The fourth-ranked team in Class 6, Nixa Eagles, traveled to Branson on Sept. 15 for week four action in the high school football season and erupted for six touchdowns, coasting to a 41-3 victory over the host Pirates.

The Eagles defense was lights out from start to finish and posted a shutout until the fourth quarter, when Branson eventually kicked a 39-yard field goal for their only points in the game.

Offensively, Nixa totaled 344 yards (196 passing and 148 rushing) and played turnover-free football.

Defensively, the Eagles held Branson to 218 yards and forced one fumble caused by Parker Mann.  

Game Scoring Plays:

Running back Dylan Rebura scored the game's opening touchdown with a 39-yard run up the middle, eventually breaking free on the left side of the field for six points. Nixa led 7-0 early in the first quarter with 9:15 on the clock. View the TD here.

RB Malachai Rider gave the Eagles a 14-0 lead with two minutes left in the first quarter after a short 3-yard TD run, which was set up by a 14-yard catch by wide receiver Rylan Michel that brought the Eagles into the red zone. View the TD here.

End of the first quarter score: Nixa 14, Branson 0.

Nixa drew up a perfect play-action pass for its next score. Quarterback Nate Uber found a wide-open Michel sprinting downfield, and Uber delivered a perfect ball into his hands for the 41-yard TD, extending the Eagles lead to 20-0. The extra-point attempt was no good. View the TD here.

Rider scored his second TD on a big run with 8:14 remaining in the opening half. On first-and-10, Rider found the gaps behind his big lineman on the left side of the field, picked up a key block downfield by his WR, and converted the 46-yard run into six, making it 27-0, Nixa. View the TD here.

It was a fourth-and-6 situation for the Eagles with the ball around midfield, and Nixa decided to keep its offense on the field. QB Drew Blevins faked the handoff to RB Kevon Lewis, WR Wyatt Vincent used his speed to blow past the Pirates' secondary, and hauled in the 41-yard pass from Blevins for the score. Nixa led 34-0 with 3:37 left in the first half. View the TD here.

Halftime score: Nixa 34, Branson 0.

Deep in the Eagles own territory on third-and-10, Uber connected with Michel on an out route for a 63-yard catch and run that eventually brought Nixa into the red zone, setting up the final TD of the game. Uber then found tight-end Lane Meltabarger cutting across the middle for a 16-yard TD, notching Meltabarger's first TD of the season. Nixa carried a commanding 41-0 lead with 8:41 remaining and enacted the turbo clock.

Vincent scored the next Eagles points as he blew by the Neosho secondary on a streak, reeled in the deep ball from Uber, and ran it to the endzone for an 84-yard TD, making it 40-17 with 3:20 left in the third.

End of the third quarter score: Nixa 41, Branson 0.

With 9:55 remaining in the game, Branson scored its only points, coming off a 39-yard field goal.

Final score: Nixa 41, Branson 3.

Nixa's dominating double-digit victory is the 16th consecutive win over the Pirates, dating back to 2011, and in four of its previous five meetings, the Eagles have successfully held Branson to under 10 points. The win advances the Eagles to 4-0 on the year and sets up a critical road state-ranked and district matchup vs. No. 10 Joplin (3-1), who were upset by Webb City 38-21 in its week four game.

Top Nixa Performances

Malachi Rider had seven carries for 82 yards and two TDs.

Dylan Rebura had five carries for 62 yards and a TD.

Nate Uber completed seven of nine passes for 155 yards and two TDs.

Drew Blevins completed one of three passes for 41 yards and a TD.

Rylan Michel caught five catches for 128 yards and a TD.

Wyatt Vincent had two catches for 52 yards and a TD.

Jackson Cantwell had eight pancake blocks.

Spencer Ward led the charge defensively with 14 total tackles.

Parker Mann had 13 total tackles, one of which was for a loss, and one forced fumble.

Eli Frazier tallied 13 total tackles as well.

Michel Henegar and Urban Arnold both recorded a sack.

View game photos here.