The Cardinals opened the 2011 season with a 38-14 win over the Ozark Tigers, and the program earned a spot in record books.
Webb City High School made it a record 72 football wins in a row during the regular season at the expense of Ozark on Friday night in Cardinal Stadium.
"Honestly, it's pretty special," Cardinal coach John Roderique said after the 38-14 Central Ozark Conference Large Division victory.
Roderique indicated there were many great players and coaches who could take credit for the lengthy streak.
"It was at Columbia Hickman (in 2003) and it was 30-3," Roderique said of Webb City's last regular season loss. "It wasn't as close at 30-3."
Roderique said 2003 wound up special in that the Cardinals rebounded to win five games before falling in the semifinals of the playoffs to eventual champion Kearney.
Ozark yielded grudgingly in the debut of its head coach Mark Bliss. It was 7-7 at the half and 21-14 early in the fourth period.
But the Cardinals retaliated with two touchdowns and a field goal in pulling away.
"Ozark was confident and played hard," Roderique said. "That first half was like we were holding our breaths. There were nerves and anxiety."
Ozark pulled within seven points in the fourth on David Salazar's 60-yard scoring pass to Skylar Verfurth and Jimmy Oslica's conversion. The same trio worked on a 35-yarder in the second period to create the halftime stalemate.
"We'd made a couple of scheme adjustments (at halftime) but getting off to the good start in the third quarter was the key," Roderique said.
Phoenix Johnson's 45-yard kickoff return placed the ball at the Ozark 39. Jamison Cady bulled 11 yards on third-and-7 to the Tiger 9 and quarterback Breckin Williams scored on the next play.
Junior Alex Easley added the extra point for a 14-7 advantage at 8:59.
"That kickoff energized our kids," Roderique said. "We had good field position several times in that second half."
Nate Brown's interception led to Williams' 20-yard scoring run at 7:21 to make it 21-7.
It stayed that way until Salazar and Verfurth hooked up for the second time.
The Cardinals answered with Johnson's 74-yard scoring burst, Easley's 25-yard field goal and Jamison Cady's 18-scoring run.
Johnson's 6-yard run opened the Webb City scoring in the second period. Williams passed to Jarvis Jones for 29 yards to set up the TD.
Johnson finished with 135 yards on 11 carries, Cady 74 on 13, Williams 43 on 13 and Austin Sanders 19 on 3 as the Cardinals rushed for 277 yards. They passed for 82 as Kohl Slaughter had three receptions for 43 yards.
Austin White, Brent Greek and Rowdy Laughlin joined Brown in picking off passes in the second half for the Cardinals.
