never trailed as they continue to be the Central Ozark Conference’s top dog.
Ozark secures first win of the season
Head coach Ray Godfrey picked up his first win in charge of Ozark. The Tigers defeated Willard 48-12 behind two touchdowns each from running back Braxton Bell and Kaiden Wirtmiller.
Ozark quarterback Caden O’Donnell delivered two touchdown passes to Westin Samson and Jett Easley, who also rushed for a score.
Ozark’s defense was a handful. They forced three fumbles and one interception in the win. Everything went Ozark’s way in the win. The defensive line clogged holes, while the offensive line created opportunities for the skill position players.
Clever earns statement win against Stockton
For the third consecutive season, Clever has started 2-0. The Bluejays defeated Stockton (1-1) 28-7, showcasing their strength in all three facets of the game.
Clever led 6-0 at halftime thanks to running back Kendall Piper’s short rushing touchdown.
Less than two minutes into the second half, Piper added another rushing touchdown from 10 yards away.
Tyson Clark had two big highlights for Clever in the second. He blew by a few tacklers for a 63-yard rushing touchdown to send Clever ahead 20-0. He also scored the final touchdown of the game via a 47-yard rush where he weaved around Stockton’s linebackers before taking off for the end zone.
Southwest Missouri Week 2 results
Big Eight Conference
- Cassville 44, Aurora 0
- East Newton 28, McDonald County 27
- Lamar 20, Seneca 12
- Monett 32, Mount Vernon 27
Central Ozark Conference
- Carthage 49, Lebanon 12
- Neosho 42, Glendale 21
- Nixa 30, Joplin 27
- Republic 54, Kickapoo 10
- Ozark 48, Willard 12
- Webb City 63, Waynesville 19
Non-conference
- Lighthouse Christian 42, Parkview 14
- Bolivar 33, Harrisonville 25
- Branson 49, Rolla 20
- Logan-Rogersville 55, Ava 0
- Nevada 32, Carl Junction 28
- Marshfield 50, Reeds Spring 6
- West Plains 26, Mountain Grove 14
- Ash Grove 38, El Dorado Springs 20
- Marionville 30, Forsyth 26
- Liberty (Mountain View) 14, Miller 6
- Tipton 28, Pierce City 14
- Sarcoxie 43, Hollister 0
- Skyline 44, Willow Springs 13
- Clever 28, Stockton 7
- Buffalo 54, Warsaw 38
- Fair Grove 52, Hillcrest 20
- Marshfield 50, Reeds Spring 6
- Springfield Catholic 36, Houston 29
- Strafford 23, Adrian 7
Liam Keating covers high school sports and Missouri State athletics for The Springfield News-Leader. Send stats or information to him at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Breaking down Week 2 Springfield area high school football action