Pirates, Cards to be minus players

BRANSON'S MICHAEL SPAIN, right, isn't expected to play this week due to a concussion he suffered against Republic last week.

By Pat Dailey
Sports Editor

Branson tight end Michael Spain isn’t expected to play in Wednesday's Class 4 Regional contest at Webb City due to a concussion. But the Cardinals will be much more short-handed than the Pirates.

“We’re going to be without a few players,” Cardinals coach John Roderique said.

Roderique didn’t name any names of players who will not play due to disciplinary reasons, but they reportedly include prominent starters.

The three Central Ozark Conference Large Schools Division playoff participants from the Joplin area all are dealing with suspensions at the worst time possible. Confirmed reports are Carthage will be without one of its offensive and special teams centerpieces and Neosho will be minus a starter.

The Tigers and Wildcats meet in Neosho in another Class 4 Regional contest on Wednesday.

Roderique has been impressed how his remaining players have responded to the Cardinals’ suspensions.

“They’re doing fine,” he said. “One thing you learn by working with kids every day is they’re pretty resilient.

“As bad as it is for some, it’s an opportunity for other kids.”

Webb City’s backups get the chance to play nearly every week, after the Cardinals’ starters usually put games out of reach by halftime. But this season many reserves have seen quality playing time, as well.

“We have a lot of depth and that has come into play a little bit,” Roderique said. “We’ve had a lot of illnesses. It’s been a crazy year from that standpoint.

“Situations like that are what you get your team prepared for. If one guy gets hurt or something happens, somebody else has got to be ready. The next guy has to be ready to step up.”

Roderique hopes the Cardinals will overcome their adversity by rallying around each other.

“It can unite you as a team and make everyone work harder,” he said.

Suspensions are something Roderique has dealt with in the past, just as the good majority of colleagues have.

“We’ve had as many as everybody else,” he said. “Every school goes through it. That’s the nature of working with younger people. When we’re young, we make mistakes. All of us do.”

Roderique related how much things have changed in regard to fans being much more aware of suspensions, injuries, etc. In the past, a player’s absence might have gone unnoticed until a team took to the field.

“With the way communication has changed, 5 minutes after something happens everybody and their brother knows about it,” he said.