WEBB CITY, Mo. — Third-seeded Webb City scored 35 unanswered points in the first half and held firm down the stretch to cruise past sixth-seeded Belton 42-6 in the Class 5 District 7 opener on Friday.
Quarterback Jackson Lucas accounted for four total touchdowns to lead the Cardinals in the win.
Lucas broke free for a 39-yard touchdown on the second play of the game before completing a 10-yard passing score to Fisher Derrick with just under a minute to play in the first quarter to give Webb City a 14-0 advantage heading into the second quarter.
The Cardinals crossed the goal line three times in the second stanza, with Andrew Elwell taking the pitch 13 yards for a touchdown before Lucas found Gus Kanres with a 30-yard touchdown pass to push the lead to 28-0 at the 3:55 mark.
Lucas closed the first half with a score on a keeper for a 35-0 cushion.
Webb City was the only team to score in the third quarter with a running block. Braden Strickland found Cohen Epler for a 14-yard passing touchdown and a 42-0 lead with 6:52 left.
Belton found the scoreboard late in the fourth quarter on a passing score from Cooper Shrum to Caleb Cambell.
Lucas rushed 11 times in the win for 155 yards and two touchdowns, while he completed four passes for 100 more yards and two more touchdowns. Garrett Powell rushed five times for 54 yards.
Webb City (4-6) advances to take on second-seeded Grain Valley (7-4) in the district semifinals.