Cape Central falls in state title game, Webb City wins fifth consecutive championship

ST. LOUIS -- One quarter into the Show-Me Bowl's Class 4 championship game, it appeared the unexpected was about to take place.

The Central Tigers were undaunted by the lore of the Webb City Cardinals, who entered the game ranked No. 11 in USA Today's national high school football poll, racing out to a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter of its first state championship game.

But as good teams are capable of doing, Webb City found a way.

The Cardinals scored 27 straight points in the second quarter and never looked back, defeating the Tigers 48-21 to claim the school's fifth consecutive state crown Saturday at the Edward Jones Dome.

"You can always talk that you believe you can beat them, but when you get out there and they have success, then you really believe you can win," Central coach Nathan Norman said. "But it's tough. You're not playing Webb City 2014. You have to beat them in their past, and I know that sounds funny. But everybody you talk to throughout the week is going to doubt that you can win, and you have to overcome that.

"I was proud of our kids. I felt like they competed, and that was my No. 1 goal. I knew they would hang in there and never quit."

The victory marked Webb City's 13th state championship, which Webb City coach John Roderique attributes to his players' past experiences on the big stage.

"If we come here, we're going to play to win. We're not going to hold anything back," Roderique said. "*... A lot of these guys, they've been here. They've done it. It wasn't a new thing coming in here and walking into the dome."

The Central student section cheers after a touchdown during the Class 4 state championship Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. (Glenn Landberg)

Central (12-3) scored on its opening drive, marching down field 58 yards in 11 plays. Jordan Franklin kept the drive alive with a 6-yard run on fourth-and-5 before bursting through the middle for a 19-yard run on the following play to put the Tigers inside the Cardinals' 10. Two plays later, Peyton Montgomery scored on a 5-yard touchdown run and Central led 7-0 with 7:05 to go in the first quarter.

"We started fast in the first quarter, and we had a lot of excitement. Our kids were doing what we asked them to do," Norman said. "They did a nice job of picking up the blocks early in the game, our offensive line. [The Cardinals] were playing heavy on the pass. They had three guys on two on the outside, which enabled us to run the ball a little bit early in the game. That helped, and we took advantage of it."

Webb City (15-0) marched down field 45 yards to the Central 20 on its first possession, but on first-and-10, Tyson Roderique's pass was tipped and hauled in by Central junior Al Young, who wiggled his way through Webb City players on his way to the end zone. However, the return was called back for an illegal block as Central assumed possession at its own 41.

"We misfired on one trying to throw the ball there. It got tipped up, and they picked it off," John Roderique said. "I don't think I called a very good game myself. I'll take some credit for some of the things we didn't do very well, but as I told them, that's how life is sometimes. It kicks you in the gut, and sometimes you've got to suck it up and go."

Montgomery connected with Kway'Chon Chisom on fourth-and-4 for a 39-yard pass, setting the Tigers up at the 1, where Montgomery pushed across the end zone on the next play. Brennan Redinger booted the second of his three extra points to give Central a 14-0 lead with 1:34 left in the quarter.

"I think that our kids knew that they weren't gods," Norman said. "They were football kids, high school players just like them."

Central coach Nathan Norman walks the sidelines during the Class 4 state championship against Webb City Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. (Glenn Landberg)

On the Cardinals' ensuing drive, Tyson Roderique concluded a nine-play, 52-yard drive with a 4-yard run up the middle to cut the Tigers' lead to 14-7 with 10:28 remaining in the first half.

After the Tigers failed to get off a rugby-style punt on their next possession and turned the ball over on downs when Montgomery's scramble came up well short, Webb City added another score with a six-play drive that needed to cover just 35 yards and was capped by a 3-yard run by Tyson Roderique. Jacob Yokley added the extra point, and suddenly the game was tied at 14-all with 5:27 to go in the first half.

"The only time that we'd been stopped was when we stopped ourselves, it was when we turned over the ball or had too many penalties," said Webb City senior running back Tyler Davison, who accounted for a game-high 116 of the Cardinals' 298 rushing yards. "We just had to keep going out there and doing what we know how to do."

The Tigers were forced into a three-and-out on their next possession, and the Cardinals responded with the game's longest drive.

Keaton Burroughs' 1-yard touchdown run capped a 10-play, 73-yard drive to put Webb City up 21-14 with 35 seconds remaining in the first half.

"That was really big," John Roderique said about the go-ahead drive. "*... We started down 14, started behind and then getting it evened that gave us a little bit of calmness. I think going up one [score], that gives you momentum. That gives you confidence and energy. I really felt like during that drive, maybe some time, we got more energy and maybe they lost a little bit of energy."

Maquel Harbin intercepted Montgomery's pass just before halftime, and the Cardinals tacked on another score on their first play from scrimmage when Kiante Hardin hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Tyson Roderique to push Webb City's lead to 27-14 at the break.

Hardin, who has verbally committed to playing for former Webb City coach Jerry Kill at the University of Minnesota, finished with two receptions for a game-high 65 yards and also had a pair of rushes for 20 yards.

Norman said the Cardinals' defensive adjustments in the second quarter were able to slow down his team's offense.

"They started changing a little bit and playing heavier on the run, putting another man in the box, which forced us to throw the ball, and then they started bringing heat on second and third down, which they knew we had a scrambling quarterback," Norman said. "They brought heat, and dared us to throw it, said 'Hey, we're going to get to you before you can throw it.'"

Webb City worked down field on the opening possession of the second half before Young nabbed his second interception of the game and returned it to the Webb City 42.

Central s Peyton Montgomery is brought down by Webb City defensive players during the first quarter in the Class 4 state championship Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. (Glenn Landberg)

The Tigers struggled to work Young into their offense as the star wide receiver finished with only three receptions for 9 yards, all of them coming in the second half.

"He's just a great playmaker. That's just what he is. The sad thing about it is that everybody you play knows it, and they're going to put their best on him and usually two. And that's what they did," Norman said. "I don't care who you are, it's hard to beat two people, especially when they're good football players."

The Cardinals' defense forced a turnover on downs but gave the ball back to Central after Tyson Roderique mishandled the snap on second-and-7 at the Tigers' 14.

Unable to move the ball on offense, Central was forced to punt again. Two plays later, Hardin carried the ball on a reverse and found the end zone from 15 yards out, giving Webb City a 34-14 advantage with 3:57 remaining in the third quarter.

"Our defense has played exceptional all year long. Our coaches prepare our kids as good as anybody, in terms of what they're going to see and adjustments and things like that," John Roderique said. "I wasn't surprised that we were able to defend better in the start of the second half compared to the start of the first half."

The Tigers countered on the ensuing drive. Montgomery's fourth-down pass was tipped by a defensive back but hauled in by Jalen Reddin, who ran into the end zone for the 38-yard score at the 2:16 mark of the third quarter, cutting Webb City's lead to 34-21.

Central's 21 points is the most any team scored on Webb City all season.

"The defender tipped it, so I just had to keep my eye on it. I just told Peyton, 'If nothing goes. I'll be open. I'll go get it,'" Reddin said. "You've just got to be ready, keep your eye on the ball the whole time until it's in your hands."

The Cardinals added a 6-yard run by Hunter Vanlue and a 1-yard run by Burroughs in the fourth quarter.

Central s Kway Chon Chisom looks to the jumbotron during the Class 4 state championship against Webb City Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. (Glenn Landberg)

Norman believes the Cardinals' offensive line was the difference in the game.

"They're offensive line, they're just men, and they do it the right way," Norman said. "They don't make mistakes. They do a good job of getting off the ball, and they make you play assignment football."

Montgomery finished 8 of 12 passing for 141 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was limited to 15 carries for 30 yards and two scores.

"They brought pressure in multiple places and on the edge. They did a nice job of containing him on the edge, which meant he had to go up the middle, where there was a lot more traffic," Norman said of Montgomery. "A couple times, he got to the outside, but they did a nice job of containing him on the edge."

Central senior running back Braion Owens entered the game averaging more than 100 yards per game but was held to only 45 yards on 20 carries.

Chisom led the Tigers in receiving with two receptions for 56 yards, while Reddin had a game-high 14 tackles to lead Central's defense.

"It was a great season. We played with a lot of athletes, just knowing every time I touch the ball, I [don't] have to score," Owens said. "*... Peyton, playmaker. Al, playmaker. Reddin, playmaker. It was just a great season for us."

The loss brings an end to a historic season for Central, which finished with more wins than any team in school history and became the first team to reach the state title game.

"What a great, great year they've had. They really became coachable," Norman said about his team. "At about Week 3 or 4, they really started picking up the tempo, became unselfish blockers down field and gang tacklers on defense. If you watch film, that's why we're here. Our kids started doing the little things that enable you to get to this point. We had the talent, but we had to start doing those little things to get over the edge."

Central 14 0 7 0 -- 21

Webb City 0 27 7 14 -- 48

First quarter

C -- Peyton Montgomery 5 run (Brennan Redinger kick), 7:05

C -- Montgomery 1 run (Redinger kick), 1:34

Second quarter

WC -- Tyson Roderique 4 run (Cory Duley kick), 10:28

WC -- Roderique 3 run (Duley kick), 5:27

WC -- Keaton Burroughs 1 run (Duley kick), 0:35

WC -- Kiante Hardin 30 pass from Roderique (kick failed), 0:13

Third quarter

WC -- Hardin 15 run (Duley kick), 3:57

C -- Jalen Reddin 38 pass from Montgomery (Redinger kick), 2:16

Fourth quarter

WC -- Hunter Vanlue 6 run (Duley kick), 9:52

WC -- Burroughs 1 run (Duley kick), 7:03

C WC

First downs 11 24

Rushes-yards 45-114 51-298

Passing yards 141 95

Passes 8-12-1 4-8-2

Punts-average 3-37 0-0

Fumbles-lost 2-1 3-2

Penalties-yards 7-90 3-20

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Central, Braion Owens 20-45, Montgomery 15-30, Jordan Franklin 4-28, Trent Leimer 1-11, Josh Jones 3-4, Al Young 2-(-4); Webb City, Tyler Davison 15-116, Roderique 15-91, Burroughs 14-63, Hardin 2-20, Vanlue 4-12, Team 1-(-3).

PASSING -- Central, Montgomery 8-12-141-1; Webb City, Roderique 4-8-95-2.

RECEIVING -- Central, Kway'Chon Chisom 2-56, Reddin 1-38, Nikylus Thompson 1-35, Young 3-9, Owens 1-3; Webb City, Hardin 2-65, Davison 1-21, Maquel Harbin 1-9.