SportsNovember 21, 2015
Cape Central football team falls to Webb City in Class 4 semifinals
All the momentum seemed to be with the Cape Central football team midway through the third quarter of Saturday's Class 4 semifinal. And just like that, Webb City took over.
All the momentum seemed to be with the Cape Central football team midway through the third quarter of Saturday's Class 4 semifinal.
And just like that, Webb City took over.
The game was tied at 14-all when Bennett Osburn booted a punt that took several bounces near the Cardinals' sideline before Nate Deadmond gathered the ball and dashed 81 yards to the end zone, sucking the air out of Tiger Stadium and giving Webb City a lead it never let go.
It was the top-ranked Cardinals -- the five-time defending state champions -- who braved a cold, windy afternoon and held on for a 35-14 victory.
"We really feel blessed to have the opportunity to play and keep going," said Webb City coach John Roderique, who led Webb City to its 42nd straight win and sixth straight state championship appearance. "I just can't say enough about our kids. With the game today and the conditions, all the kids out here today playing in this game, this was blistering.
"The conditions were just awful for both teams, and sometimes it's just a little thing there that happens that may turn the tide a little bit."
Momentum shifted in the Tigers' favor on the first play from scrimmage in the second half when Blake Harris recovered a Keaton Burroughs fumble, positioning Central (9-5) at the Webb City 26-yard line. Tigers quarterback Kway'Chon Chisom scored on a 1-yard keeper to tie the game at 14-all with 9:58 remaining in the quarter.
"You could no doubt feel the momentum shift," Central coach Nathan Norman said. "It was on Cape Central's side for sure."
The Tigers forced Webb City (14-0) to punt from its own 32 on the ensuing possession, but Central was unable to move the chains and went three-and-out before Deadmond's punt return put the Cardinals ahead 21-14 with 6:14 to go in the third.
"Things weren't really looking very good for us," Roderique said. "I was looking into our kids' eyes, and I didn't like what I saw. I'm not sure if they thought they could do it there for a minute because it's tough when you're going against this wind on this day in this kind of game. I felt like they had the momentum.
"We ended up having to punt again. I think our defense held, and then boom. We get that score. That certainly gave us a good feeling."
The Tigers turned the ball over on downs on their next possession, and Webb City responded with another scoring drive. Cardinals quarterback Tyson Roderique used a 5-yard run to convert a key fourth-and-4 near midfield, and two plays later, Hunter Vanlue broke free off the left tackle and raced 45 yards to paydirt, extending the Cardinals' lead to 28-14 with 1:05 remaining in the quarter. Webb City forced another three-and-out and pushed its lead to 35-14 with 9:27 to go in the game when Keaton Burroughs scored his second touchdown of the day on a 10-yard run.
The Cardinals churned out 143 yards rushing in the second half. They finished with 273 yards on the ground, led by Burroughs, who had 17 rushes for 114 yards. Vanlue finished with 84 yards on nine carries while Roderique added 10 carries for 43 yards.
"We challenged our guys," John Roderique said. "There were a lot of things that didn't go well, and a lot of that has to do with Cape. ... I'm just proud of our kids for stepping up and just making maybe one or two more plays than they did. That's what it came down to."
Central struck first in the opening quarter after Cory Duley's 34-yard field goal attempt came up well short. Sophomore running back Aaron Harris busted a 52-yard run on the next play, and the Tigers moved the chains twice before Chisom's 1-yard keeper put Central ahead 7-0 at the 2:39 mark of the quarter.
"It definitely was confidence for the whole team offensively," Norman said about getting the first touchdown. "The way they handled that, we got that big play and drove the ball, able to punch it in there in the first quarter. It was a huge confidence lift."
An onside kick allowed the Cardinals to start the next drive near midfield, and Burroughs accounted for 52 yards, scoring on a 27-yard run that tied the game at 7-all with 1:42 to go in the quarter. Central senior Al Young fumbled the ball inside his own 20 on the following possession, and Kaleb Potts put Webb City ahead 14-7 on a 5-yard run as time expired in the quarter.
Both teams were held scoreless in the second quarter, during which the Tigers got a key defensive stand with less than two minutes remaining before the break. Vanlue was stopped short on fourth-and-3 at the Central 19, and the Tigers ran out the clock to end the half.
"We felt going into half down by seven was a huge victory, especially because they were driving," Norman said. "Our defense really stepped up, got that stop on fourth down. It was huge. ... We felt like we could win it, and then we came back in the third quarter, got a key turnover, punched it in. Obviously we were in the middle of a heck of a ball game."
Central amassed 179 yards rushing, led by Harris' 87 yards on 23 totes. Chisom finished with 15 carries for 55 yards while Young was limited to 50 yards on 13 carries, including eight on the final drive of the game.
"They can compete with anybody in Class 4, and my hats off to those guys for just coming out and playing," John Roderique said about the Tigers. "It was a great environment here, great facilities. ... We've been treated great here, and we just feel blessed to have an opportunity to represent our school next week."
The Cardinals will try to win the program's 14th state championship when they face Kearney at 1 p.m. Friday at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. Only one other school -- Valle Catholic -- holds the distinction as 13-time state champions, and John Roderique isn't taking any of his wins for granted.
"It's pretty special, especially for our seniors," he said. "I kind of mentioned to the kids that it seemed like there was a lot of pressure on our kids with just what's happened in the past, and it's unfortunate sometimes. It's almost burdensome, but I'm really happy for our guys."
The Tigers have ended their season at the hands of Webb City for three straight years, but Norman was encouraged by the way his defense played Saturday.
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"They played exceptionally well. Take out two big plays, and that was the difference on defense," Norman said. "But what Webb City does so well is they're consistent, and they were able to pick up a couple key fourth downs. And they were able to grind the ball. ... They were just a little bit more physical than us. They converted at key points where we couldn't.
"Did we close the gap a little bit? Maybe. I know our kids played really hard and did a heck of a job. I'm proud of them."
Norman emphasized to his players after the game that the outcome was decided by several "little things," and he congratulated his 12 seniors for putting together the best three-year period Central football has ever seen.
"What a run -- three in a row to the semifinals, one to the Dome," Norman said. "I thanked them for their leadership and their love of the game and their consistency because that group did just what I said.
"They came to work every day and wanted to get better. It was no secret as to why they were good. They worked hard, and that's what I want my younger kids to realize and get on board with."
Webb City 14 0 14 7 -- 35
Cape Central 7 0 7 0 -- 14
First quarter
CC -- Kway'Chon Chisom 1 run (Bennett Osburn kick), 2:39
WC -- Keaton Burroughs 27 run (Cory Duley kick), 1:42
WC -- Kaleb Potts 5 run (Duley kick)
Third quarter
CC -- Chisom 1 run (Osburn kick), 9:58
WC -- Nade Deadmond 81 punt return (Duley kick), 6:14
WC -- Hunter Vanlue 45 run (Duley kick), 1:05
Fourth quarter
WC -- Burroughs 10 run (Duley kick), 9:27
WC CC
First downs 10 10
Rushes-yards 45-273 52-179
Passing yards 2 5
Passes 1-2-0 1-5-0
Punts-average 1-34 5-18.6
Fumbles-lost 1-1 3-1
Penalties-yards 3-33 5-18.6
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING -- Webb City, Burroughs 17-114, Vanlue 9-84, Tyson Roderique 10-43, Potts 6-29, Will Larson 3-3; Cape Central, Aaron Harris 23-87, Chisom 15-55, Al Young 12-45, Trent Leimer 1-3, Felawn Smith 1-(-11).
PASSING -- Webb City, Roderique 1-2-2-0; Cape Central, Chisom 1-5-5-0.
RECEIVING -- Webb City, Vanlue 1-2; Cape Central, Young 1-5.
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