Pat Dailey, for Headliner Sports

One game inside the lopsided game on the scoreboard actually went Nixa's way Friday and provided entertainment during an otherwise all-too predictable night.

Nixa's 42-7 setback at the hands of Joplin featured a compelling matchup between the hosts' Kolyn Eli and the visitors' Zach Westmoreland.

Eli, a sophomore cornerback for Nixa, kept Westmoreland, a junior all-state wide receiver/safety for Joplin, from adding to his touchdown total, at least on offense.

Westmoreland upped his touchdowns count to 16 this season and 34 dating back to last season by scoring on a punt return. But he managed just six receptions for 40 yards while kept in check by Eli.

Westmoreland, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior who made an unofficial visit to Oklahoma earlier this season, entered Friday with career totals of 120 catches for 1,566 yards.

"It was fun and challenging for me," Eli said of his duel with Westmoreland. "I locked him up pretty good. This whole week, I was preparing for him. Coach was talling me to press, press and be aggressive. I was physical with him and stayed on his hip."

"For us not to give up a receiving touchdown to (Westmoreland), I'm proud of our guys," Nixa safety Sean Sample said. "Kolyn stepped up and didn't give him anything but screen plays."

Westmoreland still reached the end zone twice. He breezed through Nixa's punt-coverage team for a 60-yard touchdown and ran in the ensuing two-point conversion. He rushed twice for 35 yards.

"On his punt returns, you could tell he's really good at finding the gap," Eli said. 

Westmoreland also made an impact from his safety post.

"He laid me out when he was on defense," Nixa wideout Lukas Roemen said. "I respect him."

Eli and Westmoreland chatted a bit in between plays, with Westmoreland offering an update on his recruiting.

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