The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - Week 3

This is shaping up to be a wonderfully strange season.  We've already seen Webb City's long winning streak come to an end.  This week it was Bolivar that saw their COC Small streak fall at the hands of Reeds Spring, who got thumped last week by Cassville. 7 teams pulled off 4th quarter comebacks this week with 5 of those being from double digit deficits.  And some of the teams leading their respective conferences?  Neosho, Glendale, Willow Springs, Ash Grove, Diamond, and Reeds Spring.  The Wolves aren't tied for the lead with Bolivar now, they are LEADING them.  Now it makes sense that either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump will be elected president.  You might want to place bets on the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl now.  But before you do that, enjoy this 'nothing would surprise me except things being normal' edition of...

The Good

• Neosho (2-0) at Willard (1-1)
• Prediction: Willard has been on fire the last 5+ quarters.  While Neosho actually hurt themselves with key turnovers last week.  I think the Wildcats get back on track & win. 
• Result: Neosho 34, Willard 30.  5 lead changes in the game as Neosho comes up big down the stretch again.  Down 30-21 entering the 4th, Coleman Scott hooked up with Bryce Murphy for a 25 yard TD to pull within 30-28.  Then Scott himself ran one in from 16 yards out with 4:15 remaining for the lead.  The Wildcats would hold from there for the win.  Scott passes for 280 yards and 3 TDs, runs for 117 and 2 TDs.  Murphy with 6 catches for 194 yards and 2 scores.  For Willard, Kenny Chambers caught 9 balls for 174 yards and 2 TDs, Brock Howard added 2 TDs rushing.
• Mountain Grove (2-0) at Ava (2-0)
• Prediction: It's been 6 years since Ava beat the Grove.  I think it will be at least another year before it happens.  Grove. 
• Result: Mountain Grove 26, Ava 0. A step up in quality for Ava and it was all Grove.  Dominating performance by the defense including a pick 6 by Trystan Short.  The Panthers led 18-0 at half.  Carter Otwell with 112 yards and 2 TD to lead the Panthers.
• Cass-Midway (2-0) at Adrian (1-1) 
• Prediction: I think the Vikings look better and win. 
• Result: Cass-Midway 22, Adrian 0.  The Vikings led 7-0 after the 1st, 14-0 at the half and were never challenged.  The Vikings are giving up an average of 10 ppg now.
• Aurora (0-2) vs Lamar (2-0)
• Prediction: They'll do just fine.  Lamar wins easily. 
• Result: Lamar 50, Aurora 0. Another game, another shutout, another 50 points for Lamar.  The Tigers scored twice in each quarter except the 4th.
• Republic (1-1) at Webb City (0-2) 
• Prediction: I think Webb gets control of their turnovers and get a win. 
• Result: Webb City 30, Republic 7.  It might be premature to say the Cardinals are back, but they certainly looked like Webb City again.  The defense only gave up 188 yards to Republic and 96 of those came on a Riley Watkins to Cameron Flood TD pass.  3 Cardinals broke 100 yards rushing.  Cameron Baker had 143, Hunter Vanlue 130, and Cash Link 126.
• West Plains (1-1) at Glendale (2-0)
• Prediction: After watching the Falcon D last week, I think they're for real.  Glendale. 
• Result: Glendale 48, West Plains 27.  Great game plan from the Zizzers as they were able to eat up almost all of the possession in the first half going up 14-0 before the Falcons tied it at the half.  But after the Zizzers went up 21-14 early in the 3rd, it was all Glendale as Alex Huston hit 5 of his 7 TD passes in the second half.  Luke Montgomery caught 3 of them and finished with 117 yards on 4 receptions.  Huston finished with 411 yards through the air.  Keegan Hoopes scored all 4 of West Plains touchdowns rushing for 121 yards.
• Kickapoo (2-0) at Joplin (1-1)
• Prediction: Chiefs keep putting up big numbers and winning. 
• Result: Kickapoo 49, Joplin 20.  Not as close as the final score as the Chiefs led 42-7 before Joplin added a pair of late TDs.  160 yards and 4 TDs for Maverick McGee.  Corey Dye got the Chiefs on the board before they had run an offensive play returning the first Joplin punt of the night for a 65 yard TD.
• Lockwood (2-0) at Forsyth JV (2-0)
• Prediction: Lockwood stays unbeaten, but it may be a lot closer than you think.
• Result: Lockwood 56, Forsyth 14.  Forsyth's first Friday night game and Lockwood without Kyle Bouldin, but it didn't matter.  After Forsyth scored the first TD of the game, Lockwood took off.  QB Will Beerly led the way with 3 TD passes and ran for another score.
• Thayer (1-1) at Mt. View-Liberty (2-0) 
• Prediction: The Eagles are on a mission and keep rolling. 
• Result: Mt. View-Liberty 32, Thayer 0.  Another dominating performance by Liberty with all the usual suspects doing well.  Josh Pruett had a TD run, passed for 220 yards and 3 scores.  Kole Orchard had a TD catch and an interception. Brenton Bush with 110 yards receiving and 2 TDs. Chase Smith, Devin Wallander, Marcos Rodriguez, and Caleb Oziah each had 8 tackles or more with Smith leading the way with 10.
• Monett (2-0) at Mt. Vernon (1-1)
• Prediction: No problem for the Cubs. 
• Result: Monett 42, Mt. Vernon 28.  Up 7-6 in the 2nd quarter, Monett rolled off 28 consecutive points to put the game out of reach.  Brian Parra-Navarro had 148 yards receiving and touchdown catches of 48 and 65 yards.  Michael Branch rushed for 108 yards and had a 68 yard TD catch himself.
• Lincoln (2-0) at Osceola (0-2)
• Prediction: Lincoln wins big. 
• Result: Lincoln 48, Osceola 0.  Another unstoppable, balanced offensive attack from Lincoln who finally got to play 4 quarters.  They led 42-0 at the half as Derek Stephens scored all 3 of his TDs before the break finishing with 100 yards rushing.
• Houston (0-2) at Salem (2-0)
• Prediction: Salem stays undefeated. 
• Result: Salem 25, Houston 12.  Salem fumbled the ball on the Houston 3 yard line on the opening possession, then saw Houston take that and score to lead 6-0.  But Salem overcame that and 2 other scores being called back by penalty to run off 25 straight points to take the win.  Xavier Ellwood registered 143 yards and 2 touchdowns on 7 carries for Salem.
• Branson (0-2) at Carthage (1-1)
• Prediction: Carthage stays in the COC Large title chase. 
• Result: Carthage 21, Branson 0.  No letdown for the Tigers as their defense shuts out the Pirates with Trey Collins running for 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns.  It took until the second quarter for Carthage to score, but they only allowed 40 yards rushing and 184 through the air to Branson.
• El Dorado Springs (0-2) at Ash Grove (2-0)
• Prediction: Ash Grove goes to 3-0. 
• Result: Ash Grove 14, El Dorado Springs 6.  The Pirate defense keeps getting it done.  They get a 54 yard TD run from Chase White in the 1st quarter, a 3 yard run from Paul Chavez in the 3rd, and the defense holds ElDo out of the end zone until 5:29 left in the 4th.
• East Newton (0-2) at Cassville (1-1)
• Prediction: Cassville gets win #2. 
• Result: Cassville 42, East Newton 16.  3 TDs for River Phelps including a 61 yard run as the Wildcats scored 21 straight points after East Newton pulled within 14-8.
• Parkview (0-2) at Rolla (0-2)
• Prediction: Parkview gets win #1. 
• Result: Parkview 27, Rolla 23.  It took almost the entire game, but the Vikings got their first win.  Their first lead came with 37 seconds left in the game on a Mario Sanchez TD run as they overcame deficits of 16-0 after the first quarter and 23-8 at halftime.  Aerion Hawkins had 102 yards and a TD rushing for Parkview.  Xavier Douglas ran for 112 and a score for Rolla.
• Northeast (Arma, KS) (0-0) at Liberal (0-2)
• Prediction: Liberal gets their first win.
• Result: Liberal 33, Northeast 0. Up 8-0 at the half & just 14-0 after the 3rd, Liberal busted the game open with 3 4th quarter TDs.  Noah Harris had 187 yards rushing while the Bulldog defense gave up just 216 yards total.
• Appleton City (1-1) at Rich Hill (0-2)
• Prediction: No matter, Jr. is going with Appleton City to win. 
• Result: Appleton City 18, Rich Hill 13.  After giving up a 12-0 lead, Appleton City would score again in the 3rd then shut down Rich Hill for the final score.  This is their first 2 game win streak since 2008.
• Marshfield (1-1) at Springfield Catholic (1-1)
• Prediction: I don't think Marshfield gets it here.  Irish win.
• Result: Springfield Catholic 42, Marshfield 28. Big play heaven as Marshfield's Jason Whittington had 2 kickoff return TDs and a 67 yard TD run.  Garrett Nunnally bettered that with a 70 yard scoring gallop.  Catholic's Casey Console had a 25 yard pick 6, but Tyson Riley would score 3 second half TDs for the Irish starting with a 99 yard run as he finished with 193 yards on 18 carries.  Ramiro Avila added 155 yards and a TD for Catholic.
• KC St. Pius X (1-1) at Nevada (0-2)
• Prediction: Nevada falls to 0-3. 
• Result: KC St. Pius X 34, Nevada 0.  The Tigers moved the ball but just couldn't find the end zone.  Meanwhile St. Pius lead 14-0 after 1, and 21-0 at the half.  Game over.
• Hillcrest (0-2) at Waynesville (0-2)
• Prediction: The Hornets have shown me more & need it more.  They win. 
• Result: Hillcrest 40, Waynesville 22. Special teams & defense literally made the difference for Hillcrest as a punt return TD, kickoff return TD, and 2 safeties accounted for 20 of the Hornets points.
• Willow Springs (2-0) at Cabool (0-2)
• Prediction: Willow Springs 
• Result: Willow Springs 19, Cabool 18.  The Bears came back from an 18-0 deficit scoring all of their 3 TDs within a 7 minute span of the 3rd & 4th quarter.
• Jasper (0-2) at Pierce City (1-1)
• Prediction: Pierce City
• Result: Pierce City 29, Jasper 0.  No need to come from behind this week.  The Eagles had a 14-0 1st quarter lead on TDs from Gage Brown and Kaleb Myer and that was more than enough.
• California (0-2) at Warsaw (0-2)
• Prediction: They haven't beaten California since 2010 and I don't think they will tonight. 
• Result: California 33, Warsaw 7. The offensive woes for the Wildcats continue as they only get 212 total yards of offense. Their only score would come from an 89 yard Trenton Simons kickoff return to pull within 14-7 at the half, but that would be all..
• Pleasant Hope (0-2) at Fair Grove (2-0)
• Prediction: Even if they do, they should be fine.  Fair Grove.
• Result: Fair Grove 75, Pleasant Hope 0. Yep, Fair Grove is really good.  Let's just move on.
• Seneca (1-1) at McDonald County (0-2)
• Prediction: Seneca. 
• Result: Seneca 33, McDonald County 26.  Great game.  The teams traded scores all night.  Seneca led the whole way except for a 20-20 tie, but never led by more than a single score.  Seneca QB Gavin Clouse, RB Spencer Brattin, and RB Cole Hatfield combined for 294 yards and 4 TDs rushing.  Mustang QB Payton Barton passed for 280 yards and a TD.
• Lighthouse Christian (1-1) at Metro East Lutheran (Edwardsville, IL) (0-1)
• Prediction: Chargers get back on the winning track.
• Result: Lighthouse Christian 49, Metro East Lutheran 6.  No problem for the Chargers as Bryant Taylor threw for 347 yards and 5 TDs en route to a 22-0 halftime lead they would not give up.
• Springfield Central (0-2) at Nixa (2-0)
• Prediction: Nixa. 
• Result: Nixa 49, Springfield Central 0. No need to hang on late for Nixa this week as they jumped out to a 29-0 1st quarter lead while holding Central to just 106 yards of total offense.
• Strafford (0-2) at Marionville (1-1)
• Prediction: I think Strafford is ready to break through. 
• Result: Strafford 23, Marionville 12.  QB Kensen White had a hand in all 3 Indian TDs tossing TD passes to Danny Novakovich and Dillon Hester, and rushing for another.  Marionville pulled within 16-12 in the third quarter but only Strafford found the end zone in the 4th to earn their first win.

The Bad

• Lebanon (2-0) at Camdenton (2-0)
• Prediction: The Lakers have played better teams and have the look of a team on the rise.  I'll take them.
• Result: Lebanon 28, Camdenton 19. The stars produced with Lebanon's John Berry getting 220 yards and 3 TDs while Jay Griffin of Camdenton had 159 yards and 2 scores.  But Lebanon took the lead and would not give it back holding off all Laker challenges.
• Bolivar (0-2) at Reeds Spring (1-1)
• Prediction: Not as close as the last 2 years.  Liberators roll. 
• Result: Reeds Spring 38, Bolivar 28.  Korey Robinette had 152 yards rushing, a 51 yard TD run, and the Wolves defense forced Connor Sechler into 19 for 42 passing as they pin the first COC loss on the Liberators.  Robinette was a big part of the defensive effort as well as he defended Brandon Emmert all night.  Sechler still finished with 250 yards and 3 TD passes, but Reeds Spring QB Austin Staugaard's 50 yard TD run in the 3rd quarter turned out to be the deciding score.
• Carl Junction (2-0) at Ozark (1-1)
• Prediction: Bulldogs stay atop the COC Large. 
• Result: Ozark 10, Carl Junction 7.  Hats off to the Ozark defense.  Not only did they shut down the Bulldog offense, they held Rayquion Weston to 78 yards on 30 carries, got turnovers at key times, and put up a huge defensive stand with CJ trying to retake the lead late.  10 points in the 4th quarter to overcome a 7-0 deficit.  Curt Gracey scored from 6 yards out on a 4th and 5 play to cap the win.
• Diamond (2-0) at Buffalo (1-1) 
• Prediction: I like where Buffalo is headed, but I think Diamond takes this one. 
• Result: Buffalo 34, Diamond 33.  Down 19-0 in the 2nd, Buffalo turned the game around on a 98 yard pick 6 from Marcus Autrey.  Diamond would score on their next possession to make it 27-7, but Buffalo QB Kyle Cooley would toss 4 TD passes the rest of the way as the Bison took the lead first late in the 3rd.  Then after Diamond scored but missed the XP to retake a 33-27 lead, Cooley found Keaton Rackley for an 80 yard TD. Federico Poli booted the XP to give Buffalo the biggest comeback of the night.
• Drexel (1-1) at Archie (0-2)
• Prediction: The Whirlwinds are winless no more. 
• Result: Drexel 22, Archie 21.  So close.  Drexel took a 14-0 lead in the 2nd quarter, but Kale Wheeler would run one in, then return an interception to tie the game with 5 second left in the half.  The Whirlwinds would then take the lead with just over 5 minutes left in the 3rd.  But Drexel would score and get the 2 point conversion late for the win.
• Rogersville (1-1) at Hollister (2-0)
• Prediction: I like Hollister to keep the fast start going.
• Result: Rogersville 25, Hollister 14.  Nope, it was Rogersville with the fast start as they got out to a 19-0 lead through 3 quarters.  The Tigers would score but Jaytin Gutierrez put to rest any thought of a comeback with a 56 yard TD run.  Gutierrez finished with 2 TDs and 165 yards rushing.

The Ugly

• Sarcoxie (1-1) at Miller (1-1)
• Prediction: Miller is more battle tested, I think they get the W. 
• Result: Sarcoxie 45, Miller 20.  Sarcoxie QB Chris Comerford was a 1 man wrecking crew rushing for 150 yards and 3 TDs and adding an 86 yard escape artist kickoff return TD.
• Stockton (1-1) at Skyline (0-2)
• Prediction: Stockton stays afloat with a win.
• Result: Skyline 54, Stockton 14.  This weeks "where did that come from" game.  After being shut out in week 1 and only scoring 14 against Fair Grove, no one was looking for 54 from Skyline.  The Tigers jumped out to a 21-0 lead on their way to a 42-14 halftime score.  Shawn Bryan scores 6 times on runs of 48, 1, 11, 40, and 47 yards and a 50 yard punt return.

Player of the Week: Kyle Cooley, QB, Buffalo. Things are starting to click for Buffalo and they have a field general in Cooley who is really starting to make things happen. After leading Buffalo to their first win last week, Cooley showed he can perform under pressure rallying the Bison from a 20 point deficit with touchdown passes of 35, 63, 10, and the game winning 80 yard strike in the 4th quarter.  And Cooley is just a junior meaning we probably haven't seen his or Buffalo's best yet.

Record: 29-8, .784.  Still a solid week and only 2 ugly picks.  Would have liked to have one pick back but otherwise, I'll take it.

Overall record: 94-20, .825. I dropped a little behind my best 3 week total ever, but week 4 is traditionally a rough one, so I have a chance to pull back above