The Conway Wampus Cats opened their 2026 football season with a commanding 45-7 victory over the Jefferson City (Mo.) Capital City Tigers on Friday night at McConnell Stadium. Six touchdowns in the first half set the tone as Conway built a 39-point lead by halftime and never looked back.
Junior quarterback Ryder Cook was a key figure for the Wampus Cats, throwing for two touchdowns during the game. Meanwhile, junior running back Kaleb McGehee made a significant impact on the ground with two rushing touchdowns, combining for the bulk of Conway’s early offensive surge.
Conway’s head coach, Buck James, acknowledged the team still needs to tighten up on discipline and eliminate mistakes despite the dominant win. “I thought we played hard,” James said. “We know we got some good players, but we got to play harder and more disciplined. We still had plenty of mistakes, but I’m proud of the way the kids played. They just played like they were having fun.”
Conway came into this season fresh off a solid 9-3 run last year that included a run to the Class 7A state semifinals. They lost a narrow game, 26-21, to Bentonville, the largest school in Northwest Arkansas and a perennial powerhouse. That experience seems to have galvanized the team for the new season.
On the other side, Jefferson City Capital City arrived with the momentum of their own, coming off an 8-5 campaign in 2025 that ended with their first-ever district championship in Missouri’s Class 5 category. However, the Tigers struggled to adjust to Conway’s speed and power on Friday night, managing only a single touchdown in the second half.
Conway’s six first-half touchdowns were a mix of quick offensive strikes and grinding runs that wore down Capital City’s defense. The Wampus Cats’ ability to execute on both passing and rushing plays put consistent pressure on the Tigers, forcing them into mistakes and turnovers that further fueled Conway’s scoring runs.
Kaleb McGehee, in particular, looked comfortable pounding through the Tigers’ defensive line, showcasing not only strength but also vision and agility. His two touchdowns weren’t just about yards; they were momentum shifters that helped the Cats maintain control of the game from start to finish.
Ryder Cook’s performance under center was another sign that Conway is shaping up to be a serious contender in the tough Class 7A field. His accurate throws and calm decision-making helped convert critical third downs and kept the Cats’ offense clicking, especially in the red zone.
Defensively, Conway held Jefferson City to just seven points and limited their ability to mount any meaningful comeback. The Cats’ aggressive front seven and disciplined secondary played a crucial role in shutting down many of Capital City’s plays before they could develop.
Conway fans got a first glimpse of what this year’s team can do in front of a home crowd at McConnell Stadium. While the final score was lopsided, the game still highlighted areas that Coach James wants to improve as the season progresses—particularly consistency and avoiding costly errors.
On the road ahead, Conway will look to capitalize on this strong start to push further into the postseason. The Cats showed they can dominate a quality opponent from another state, a confidence boost that’s not always easy to come by outside of Arkansas.
Capital City’s visit to Conway will be remembered as a tough learning experience but also a benchmark for their program, which has been on the rise in Missouri. For Conway, the next challenge lies in refining their play to avoid letting early leads slip away—as happened in some prior seasons.
Overall, Conway’s season-opening win stands as a reminder of just how competitive high school football has become in Northwest Arkansas. This is a region that blends deep tradition with rapidly improving programs and talent—and you really see it on nights like Friday at McConnell Stadium.
With the intensity of the local high school football scene heating up, Conway’s Wampus Cats have made it clear this season will be worth watching. If they can keep the energy up and wipe out those mistakes, they could well be the team to beat in 7A.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
