Webb City racked up almost 500 yards of offense in dispatching the Kickapoo Chiefs at home 49-21. A small lineup change paid big dividends.
Nursing a sore hand that made it difficult to take snaps, Gabe Johnson was moved to the backfield with Braden Strickland taking over at quarterback. Taking the handoffs from the backfield, Johnson ran for 132 yards and 4 touchdowns. Mason Williams finished with his third 100 yard performance on the year, going for 110 yards on 13 carries. Braden Strickland completed 5 of 8 passes for 82 yards and a score.
The defense held the Chiefs to only 133 yards on the ground and 57 through the air. Kickapoo did return one kickoff for a touchdown and ended with nearly the same amount of return yardage as offensive output.
The Cardinals took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards in only 7 plays to grab a 7-0 lead in the first four minutes of the game. A 28 yard end around to Travien Turner got it started. Sixteen and thirteen yard runs from Mason Williams left Gabe Johnson with the final 13 yards and his first score.
Kickapoo tied it 12 seconds later as they stunned the Cardinals with a 92 yard kickoff return.
No problem. Gabe Johnson broke off a 24 yard run on the first play of the second series. A few plays later on a third and nineteen, Braden Strickland hit Holden Johnson for a gain of 25 yards. The drive ended with the first touchdown pass of the year for the Cardinals when Strickland hit Mason Williams out in the open for a 16 yard score.
The next score came from a short field when Barek Hoffman blocked the Chief punt and River Lenker recovered it at the Kickapoo 22 yard line. Five plays later and still in the first quarter, Gabe Johnson was the endzone again, this time from six yards away.
Barek Hoffman came up big once again for the defense on the next Chief possession, wrestling away the ball from the intended receiver in the endzone for an interception.
Travien Turner turned in the big play of the next possession as he jumped over the defender to snatch a 31 yard completion. A third touchdown in the half from Gabe Johnson, this time a 27 yard run and the Cardinals pulled out to a 28-7 lead.
Not satisfied with one punt block, Barek Hoffman got a second one, this time recovered by Dawson McMullen at the Chief 29 yard line. Three consecutive runs by Mason Williams, the last from two yards out, made it 35-7 at the break.
Early in the third quarter, Gabe Johnson ran in his fourth touchdown, this time a 32 yard run.
Having to kick off from their own 12 yard line due to a couple of infractions, the Chiefs took advantage and put a temporary halt to the mercy clock with a 39 yard touchdown run.
With the first team getting well deserved break, the next group of running backs continued the onslaught. Abel Getz gashed the Chiefs for a 46 run, caught at the thirteen. Braden Strickland called his number for the final Cardinal score of the night.
River Lenker was credited with two tackles for loss, including a quarterback sack.
Webb City will begin COC West play next week at Ozark.