Football Game Preview: Joplin Eagles vs. Kickapoo Chiefs

After each having a week off, the Joplin Eagles and the Kickapoo Chiefs will shake off the rust and duke it out at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Joplin has given up an average of 27.2 points per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Joplin had taken Webb City down for two straight games at home, but that winning streak came to an end last Friday. The contest between the Eagles and the Cardinals didn't end well, with the Eagles falling 42-28. The loss was a bit of a surprise, as the Eagles came into the matchup with a sizable advantage in MaxPreps' Missouri football rankings (they are ranked 31st, while the Cardinals are ranked 87th).

Even though the team lost, they still had their share of impressive performances. One of the best came from Trenton McCadney, who picked up 126 receiving yards and one score, and also rushed for 47 yards. Daniel Rose was another key passer, throwing for 271 yards and three TDs.

Kickapoo fell on hard times earlier this season, but after back-to-back victories it seems like their luck might finally be changing. They came within a single point of losing the streak, but they secured a 32-31 W against Ozark.

Kickapoo's win bumped their record up to 2-7. As for Joplin, they now have a losing record of 4-5.

Joplin took their victory against Kickapoo when the teams last played back in August by a conclusive 31-7 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Eagles since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.