The West Plains Wolves encountered what’s been their regular season kryptonite over the last two seasons Friday night, but it just might make them stronger.
Facing the last team to beat them in a regular season game, the Wolves traveled to Argyle Liberty Christian and got tangled up in a shootout. Unfortunately, they didn’t quite have enough ammunition in a 41-35 loss.
It was a far closer result than the last time the two teams met last year at Happy State Bank Stadium. Liberty Christian routed West Plains 56-7. However, that was the last game West Plains (4-1) lost until reaching the Class 4A Division I state semifinal.
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“I felt like going into the game we had shot to win it,” West Plains coach Adam Cummings said. “Our kids fought hard but we just didn’t take advantage of some things. At the same time it makes you feel good that you still have a chance to beat a good team even though you didn’t play your best game.”
The Wolves had been rolling along with four fairly easy wins until they ran into Liberty Christian (4-2), coached by former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten. West Plains jumped out to a 14-0 lead, but Liberty Christian bounced back to take an 18-14 halftime lead.
Both teams showed the ability to score in the second half, but the Warriors eventually came out on top. As disappointing as the loss was, it showed the strides the Wolves have made since last season.
“Any time you get beat handily by somebody it puts a little chip on your shoulder going into a rematch,” Cummings said. “I think it shows our kids are a lot further along now.”
Senior quarterback Reid Macon, a four-year starter, reached a career milestone in the defeat, as he reached the 10,000-yard barrier. Macon ran for 113 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries.
For the Warriors, Cooper Witten proved to be a chip off the old block, as he had seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Quinn Murphy threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns and Correll Buckhalter ran for 111 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.
