Nixa football traveled to Neosho, seeking to extend its winning streak to three games.

Despite a slow start and trailing after the first quarter, the Eagles erupted offensively for the proceeding quarters and defeated the Wildcats 54-20. 

Neosho jumped out to a 7-0 lead on the game's opening possession after the Wildcats' quarterback connected for a check down to the running back that was taken to the end zone three minutes into the game.

Nixa was intercepted on their opening possession but then the Eagles' defense came up big on a fourth-and-8 attempt by Neosho when Keith Piepmeier deflected the pass attempt.

On Nixa's ensuing drive, Connor Knatcal connected with Rylan Michel for a 49-yard touchdown that gave the Eagles their first score of the game. The extra-point attempt was no good and Nixa trailed Neosho 7-6 after one.

Spencer Ward gave Nixa their first lead of the game not even a minute into the second quarter, after scoring one of his three touchdowns on the night with a 10-yard run that was set up from a big play for wide receiver Jordyn Turner two plays earlier.

From that point, it was all Nixa.

The Eagles scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter and held Neosho scoreless.

From inside the 5-yard line, Knatcal found TE Jayden Antonelli all alone in the end zone midway through the second, extending the Eagles lead 20-7. 

Antonelli's TD was set up by a clutch fourth-and-2 conversion. The Eagles appeared to be punting around midfield but the ball was directly snapped to Jaden Aven. Aven found some holes and ran the ball nearly 16-yards for a new set of downs. The next play Knatcal connected with Kael Combs to bring the ball in the red zone for Nixa which then led to Antonelli's score.

As time was just about to expire in the first half, Nixa was in the red zone on their possession and Knatcal completed his third TD pass to Kael Combs with 15 seconds left on a fade route.

Nixa carried a 27-7 lead at the half.

The Neosho defense forced Nixa to punt on their opening drive of the second half but the Eagles would march down the field to score two touchdowns on their next two possessions.

Knatcal found Michel on a go route for a 29-yard TD that extended Nixa's lead to 34-7. That would turn out to be Michel's final catch in the game and would finish with 78 yards and a pair of scores.

Neosho would punt inside their own 15 on the following drive which put Nixa in great field position, at the Wildcat's 45-yard line. 

The Eagles moved the ball to the 33-yard line and then Knatcal threw a dump pass to Austin McCracken. McCracken received some great blocks and was able to get Nixa in the red zone. Ward would go on to pound the ball in the end zone for his second score of the night.

Cody Breeden intercepted the Neosho quarterback on the Wildcat's next drive. Then punts by both teams set up Nixa's next score.  

On Nixa's ensuing possession, yet again, a connection from Knatcal to McCracken led to a Ward rushing TD. 

With the ball at the Neosho 48-yard line, McCracken used his speed on a post route and Knatcal threw a beautifully-placed ball in between two Wildcats d-backs right into his hands. The next play Ward ran a sweep to the left side, dodged a defender and found the end zone for an 8-yard score, and his third and final of the evening.

Heading into the final quarter, Nixa led 47-7.

Neosho scored on a rushing TD with 10:50 left but Nixa blocked the extra-point attempt and it was now 47-13. 

Casen Hammit replaced Ward at running back and it was all ground and pound for Nixa from there. Hammit and the Eagles would shed over seven minutes off the clock, and Hammit extended the Nixa lead to 54-13 with a 2-yard TD run.

Neosho scored the final points of the game when the Wildcats quarterback found a receiver running across the middle for a 50-plus yard catch and run score.

Nixa's offensive weapons started slow but finished strong and found the end zone often:

Knatcal went 14-of-23 for 255 yards and four touchdowns.
Ward had 22 carries for 147 yards and three touchdowns. 
Hammit ran eleven times for 59 yards and a touchdown. 
Michel had two catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns.
McCracken had four catches for 87 yards.
Combs had two catches for 36 yards and a touchdown.
Turner caught four passes for 48 yards.

Tony Perez was everywhere on the defensive side and led the Eagles with 17 total tackles. John Gholson and Ty Hartman added eleven total tackles as well.

With the win, Nixa moves to 4-1 and Neosho drops to 0-5. Nixa hosts Ozark (1-4) on Oct. 1 for the annual Back Yard Brawl while Neosho travels to Carl Junction (2-3).
 

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For the Ozarks Sports Zone game recap and photos, click here.

For the SOMO Sports game recap and photos, click here.