The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - Week 1

It was truly a historic week 1 of Ozarks high school football.  No, I'm not talking about Webb City losing.  Yes, it was their first COC Large loss since joining the conference.  Yes, it was their first loss to another Ozarks team since 2007.  And it was their first loss in the regular season since 2003.  And it was the first time that Carl Junction had beaten them since 1977.  If you want to consider all of that historic, go ahead.  But it all pales in comparison to the fact that I had my best first week of picks since I started doing this in 2008.  So feel free to bask in the glory of my magnificence as you read about the week that was in this 'back with a vengeance' version of...

The Good

• Cape Girardeau Central at Mt. View-Liberty
• Prediction: Mt. View-Liberty in a barn burner.
• Result: Mt. View-Liberty 39, Cape Girardeau Central 20.  Excellent start for the Eagles As they trailed Central 20-14 in the 3rd, but the Eagles would not allow them to find the endzone again.  Meanwhile, Josh Pruett was working on a 4 rushing TD night, and passed for 235 yards and 2 scores.  Brenton Bush picked up 158 of those yards on 7 catches including a back breaking 65 yard TD catch in the 4th.

• El Dorado Springs at Stockton
• Prediction: I'll go with Stockton and their experienced offensive line.
• Result: Stockton 34, El Dorado Springs 14.  Stockton scored late in the first half to take a 20-14 lead into the break, the shut out the Bulldogs in the second half.  Stockton QB Jake Wheeler had 157 yards and 3 TDs passing.

• Osceola at Cass-Midway
• Prediction: Cass-Midway
• Result: Cass-Midway 36, Osceola 16.

• California at Monett
• Prediction: Michael Branch pounds California into submission.
• Result: Monett 34, California 6.  Branch and the Monett defense pounded the Pintos all night.  Branch had 3 TD runs in the first quarter, and did his part for the Cub defense as well as they racked up 7 sacks.

• Mountain Grove at Aurora
• Prediction: Too much speed from Otwell and Short for Aurora.  Panthers win.
• Result: Mountain Grove 35, Aurora 21.  Carter Otwell rushed for 159 yards and 2 TDs, Trystan Short 91 and 3 scores as they held off the Dawgs after they pulled within 28-21 with over 7 minutes left to play in the game.  Payton Evans had 3 TD passes for Aurora.

• Glendale at Joplin
• Prediction: Too many offensive newcomers for Joplin.  They won't keep pace with Glendale.
• Result: Glendale 61, Joplin 31.  Too much O from Glendale.  Alex Huston passed for 521 yards tossing TD passes to 4 different receivers.  Joplin QB Jokiem Crawford had a night too rushing for 243 yards and 2 touchdowns.

• Mt. Vernon at Reeds Spring
• Prediction: Going with the Wolves.
• Result: Reeds Spring 47, Mt. Vernon 34.  Wow!  Tied at 14 at halftime, the Wolves and Mountaineers exploded in the second half trading the lead twice in the 3rd quarter.  Mt. Vernon pulled within 7 with 3 minutes to play, but Reeds Spring answered with a 74 yard Colter Whitten TD run to seal the game.  They combined for 6 TD plays of 50 yards or more in the second half.  For Mt. Vernon, Garrett Hadlock was 27 of 38 passing for 459 yards and 4 touchdowns, Jarrett Massie had 11 catches for 238 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, and Andrew Montemayor had 142 yards and 2 scores on 7 receptions to go along with a 100 yard interception return.  But the star was Reeds Springs RB Korey Robinette who rushed for 281 of the Wolves 647 yards on 16 carries scoring 3 times. 

• Cassville at Lamar 
• Prediction: Should be Lamar, but how well will the Wildcats do?
• Result: Lamar 50, Cassville 0.  The Wildcats didn't do well at all.  Lamar rolled to 43-0 halftime lead and it was game over.  Luke Hardman rushed for 137 yards and 2 TDs on just 4 carries.

• Bolivar at Republic
• Prediction: I like the Tigers to win behind their offensive line.
• Result: Republic 27, Bolivar 18. Bolivar held an 18-7 lead before Republic closed with 20 straight points.  Republic's David Feil rushed for 153 yards.  Conner Sechler was 24 of 36 for 254 yards and a TD for Bolivar.

• Willard at Nixa
• Prediction: I think Nicos Oropeza gives Nixa the edge.
• Result: Nixa 19, Willard 16.  The Eagle had a comfortable 19-0 lead in the fourth until 2 Quintin Batson to Kenny Chambers TD passes pulled Willard within 3.  Nixa then gave the ball back to Willard with a fumbled snap, but the Tigers couldn't cash in.  Oropeza had 147 yards and a TD to pace the Eagle attack.  Chambers finished with 6 catches for 152 yards for Willard.

• Branson at Neosho
• Prediction: Neosho gets off to a 1-0 start.
• Result: Neosho 42, Branson 21.  Down 14-7 after the first quarter, Neosho rolled off 28 unanswered points to take down Branson.  Receiver Bryce Murphy had 5 catches for 170 yards and 2 TDs, and an interception on defense.  And our player of the week had a big impact too.

• Camdenton at Hillcrest 
• Prediction: Camdenton
• Result: Camdenton 39, Hillcrest 33.  Jay Griffin had 199 yards and 4 TDs rushing for Camdenton, but they nearly gave away a 27-13 halftime lead. It got interesting as a 71 yard punt return from Hillcrest's Josh Powell with under a minute left forced Camdenton to cover an onside kick in order to preserve the win.

• Lebanon at Rolla
• Prediction: The Yellowjackets go 1-0.
• Result: Lebanon 31, Rolla 14.  The Yellowjackets led 17-0 at the half and never let it get closer in a comfortable win over former defensive coordinator Jon Franks.

• Kickapoo at Parkview
• Prediction: Both teams have to rebuild but I think Kickapoo is in better shape with Chris Lawson behind center.
• Result: Kickapoo 55, Parkview 26.  Lawson was 20 of 27 passing for 248 yards and 3 touchdowns, Maverick McGee rushed for 163 yards and 3 touchdowns, and the Chiefs look ready to defend their OC crown.

• Liberal at Lockwood
• Prediction: Lockwood
• Result: Lockwood 50, Liberal 21.

• Pierce City at Diamond
• Prediction: Diamond
• Result: Diamond 24, Pierce City 14.  Not as close as the final score looks as Pierce City scored with 40 seconds left for the final margin.  Triston Shepherd had 126 yards and 2 scores rushing for Diamond.

• Marionville at Sherwood
• Prediction: Marionville 
• Result: Marionville 40, Sherwood 0.  The Comets put up 20 points in each of the first 2 quarters before the game was called due to weather in the 3rd.

• Skyline at Lexington
• Prediction: Lexington
• Result: Lexington 35, Skyline 0.  Not a promising start for the Tigers.  Lexington led 21-0 at the half before getting to the turbo clock midway through the 3rd.

• Greenfield at Union Christian Academy
• Prediction: Greenfield
• Result: Greenfield 50, Union Christian Academy 34.  After being up 24-17 at the half, the Wildcats broke it open in the second half.  Jerrett Esposito with 166 yards and 2 TDs rushing for Greenfield, with Charles Servoss adding 154 yards and 2 scores.

• Salem at McDonald County
• Prediction: Salem
• Result: Salem 26, McDonald County 6.  Xavier Elwood scored on the ground, through the air, and returned a kickoff 85 yards for a 3rd TD for Salem.  QB Zak Elpin rushed for 112 yards and completed 3 of 9 passes, for 2 TDS.

• Pleasant Hope at Hollister
• Prediction: Hollister
• Result: Hollister 56, Pleasant Hope 8.  Hollister christened their new turf with a school record 56 points.  Landon Farquhar became the first Tiger to score 4 TDs in a game with runs of 8, 37, and 40 yards and a 12 yard TD catch.

• Rogersville at Springfield Central
• Prediction: Winning start for Rogersville.
• Result: Rogersville 31, Springfield Central 6.  Rogersville jumped out to a quick 12-0 lead on their way to a 18-0 halftime lead and never looked back.

• Seneca at Nevada
• Prediction: Seneca
• Result: Seneca 41, Nevada 14.  The Indians put together a 15 play 95 yard TD drive on their first possession and kept rolling finishing with 475 yards of offense and making new head coach Ryan McFarland a winner in his debut.

• Springfield Catholic at Strafford
• Prediction: Irish
• Result: Springfield Catholic 35, Strafford 28.  After Strafford tied the game with under 5 minutes to go, Catholic's Nate Page answered with the winning score.  Danny Novakovich with 111 yards and a TD rushing, 16 tackles, and an interception returned for a TD for Strafford.

• Buffalo at Fair Grove
• Prediction: Fair Grove
• Result: Fair Grove 49, Buffalo 7.  Eagles looked every bit the Mid-Lakes favorite as Dalton Cloyd scored rushing, receiving, on a kickoff return grabbed an interception, and forced a fumble.  QB Brayden Lumley tossed 3 TD passes.

• Marshfield at Ava
• Prediction: Ava 
• Result: Ava 42, Marshfield 13.  4 turnovers kept Ava at bay in the first half and led to a 16-13 lead.  But they put the hammer down in the second half.  Kelly McDonald with 24 tackles for the Bears.

• Warsaw at Clinton
• Prediction: I don't think they improve enough.  Clinton wins.
• Result: Clinton 48, Warsaw 26.  Clinton jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead & held Warsaw at bay from there.  Matt Luebbert with 233 yards and 2 TDs passing for Warsaw.

• Ash Grove at Houston
• Prediction: Ash Grove
• Result: Ash Grove 35, Houston 0.  The Pirate defense picks up where it left off last year pitching a shutout. 

• Hayti at Thayer
• Prediction: Hayti
• Result: Hayti 26, Thayer 0.  Too many turnovers & penalties doom Thayer to an 0-1 record.

• Lincoln at Rich Hill
• Prediction: The Cardinals keep it going and beat Rich Hill.
• Result: Lincoln 52, Rich Hill 3.  Lincoln had a 30-3 lead after the first quarter and mercifully the weather cut the game short in the 3rd.

• Drexel at Appleton City
• Prediction: Drexel
• Result: Drexel 22, Appleton City 6.  A solid win for Drexel to open their WEMO campaign, but bigger fish lie ahead.

The Bad

• Carthage at Ozark
• Prediction: Ozark should put up a good fight, but I'm going with Carthage.
• Result: Ozark 28, Carthage 14.  Tied at 7 at the half, and at 14 starting the 4th quarter, Ozark QB Jack Hulse scored 2 of his 3 TDs on the night to secure the win equaling their win total of last year.

The Ugly 

• Webb City at Carl Junction
• Prediction: The chips appear to be against Webb City, but that is exactly when they seem to be at their best.  Carl Junction is very capable of winning with their overall team speed, but I'm going with the Cardinals.
• Result: Carl Junction 23, Webb City 7.  Even the Webb City mystique can't overcome 7 turnovers as the Bulldogs forced 6 fumbles and picked off a pass.  CJ scored 16 points off of those turnovers accounting for the final margin, and earning their first win over Webb City since 1977.

• West Plains at Waynesville
• Prediction: I think the Tigers are your dark horse contender for the OC title and like them to win.
• Result: West Plains 42, Waynesville 0.  Never a contest as the Zizzers scored on their first 6 drives.  Keegan Hoopes 288 yards and 4 touchdowns on 18 rushes.

• Willow Springs at Miller
• Prediction: Give it to Miller at home.
• Result: Willow Springs 40, Miller 21.  Up just 28-21 early in the 4th, the Bears added a pair of TDs in the final frame to secure the win.  Dalton Rader had 158 yards and 2 TDs rushing with Ben Wake adding 120 and 1 TD.

• Jasper at Sarcoxie
• Prediction:Jasper
• Result: Sarcoxie 27, Jasper 12.  Another new turf field, another win.  And a good SRVC win for the Bears.

• Lighthouse Christian at East Newton
• Prediction: East Newton
• Result: Lighthouse Christian 37, East Newton 14.  Should be encouraging for both teams.  For the Chargers, they didn't fold against a scrappy upset-minded foe.  For the Patriots, they stayed with LCA until the 4th quarter trailing only 16-14 as they entered the final frame.

Incomplete

• Cabool at Barat Academy Jefferson
• Prediction: I think they will.  Cabool wins.
• Result: Jefferson 26, Cabool 24.  I am pulling this pick out because all schedules had Cabool playing Barat Academy.  As it was, the Bulldogs rallied and scored late to pull within 2, but their 2 point try was no good.

Player of the Week: Coleman Scott, Neosho, QB.  328 yards, 3 TDs passing, 162 yards, 1 TD rushing.  Scott spearheaded the Neosho attack as they blew past Branson.  After passing for 1,380 yards and rushing for 425 all of last year, Scott looks on pace to blow past those numbers. 

Record for the Week: 31-6, .838.  That's the best 1st week I've ever had, but too many ugly picks.  And 2 of them I should have gotten correct.

Overall record: 31-6, .838.  I will enjoy this while it lasts, which should be until Friday night.