NMCC mounts epic fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Richmond

BOONVILLE, Mo. — Racing against time and its back against the wall, New Madrid County Central unleashed a ruthless offensive barrage and mounted an action-packed and jaw-dropping fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Richmond 50-38 at Boonville High School on Saturday, August 26.

The Eagles (1-0) showcased their resiliency and playmaking abilities against the Spartans (0-1), delivering dazzling plays both through the air and on the ground, while the defense forced critical turnovers to secure a remarkable come-from-behind victory.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this team,” said NMCC coach Tyler Fullhart. “They stuck together better than ever. There was an incredible amount of adversity to overcome and multiple guys stepped up and became leaders. Winning of course is the goal. But what the guys had to do to win is what I’m most proud of.”

The opening moments of the game were marked by Richmond’s swift statement, surging ahead 6-0 after a 2-yard touchdown run by Jacob Lieberknecht.

NMCC responded with two quick scores to end the first quarter, propelling the team to a 14-6 lead. Kayden Minner, a key player for the Eagles, displayed impressive quickness and agility with a 72-yard touchdown run, followed by an 8-yard touchdown run a short time later.

However, the Spartans countered in the second quarter, reclaiming the lead, 18-14, after Jacob Johnson connected with Jack Green for a 10-yard touchdown pass and Dayton Bushong powered into the endzone from one yard out.

After halftime, NMCC regained the momentum with a 20-yard touchdown run by BJ Williamson, recapturing the lead 20-18.

Richmond finished the third quarter on a strong note, adding two more scoring plays, a 7-yard touchdown run by Christopher Webb and a 1-yard touchdown run by Johnson, to take a 32-20 advantage into the final quarter.

The Eagles wasted no time narrowing the gap in the fourth quarter. Julian Courtois found Jadis Jones for an 11-yard touchdown pass, igniting a surge of momentum for NMCC.

The Eagles defense also stepped up when Xayvion Jackson forced a fumble and Alvion Cooper made a crucial recovery.

The turnover proved to be a significant turning point as NMCC seized the moment, capitalizing with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Courtois to Jones to take a 34-32 lead.

But the game was far from over, as Richmond refused to go quietly into the night. They retaliated with a 27-yard touchdown run by Bushong to retake the lead, 38-34.

The game unfolded like a legendary heavyweight title fight, with both teams trading blows. But just when it seemed like the match could go either way, the Eagles deployed a devastating combination of haymakers that ultimately knocked out the Spartans.

With the game hanging in the balance, Minner delivered a couple of sledgehammer strikes.

The first came in the form of a thunderous 34-yard touchdown run, catapulting the team to a 42-38 advantage.

But Minner wasn’t done yet. Like a true champion, he delivered another crushing blow, this time with a game-clinching 80-yard interception return for a touchdown, effectively sealing the victory.

“It’s always hard for me to single out a few individuals because the entire team, both offensively and defensively, put on an amazing performance,” Fullhart said. “Kayden Minner truly made a remarkable day, making significant contributions on both sides of the ball. Jadis Jones took over on offense. AJ Ruff, Julian Courtois and the offensive line exhibited tremendous determination and fought tirelessly. The defense was nothing short of outstanding with standout performances from Samir Smith, Rel Newsome, Alvion Cooper, Zay Jackson, BJ Waters and Slade Courtois.”

Minner carried the ball 16 times for an impressive 215 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns.

BJ Williamson had eight carries for 115 yards, caught three passes for 10 yards and completed a 41-yard pass.

Jones caught eight receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns.

At the helm of the offense, Courtois, a first-year starting quarterback, completed 13-of-20 pass attempts for 127 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for 17 yards on five carries.

“Julian Courtois took the majority of snaps and did a great job competing and battling,” Fullhart said.

The Eagles’ other notable contributors were AJ Ruff (two rushes for five yards and two receptions for 27 yards) and Ty Williams (one reception for four yards).

NMCC avenged a 61-27 loss to Richmond in last season’s opener with the victory.

The team travels to East Prairie (1-0) on Friday, September 1.