Nixa football traveled to Neosho in the second week of the 2023 high school football season.

Behind a second-half shutout performance by the Eagles defense, Nixa ousted Neosho 46-17, advancing to 2-0 on the year.

Offensively, Nixa totaled 606 yards (353 rushing and 253 passing) and went five of seven on third down.

Defensively, the Eagles held Neosho to 326 total yards and forced three turnovers. 

Game Scoring Plays:

Malachai Rider scored the game's opening touchdown on a short run inside the 10-yard line with 5:35 left in the first quarter. The Eagles extra-point attempt was no good and held a brief 6-0 lead.

Neosho answered on the ensuing drive with a 35-yard field goal, trimming Nixa's lead to 6-3.

QB Nate Uber connected with WR Rylan Michel on a slant route for a 53-yard TD with 2:07 left in the first quarter. 

End of the first quarter score: Nixa 13, Neosho 3.

QB Drew Blevins found a wide-open Wyatt Vincent, who burned the Neosho coverage on a stop-and-go route, for a 51-yard score, making it 20-3 with 7:40 left in the second quarter.

With 5:10 remaining in the first half, Neosho scored the game's following points with a rushing TD.

RB Dylan Rebura notched the Eagles final points of the half with 3:21 remaining, as Rebura split the Neosho defense, found the gaps, and ran it in for a 29-yard TD. 

Neosho went to its fast-paced offense, drove downfield in under three minutes, and scored a 9-yard rushing TD with 12 seconds left in the half, trimming its deficit to nine at the break.

Halftime score: Nixa 26, Neosho 17.

Opening up the second half, it took the Eagles only two minutes to get on the board. Rider scored his second TD out of the shotgun on a 34-yard run, extending Nixa's lead to 32-17.

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 40, Neosho 17

Rebura scored the game's final TD with a short run inside the 10-yard line with 5:55 left.

The win marks the Eagles fifth-straight victory over Neosho and sets up a week three home matchup vs. Carthage, who has dropped its first two games to Republic (20-14) and Branson (28-14).

Top Nixa Performances

Dylan Rebura had 24 carries for 192 yards and two TDs.

Malachi Rider had 13 carries for 137 yards and two TDs.

Nate Uber completed three of four for 175 yards and two TDs.

Drew Blevins completed four of five passes for 83 yards and a TD.

Wyatt Vincent had three catches for 144 yards and two TDs.

Rylan Michel had three catches for 109 yards and a TD.

View game photos here.