Nixa football has kicked off the 2026 season with a 3-0 start, earning victories against Carthage, Joplin, and Republic.

The 2024 and 2025 Class 6 state finalists knocked off the 2025 Class 5 runners-up, Carthage Tigers, 42-13 in the home opener.

Quarterback Adam McKnight put the Eagles on the board with a 13-yard touchdown run before Jax Adams provided the first explosive play of the night, breaking free for a 70-yard touchdown to help Nixa build a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

The Eagles continued to control the game in the second quarter. Adams found the end zone again on a 23-yard run, while McKnight added his second rushing touchdown as Nixa stretched its advantage to 28-0. Carthage broke through with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Slade Stiffler to Tate Nichols in the closing seconds of the half, sending Nixa into the locker room with a 28-7 lead.

Nixa quickly regained the momentum after halftime. Adams broke multiple tackles on a 30-yard touchdown run to complete his three-touchdown night. McKnight later connected with Carter Mabe on a touchdown pass in the back of the end zone, extending the advantage to 42-7 after three quarters.

Adams led the Eagles' rushing attack with 169 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. McKnight completed 12 of 16 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown while adding 77 yards and two scores on the ground.

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Local Media News Coverage:
Christian County Headliner Recap
Springfield Daily Citizen Recap
Springfield News-Leader Recap
Ozark Sports Zone Photos
Ozark Sports Zone Video

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Against Joplin, Nixa withstood a second-half push and made the plays it needed down the stretch to earn a 30-27 road victory Friday night at Junge Field.

Nixa struck first on defense when Chris Henegar brought down the Joplin quarterback in the end zone for a safety. Nixa quickly capitalized, with quarterback Adam McKnight scoring on an 8-yard run to build a 9-0 first-quarter advantage.

Joplin cut the lead to 9-7 early in the second, but Nixa answered with an explosive play through the air. McKnight found Carter Mabe down the middle for a 47-yard touchdown, restoring a two-score advantage at 16-7.

Joplin again pulled within two late in the half before Nixa delivered one of the game's pivotal plays. With 41 seconds remaining, McKnight connected with Jax Adams, who turned the reception into a 49-yard touchdown to send Nixa into halftime leading 23-14.

Joplin made its push after the break, scoring early in the third quarter to cut Nixa's advantage to 23-20. The score remained there deep into the fourth, setting up the Eagles' biggest offensive moment of the night.

Facing fourth down with less than four minutes remaining, McKnight kept the ball on a designed quarterback run and found the end zone to extend Nixa's lead to 30-20.

Joplin answered with a touchdown with 2:07 remaining, trimming the margin to 30-27, but Nixa recovered the ensuing onside kick and picked up the first down it needed to run out the clock.

McKnight finished with 224 passing yards and two touchdowns while adding 117 yards and two scores on the ground, completing 93.8% of his passes.

Adams finished with 204 total all-purpose yards – 38 on the ground, 98 through the passing game, and 67 via kick/punt returns.Mabe hauled in three catches for 60 yards.

Click here to view the game stats.

Local Media Coverage:
Joplin Globe Recap
Ozark Sports Zone Photos

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Against Republic in a match up of two of southwest Missouri's premier programs, Nixa turned a competitive first half into a runaway victory Friday night, using a barrage of explosive plays and three takeaways to defeat Republic 49-6 at Eagle Stadium.

Quarterback Adam McKnight opened the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run before the Eagles capitalized on a Republic fumble. McKnight finished the ensuing possession with another rushing touchdown, giving Nixa a 14-0 advantage after the first quarter.

Republic responded late in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 14-6 with 2:25 remaining. Nixa quickly answered.

McKnight broke free for a 63-yard run on the Eagles' next possession before scoring on a 1-yard QB sneak with 10 seconds remaining in the half. The late touchdown restored Nixa's two-score advantage and sent the Eagles into halftime leading 21-6.

Nixa then broke the game open in a span of just 47 seconds to begin the second half.

McKnight connected with Jax Adams for a 30-yard touchdown to cap a three-play opening drive. Two plays into Republic's ensuing possession, Chris Henegar intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown, suddenly extending Nixa's advantage to 35-6.

Republic responded with a 21-play drive that consumed more than 11 minutes, but Nixa's defense came up with another pivotal play when Bryx Lincoln intercepted a pass at the goal line.

The Eagles needed just one offensive snap to capitalize.

Adams broke free for an 87-yard touchdown run, stretching the lead to 42-6. Joshua Ford added a 24-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.

McKnight finished with 117 rushing yards and three touchdowns while completing 5 of 6 passes for 119 yards and another score. Nixa produced 362 yards on just 32 offensive plays and forced three Republic turnovers.

Adams accounted for 87 yards on the ground and 55 through the air. Ford had 37 yards.

The victory improved Nixa to 3-0 on the season. The Eagles travel to undefeated Webb City on Friday, Sept. 18, which has knocked off Glendale (42-6), Waynesville (62-19), and Ozark (21-18).

Click here to view game stats.

Local Media Coverage:
Springfield Daily Citizen
Springfield News-Leader
Ozark Sports Zone Photos
Ozark Sports Zone Video

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