Dome 2008: WC v. Helias

For the third time in the last 5 seasons, the WC Cardinals made the trip to St. Louis for a shot at a state title. In 2004, the Cards came up a yard short on a 2-point conversion in overtime (going for it was the right decision, I'll be glad to expound on why if you care to listen). In 2006, the Cards took care of Hannibal with little trouble. Now the 2008 matchup pitted the Cards with another one of the vaunted Missouri programs - Jefferson City Helias.

You can read the Globe's articles on the game to get the details.

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Here are my observations:

- Early in the game it looked like it was going to be a really long trip home. The Cards were completely unable to move the ball on their first 2 (or may have been 3) offensive drives. I mean not at all. Helias seemed to be playing on Webb's side of the ball on every snap. By the second series, WC was backed up into the shadow of their goal post, leaving Helias very good field position after a punt. Helias promptly threw a long pass and scored. But then everything changed.

- From their own 20 and thus far completely unsuccessful at running the ball, WC did something WC never does. They dropped Mack Kyle back and sent Boo Rogers on a fade route. Mack threw it right on target, Boo out battled the corner (who covered it well) for the ball, then streaked up the sideline and into the end zone. This happened late in the first quarter and was the first time anyone on the WC side took a breath since the opening kickoff.

- Webb's defense, now not having to play on a short field finally, took care of some business, holding Helias out of the endzone until the closing seconds of the first half. During that time, WC found ways to scrap and claw its way to 14 more points, building a 21-7 lead. Helias' late score sent the teams to the locker room at 21-14.

- I'm not sure I've ever seen the Novocaine principle (this is a reference to the movie "Remember the Titans", where coach Boone says that he only runs 4 plays, just like Novocaine, give them time and they always work) play out more dramatically. After not being able to run the ball at all early in the first quarter, WC slowly began to make small gains using their veer offense. I think 2 things were happening. One, the WC players were slowly beginning to win the war in the trenches - by force of sheer will. Second, a few completed passes were forcing Helias to back some people out of the box and opening up lanes to run through.

- Momentum shifted again in the third quarter - well, really it shifted right before halftime when Helias scored. In the third quarter, Helias scored twice and took the lead 27-21 (Parker Graham - I think - blocked the second PAT). As the third quarter closed it didn't look good. After WC scored to tie the game early in the 4th quarter (missed PAT), one particularly obtuse WC fan turned to my brother-in-law Brayden and asked if this seemed familiar. He was referencing the 2004 game. I momentarily thought about asking Brayden if he wanted me to hold the guy while he kicked him. Decided it was better left alone.

- WC got the ball back and scored to take the lead 33-27, a failed 2-point conversion left the margin at 6. It was the right decision to go for 2, it just didn't work out.

- Helias responded going ahead 34-33 and again shifting the momentum and emotion.

- But then the ultimate Novocaine drive ensued. Webb went 72 yards on 10 plays and Braxton Baker put it in the endzone with about 2:30 left in the game. This time the 2-point attempt was successful - though from the stands I don't know how, Jeremiah Box was hit at the line and I thought he was stopped. This left the score at 41-34 and a knot in the stomach of every WC fan. Why?

- Does anyone remember the playoffs last year against Carthage when Mack went like 70-yards to put WC up late in the game only to watch Carthage score again to win it? That's probably something that was on some minds.

- Not this time. Webb's defense made two stops and then came up with an interception that ended Helias' hopes of a state title. A couple of plays, a couple of knee's and Webb City's Cardinals hoisted their 8th state football championship.

This was an epic struggle of a game. Yeah, that sounds really over the top, but seriously I'm not sure I've ever seen a game where the momentum shifted more times or one team's relentless persistence at running the football paid off more directly. I told my wife at halftime Webb should be able to run the ball in the second half, they were wearing the Helias defense down. As the 4th quarter began, what had been 2 yard first down gains became 5-8 yard gains, which set up much better play selection options on 2nd down and when needed a short third down.

This group of seniors concluded their high school football careers having lost only 1 game. I'll let you figure out which one that was. I guess if you're going to have to deal with having been among those who lost to Carthage for the first time in 20 years, being able to exhibit 2 rings and claim a 3-year record of 39-1 (it may be 38-1, 2006 may have been the year that WC had an open week during the regular season) isn't a bad response.

This team found ways to win games at times when it was hard to see how they could. Remember, this is the same group that pulled one out of nowhere in week 2 against Rogers. This team, while very talented, won several games by just refusing to give up - which we saw in a big way last weekend at Kearney. To me, a team that out-performs even their own ability is always deserving of great respect because they are exemplifying the principle of a team being more than the sum of its parts.

Congrats to the 2008 Webb City Cardinals. You earned every one of your 15 victories and are deserving champions.