Hatfield handles Nixa: Lee's Summit earns first Show-Me Bowl Championship 41-37

Preston Hatfield breaks two MSHSAA Show-Me Records with 457 rushing, 494 total offense with four touchdowns as the Tigers earn the Class 6 crown

John Perry has led Nixa back to the Class 6 MSHSAA State Championship for the second year in a row. / David Smith

A few weeks from now, Jackson Cantrell will no longer be a high school student.

He will have left the Show-Me State for the warm climate of South Beach and the University of Miami.

But tonight, in his final prep football game, will the highest nationally ranked recruit from Missouri in several years be able to help Nixa secure an elusive Show-Me Bowl State Championship?

Nixa makes a return appearance in the Class 6 Show-Me Bowl at 7 p.m. and while the opponent –Lee’s Summit – is making only its second appearance in a state championship game, the Eagles are seeking a better fortune this year than they had last year in Columbia against DeSmet.

Cantwell, a 6-foot-8, 320 pound tackle, will graduate at the end of the semester and report early to take part of spring football practices with the Hurricanes.

While he has secured multiple individual state championships in track and field – the crowd surrounding last spring at the shot put ring set attendance records – the ring missing for his trophy case would be a state football championship ring.

The Eagles are 13-0 and have the high powered offense averaging 45.9 points per game behind junior quarterback Adam McKnight.

McKnight, himself a 6-foot-4, 205 pound standout in football, basketball and baseball, has passed for 1,636 yards and 19 touchdowns, rushed for 620 yards and 10 more touchdowns.

The featured attraction in the Nixa backfield is Jayden Jackson-McCaster who has rushed for 2,035 yards and 36 touchdowns behind the deep and talented Nixa offensive line.

The Tigers (9-4) dropped their first four games of the season but have reeled off nine straight wins and find themselves one win away from the programs first state title.

Senior Preston Hatfield has rushed for 1,205 yards on 158 carries in only seven games with 14 touchdowns. Senior Karsten Fiene is a second 1,000 yard rusher in the same backfield adding 1,071 yards and 16 touchdowns. He is also the Tigers leading receiver with 435 yards on 17 receptions.

PREGAME

Nixa will be the visiting team and are wearing their road white jerseys with red letters and numbers, red and grey stripes on the sleeves and pants with the white helmets and eagle logo on the side of the helmet.

Lee's Summit will be the home team and are wearing all black uniforms with gold numbers, gold stripe on the top of the black helmet.

It's 39 degrees with a wind chill of 32 degrees with light fog in the area of Spratt Memorial Stadium.

Lee's Summit has won the toss and are taking the ball, Nixa will defend the north end zone.

First Quarter

Lee's Summit returns the kickoff from inside the five out to the 27, Tigers open up shop at the 27 ...

Peyton Hatfield bounces outside for 12 yards on first down, Preston Hatfield gains six on the next play.

Lee's Summit runs quarterback sweeps and alternating the ball carrier taking direct snaps.

Preston Hatfield gets five yards, Peyon Hatfield follows with a 9 yard gain ... it's speed to the outside on each direct snap carry.

Preston Hatfield showed quarterback counter left, the cutback up the middle for 41 yards for a touchdown ... Sullivan McCarthy adds the extra point, Lee's Summit 7, Nixa 0, 9:52 1st quarter, five plays, 73 yards in 2:08. All on the ground, all quarterback sweeps until the touchdown play on the counter.

Squib kick covered at the Nixa 43. 9:52 Eagles drive starts.

Adam McKnight on the quarterback power gains one, Jayden McCaster gets two on second down and then McKnight connects with Randy Flint on an 11 yard slant play for the first down.

McCaster picks three on first down, then pop pass to McCaster draws an ineligible receiver downfield penalty bringing up 2nd and 12 ...

McKnight drops a dime over the shoulder of Owen Lock for a 45 yard touchdown pass ... Braden Kahmke adds the extra point, Nixa 7, Lee's Summit 7, 7:26 first quarter. 5 plays, 57 yards in 2:26.

Pooch kick is fair caught at the Lee's Summit 27 ...

Peyton Hatfield gains 10 on first down, Preston Hatfield gets six up the middle on next snap, Preston Hatfield runs the counter for no gain, Preston Hatfield then gets three yards on third down bringing up four and 1 ... Lee's Summit goes for it and Preston Hatfield races off right tackle for another nine yard gain and a new set of downs.

Karsten Fiene the first person to run the ball not named Hatfield and gets two yards on first down ... then gets 10 yards and another first down at the Nixa 33.

Preston Hatfield runs for three on first down and he gains 10 on the sweep to the right for another first down.

12 players on the field sets up first and five at the Nixa 15 ...

Preston Hatfield breaks the sweep to the right side and goes 15 yards for the touchdown ... Sullivan McCarthy adds the extra point, Lee's Summit 14, Nixa 7, 2:37 first quarter ... 10 plays, 73 yards in 4:49.

Hatfield quarterback sweep left and right continues to work.

Nixa starts its second possession at its own 34.

Randy Flint on a jet sweep picks up 16 yards and the ball is at midfield.

Jayden McCaster breaks a 26 yard run off right tackle down to the 24 yard line where he stepped out of bounds and another first down.

McCaster picks up two on first down, McKnight on a quarterback power play gets three and then Radny Flint gets 11 on another jet sweep ... first and goal at the 8.

McCaster loses a yard one first and goal at the four on the final play of the first quarter and it has been a back and forth opening period.

Lee's Summit 14, Nixa 7, end of first quarter

Preston Hatfield first quarter, 10 carries, 98 yards and two touchdowns. Tigers 15 carries for 141 yards.

Nixa 119 total offense, 63 rushing and 56 passing.

Second Quarter

Adam McKnight on the first play of the second quarter fakes a pop pass and stretches for the end zone and scores from five yards out ... Braden Kahmke extra point is good, Lee's Summit 14, Nixa 14, 11:52 second quarter. 7 plays, 66 yards in 2:40.

Nixa squib kick covered at the Lee's Summit 41.

Peyton Hatfield on a toss play gets one yard, then Preston Hatfield breaks a keeper behind the right guard and runs 54 yards and is pushed out at the 4 yard line ... next play Preston Hatfield spins into the end zone for a four yard touchdown, his third of the game. Sullivan McCarthy extra point good, Lee's Summit 21, Nixa 14, three plays, 59 yards in 1:04.

Preston Hatfield 156 yards on 12 carries with three touchdowns.

Pooch kick fair caught at the Nixa 38.

Jayden McCaster stopped for no gain on first down, Adam McKnight gets 12 on second down to get the ball to midfield on the quarterback draw play.

McKnight laterals the ball to McCaster and the left-hander lobs a pass to Owen Lock for 33 yards and a first down at the Lee's Summit 22.

McCaster gets two on first down, McKnight stopped for no gain on second down and on third down McKnight drops a pass into the right corner for Randy Flint, 20 yard touchdown pass ... Braden Kahmke extra point good, Lee's Summit 21, Nixa 21, 7:53 second quarter, 6 plays, 62 yards in 2:49.

Don't blink folks ... you might miss a big play.

Dropped fair catch on the kickoff, Lee's Summit recovers, drive starts at the Tigers 28.

Preston Hatfield completes a six yard pass to Peyton Hatfield, an offsides penalty backs up the Tigers five yards, Preston Hatfield gets three yards on second down and an illegal procedure creates a 3rd and 11 ... Lee's Summit converts Hatfield to Hatfield for 12 yards, Preston to Peyton and a new set of downs.

Timeout Lee's Summit 6:00 remaining first half.

After a penalty, Preston throws a swing pass to Peyton for three yards, 2nd and 11 at the Tigers 38, then another procedure penalty backs Lee's Summit five yards.

Preston Hatfield picks up six yards, 3rd and 10 at the 39, another timeout Lee's Summit 5:07 remaining first half.

Nixa makes the first big defensive play of the game as Preston Hatfield dropped back to pass, was strip sacked by Logan Lane, ball was recovered by Weston Weldon and Nixa takes over at the Lee's Summit 36 5:00 remaining.

Nixa's feeding Jayden McCaster now six yards on first down, five yards for another first down, two yards and then a nine yard run for a first down at the 14.

McCaster runs for three yards behind right tackle Hayden Mays and then Nixa takes a timeout with 2:06 remaining first half.

Procedure penalty moves Nixa back five yards ... but Adam McKnight shrugs it off, fakes the quarterback draw and hits the tight end Elijah Deal for a 16 yard touchdown ... Braden Kahmke extra point kick good, Nixa 28, Lee's Summit 21, 1:59 second quarter. 6 plays, 36 yards, 3:01 on the drive.

Nixa converts first turnover of the game into points.

Lee's Summit drive will start at the Tigers 18, 1:54 until halftime.

Preston Hatfield pass to Peyton Hatfield on a pop pass results in a one-yard loss, Preston Hatfield breaks to the outside on another sweep for 11and a new set of downs.

Preston Hatfield breaks another big run, 28 yards. Peyton Hatfield goes left for 14 yards and another first down.

Lee's Summit moving quickly.

Illegal motion will move the ball back five yards, 1st and 15 at the Nixa 35.

Karsten Fiene gets seven yards on first down, Preston Hatfield five yards on second down ... Lee's Summit uses its final timeout with 23 seconds left.

Preston Hatfield connects with Max Trillo for 17 yards, first and goal at the 6.

Lee's Summit spikes the ball to stop the clock.

Then Preston Hatfield rolls out on a pass play and throws it away under pressure with 8 seconds left.

Nixa timeout with 8 seconds left.

Another penalty backs up Lee's Summit to the Nixa 11, Nixa uses another timeout, its third and final.

Preston Hatfield tries the quarterback draw and Max Gredell with the shoestring tackle to stop him on a six yard gain ... clock runs out and that's halftime.

Nixa 28, Lee's Summit 21, halftime

Nixa quarterback Adam McKnight 4 of 4 passing for 92 yards and three touchdowns, 21 yards rushing on five carries with another touchdown. Jayden McCaster has 12 carries for 59 yards.

Lee's Summit quarterback Preston Hatfield has 212 yards on 19 carries with three touchdowns, Peyton Hatfield has added 46 yards on five carries. Preston is 5 of 5 passing for 37 yards.

Third Quarter

Nixa starts the second half with the ball and opens up at the Tigers 37 on the short looper of a kickoff.

Jayden McCaster gets one first down, Adam McKnight slips and falls on second down losing five yards and then on third and 14, McKNight overthrows Austin White and Lee's Summit gets a three and out to start the second half.

First punt of the game and Nixa pins Lee's Summit inside the 10 ... 10:31 remaining and the Tigers take over at the 3 after a post posssession penalty.

Preston Hatfield gets four on first down to get the ball away from the end zone, Preston Hatfield again on second down gets four more on second down and now an injury timeout with 9:46 left on the third quarter clock.

Unbelieveable ... Preston Hatfield on third and 2 breaks a quarterback power play for an 89 yard touchdown, Sullivan McCarthy extra point is good, Nixa 28, Lee's Summit 28, 9:27 third quarter ... 3 plays, 97 yards in 1:18.

Nixa will start its drive at the 25, 9:22 third quarter.

McKnight gets four yards on first down, procedure penalty backs the Eagles up five, then McCasker picks one to make it 3rd and 10 ... McKnight on a quarterback scramble gets 12 yards and a new set of downs.

McKnight gets seven on first down, two on second down and another 3rd down play coming ... and again McKnight on a quarterback power play gets six yards at the Lee's Summit 44.

McCaster for four yards, McKnight stopped for no gain and another third and medium for Lee's Summit ... McKnight gets a 26 yard completion taken off the board by an illegal shift penalty making it 3rd and 11.

Offsides gets the penalty yardage back ... 3rd and 6 again, and again McKnight completes a 19 yard strike to Randy Flint and a new set of downs at the Tigers 18.

McCaster for 7 yards, McKnight throws incomplete on second down and now 3rd and 3 ... McCaster stopped for no gain and a fourth down coming up.

McKnight drops another ball right into the bucket as Randy Flint catches a 18 yard touchdown pass, Braden Kahmke extra point is good, Nixa 35, Lee's Summit 28, 3:51 third quarter, 13 plays, 75 yards in 5:31.

McKnight has four touchdowns passes.

Lee's Summit starts its next possession at its own 35.

Preston Hatfield runs for 8 yards, then 9 yards and the Tigers are already across midfield at the Nixa 48.

Preston Hatfield gets eight more on first down, then Peyton Hatfield gets a chance and goes for six yards and a new set of downs.

Another Peyton Hatfield carry is a quarterback sweep to the right and it pops for 34 yards and a touchdown, his first of the game, Nixa 35, Lee's Summit, 35, 1:59 third quarter, five plays, 65 yards, 1:52.

Peyton Hatfield now has 86 yards on seven carries.

Preston Hatfield 334 yards on 25 carries, a new MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl State Championship record.

Nixa starts its next drive at its own 21.

McCaster gets one, McKnight gets two and after converting four of 5 third downs on its last possession, Nixa faces yet another here at 3rd and 7 ... McKnight does it with a quick slant to Randy Flint for 10 yards and a new set of downs.

A penalty ends the third quarter.

Nixa 35, Lee's Summit 35, end of the third quarter

Fourth Quarter

McCaster gets three on 1st and 15, McCaster for five more yards and another 3rd down and medium ... this time McKnights pass for Flint is short and falls incomplete. Nixa is punting for the second time in the second half.

Punt rolls dead at the Lee's Summit 20, 10:30 remaining in the game.

Preston Hatfield gets two on first and 15 after the substitution penalty, another procedure penalty will back up the Tigers five yards and 2nd and 20, Karston Fiene loses two yards on second down, now 3rd and 20 and Preston Hatfield gets five yards on third down ... Lee's Summit to punt for the first time in the game.

The punt snap sails out of the back of the end zone for a safety, Nixa takes a 37-35 lead with 8:10 remaining and the free kick coming up.

Randy Flint returns the free kick to the Nixa 45, 8:03 remaining with the ball and the lead.

McKnight takes a deep shot to Randy Flint and he hauls it in at the Lee's Summit 18, a 37 yard completion sets up the Eagles in the red zone.

After a procedure penalty, McCaster losses six yards back to the 30, but a personal foul penalty moves the ball 15 yards to the 15 yard line and now 2nd and 6.

McCaster stopped on second down, now 3rd and 6 and Randy Flint takes a handoff on a jet sweep and gets it to the 14, 4th and five, McKnight scrambles throws late and the pass is incomplete, a holding penalty is declined and Lee's Summit gets a turnover on downs and takes over with 6:23 remaining and the ball on the 15.

Preston Hatfield breaks a huge run again ... this time 77 yards to the Nixa six, pushed out of bounds by Randy Flint.

Fiene gets five on first down and then finishes the drive with a one-yard keeper with 5:24 left in the game, the two-point conversion run was an inside handoff to Drew Benassi and its stuffed ... Lee's Summit 41, Nixa 37, 5:24 fourth quarter.

Nixa fair catches the kickoff at its own 31 with 5:24 remaining.

McCaster gets five yards on first down, Jax Adams takes a carry off left tackle, but his run is negated by a holding penalty at the 26, 2nd and 15.

McKnight takes a deep shot to Flint and its broken up, now 3rd down and 15.

Another deep shot from McKnight results in a pass interference penalty, 15 yards moves the ball from 26 to the 41 and a first down. New set of downs for Nixa.

McKnight breaks a quarterback draw play for 17 yards and another first down.

McKnight follows McCaster for a five yard gain on first down, then a procedure penalty moves it back to the 42, 2nd and 10 with the clock rolling ...

McKnight to Bryin Sandgren for six yards, McKnight gets three yards to make it fourth and 1 and on fourth down, McKnight comes up short by three chain links on the chains. Lee's Summit with another turnover on downs with 1:44 remaining in the game and a 41-37 lead.

Preston Hatfield breaks another long run from the 33 to midfield, 17 yards and a first down.

Preston Hatfield gets five yards on first down, timeout Nixa, second one of the half, 1:06 remaining.

2nd and 5 at the Nixa 45, Preston Hatfield runs another frst down carry down to the 25, a 20 yard carry ... Lee's Summit takes a knee and that will end it.

Lee's Summit 41, Nixa 37, final

Preston Hatfield set a new MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl rushing record with 457 yards rushing on 33 carries with four touchdowns.

The old record was held by Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams who had 289 yards rushing in 2018 with Vianney.

Hatfield also set a new MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl Record for total offense with 494 yards of total offense breaking the record held by Ezekiel Elliott of 419 yards with John Burroughs against Maryville in 2012.

Peyton Hatfield rushed for 86 yards on seven carries with a touchdown, Karsten Fiene scored the game winner with 5:24 left in the game and had 23 yards on six carries.

Nixa was led by Adam McKnight who completed 9 of 14 passes for 183 yads and four touchdowns, added another 72 yards rushing on 17 carries with another score. Jayden McCaster finished with 81 yards rushing on 23 carries.

Randy Flint caught six passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns, Owen Lock caught two passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.