Scoreboard Guy: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

While week 4 didn't have as much drama as week 3, it also lasted longer giving us more time to enjoy football. Thanks to the weather, we kicked off at 5:30 Friday and the final horn didn't sound until around 9:10 Saturday night. In between Lamar took a big step toward their 2nd consecutive Big 8 title, the COC Large got even more interesting, 5 teams got their first win, 5 took their first loss, and big showdowns were set up between Glendale/Kickapoo and Cass-Midway/Drexel. Read all about it in our 'I don't mind the rain but watch out for the lightning' edition of...

The Good

Glendale (3-0) at Lebanon (3-0)

Prediction: Lebanon will be ready and will be the toughest test Glendale has seen. But I think the Falcons get a couple of breaks that make the difference and win.
Result: Glendale 48, Lebanon 28. No John Berry for Lebanon, but they were within 20-14 of Glendale at the half. The Falcons would then roll off 22 straight points to ice the win. Alex Huston with 595 passing yards and 7 TDs. 4 of those went to Luke Montgomery who finished with 319 yards on just 12 catches.

Lamar (3-0) at Monett (3-0)

Prediction: I think it's another tough game that stays close before Lamar opens a little bit of breathing room in the second half.
Result: Lamar 49, Monett 35. The Cubs proved their quality, but couldn't get the win. The game was tied at 21 at the half, and Monett led the Tigers in the 4th before Lamar scored 22 points to stay atop the Big 8. Cooper Lucas had 3 TDs filling in for the injured Luke Hardman.

Willow Springs (3-0) at Mountain Grove (3-0)

Prediction: I don't think they will. Panthers win.
Result: Mountain Grove 53, Willow Springs 0. The Panthers would lead 40-0 at the half as 5 different Panthers would score. Carter Otwell would run in 2 and pass for 1 as he had over 100 yards rushing and passing. Trystan Short added 2 TDs and 167 yards on the ground.

Neosho (3-0) at Carl Junction (2-1)

Prediction: CJ was off last week, and they will be fired up to show it. Should be a good game, but I'm going with the Bulldogs.
Result: Carl Junction 35, Neosho 20. Rayquion Weston rushed for 128 yards and 2 TDs, QB Keaton Taber had 241 yards and 2 scores through the air, and Zay'Shawn Weston picked off 3 Neosho passes as the Bulldogs got back on track handing Neosho their first loss.

Fair Grove (3-0) at Springfield Catholic (2-1)

Prediction: Too much firepower for Catholic to contain. Fair Grove.
Result: Fair Grove 21, Springfield Catholic 20. What a dandy this was. It looked like Fair Grove was going to have another offensive explosion when Dalton Cloyd took the opening kickoff 94 yards to the house, but that would be all the points the Eagles would get in the first half. Catholic would get a pair of field goals from Ryan Miller to pull within 1 at halftime, and took the lead on a Tyson Riley 6 yard run in the 3rd. Cloyd would answer for the Eagles but Riley would score again in the 4th to put Catholic up 20-15. Then with just over 2 minutes to go, backup QB Jayden Kensinger would go deep on a 46 yard TD pass to Isaac Mauldin to give the Eagles the final say and keep them undefeated. Catholic RB Ramilo Avila rushed for 100 yards on 20 carries.

Cass-Midway (3-0) at Appleton City (2-1)

Prediction: Midway is giving up 10 points per game and that will probably be enough. Vikings win.
Result: Cass-Midway 29, Appleton City 19. While they gave up almost twice their average, the Viking defense rose up again. With the score 21-19 at the half, Midway held Appleton City out of the endzone in the second half to stay unbeaten.

Ava (2-1) at Mt. View-Liberty (3-0)

Prediction: Eagles get past the Bears at home.
Result: Mt. View-Liberty 28, Ava 20. This looked like a Mt. View runaway as they led 28-0 at the half with Ava only having 24 yards of offense. But the Bears got a score in the third to make it 28-6, then found pay dirt twice more to make it interesting before a Kole Orchard interception sealed the win for Liberty. 3 more passing TDs from Josh Pruett, 121 yards and 2 TDs receiving for Brenton Bush, and 14 tackles and a sack for Marcos Rodriguez.

Camdenton (2-1) at Kickapoo (3-0)

Prediction: Lakers can't keep pace with Chiefs.
Result: Kickapoo 42, Camdenton 0. All Chiefs all the way. 35-0 at the half and the defense showed no signs of yielding anything as they gave up only 125 yards to the Lakers offense. Maverick McGee had more than that himself scoring 4 TDs and 150 yards while playing only the first half.

Reeds Spring (2-1) at Rogersville (2-1)

Prediction: Wolves have enough to get the win.
Result: Reeds Spring 45, Rogersville 18. Korey Robinette had 178 yards and 2 TDs rushing, fullback Seth Stamps added 2 rushing TDs, and QB Austin Staugaard also had a pair of rushing TDs and a passing TD as the Wolves kept control of the COC Small title race.

Willard (1-2) at Webb City (1-2)

Prediction: The Cardinals have righted the ship and win.
Result: Webb City 55, Willard 7. Yeah, they seem to be back. Dominating performance by the Cardinals who scored on their first 5 possessions for a 35-7 halftime edge. Cash Link threw 3 TD passes and ran for a score. Sophomore Alex Gaskill caught 2 TD passes and returned an interception for a 3rd.

Buffalo (2-1) at Marshfield (1-2)

Prediction: I think Marshfield is still the better team, but it's getting closer.
Result: Marshfield 18, Buffalo 13. Good win for Marshfield who led 12-0 at the half, then held off another Buffalo rally.

Salem (3-0) at Thayer (1-2)

Prediction: I think the Bobcats pull this one off.
Result: Thayer 14, Salem 7. Salem got out to the 7-0 lead at the half. But the Bobcats got the score and 2 point conversion to go up 8-7 midway through the third. Then added another touchdoen with over 9 minutes left in the game. From there, Thayer would hold out the Tigers to go 2-2.

Lighthouse Christian (2-1) at Holden (2-1)

Prediction: I'm banking on Holden being too much for LCA.
Result: Holden 35, Lighthouse Christian 6. 5 Charger interceptions were way too much for them to overcome.

Bolivar (0-3) at Hollister (2-1)

Prediction: Bolivar gets win #1.
Result: Bolivar 55, Hollister 13. The Liberators jumped out to a 20-0 lead and never looked back going up 27-6 at halftime as RB Bailey Bilyeu rushed for 3 TDs and caught a TD pass.

Marionville (1-2) at Ash Grove (3-0)

Prediction: Ash Grove in another close one.
Result: Ash Grove 38, Marionville 8. And there is the offense the Pirates have been looking for and QB Chase White was the most offensive tossing 3 TD passes and rushing for a score.

Nixa (3-0) at Republic (1-2)

Prediction: Going with Nixa in a hard fought game.
Result: Nixa 24, Republic 6. Republic struck first for a 6-0 lead, but Nixa would put up 17 second quarter points and not allow the Tigers back into the endzone as they stay unbeaten. QB Andrew Rivera with a pair of TD runs for the Eagles.

East Newton (0-3) at Aurora (0-3)

Prediction: Dawgs win at home.
Result: Aurora 27, East Newton 7. East Newton took a 7-6 2nd quarter lead, but Payton Evans would find Clayton Dunning for the 1st of their 3 TD connections on the night with 36 seconds left in the 1st half and the Patriots would not find the end zone again.

Windsor (1-2) at Lincoln (3-0)

Prediction: No problems and a turboclock second half for Lincoln.
Result: Lincoln 62, Windsor 8. Boone Kroenke had 3 TDs passing and rushing as the Cardinals cruised to a 48-6 halftime lead.

Greenfield (3-0) at Pleasanton, KS (0-1)

Prediction: Make it 4-0 for Greenfield.
Result: Greenfield 54, Pleasanton 6. The Wildcats win their first of 4 games against Kansas competition. Per Kansas state rules, this game ended at half time with the Wildcats dominating play.

Mt. Vernon (1-2) at Seneca (2-1)

Prediction: I'm buying Mt. Vernon.
Result: Mt. Vernon 42, Seneca 13. After being up 14 early, Mt. Vernon saw the Indians get within 20-13 before hitting the gas. 308 yards and 5 TDs passing for Garrett Hadlock, Sammy Robinson had 152 yards and a TD rushing, 2 catches for 80 yards, and 2 TDs receiving.

Ozark (2-1) at Branson (0-3)

Prediction: The Tiger turnaround continues.
Result: Ozark 28, Branson 16. The Tigers put together 3 scoring drives of 84 yards or more in rushing for 404 yards. Ozark took a 21-0 lead before Branson made it 21-10 early in the 3rd quarter, but they would score again on another long drive to keep the Pirates at bay.

Waynesville (0-3) at Parkview (1-2)

Prediction: Parkview gets to .500.
Result: Parkview 36, Waynesville 20. Waynesville took it's first lead of the season at 6-0, and only trailed 14-12 at the half. But 5 turnovers couldn't be overcome and the Vikings won the second half to even their record. Blake Delacruz had 111 yards rushing and Mario Sanchez tossed 3 TD passes for the Vikings.

Liberal (1-2) at Sarcoxie (2-1)

Prediction: The Bears have just a little more.
Result: Sarcoxie 35, Liberal 0. So the Bears had a LOT more. They led 7-0 at the end of the 1st quarter but that would be all they would need as the bears defense pitched their first shutout since September 21, 2012.

Carthage (2-1) at Springfield Central (0-3)

Prediction: Carthage.
Result: Carthage 57, Springfield Central 6. 7 different Blue Tigers find the endzone as Carthage built a 30-0 lead after the first quarter.

Lafayette County (1-2) at El Dorado Springs (0-3)

Prediction: Bulldogs fall to 0-4.
Result: Lafayette County 35, El Dorado Springs 6. The Huskers scored in every quarter and led 22-0 at the half. The Bulldogs just could not find enough offense.

Joplin (1-2) at Rolla (0-3)

Prediction: Joplin evens their record.
Result: Joplin 43, Rolla 30. The Eagles scored on their first 4 possessions and needed it to hold off a feisty Rolla squad as QB Jokiem Crawford scored on a 50 yard TD run with just over 2 minutes left after the Bulldogs had closed within 35-30. Crawford finished with 177 yards rushing and 2 scores.

Archie (0-3) at Lockwood (3-0)

Prediction: The Tigers enter their crucial run 4-0.
Result: Lockwood 37, Archie 30. Lockwood went up 16-0 only to see Archie tie it at halftime. The Tigers again got up by 2 scores, but the Whirlwinds would not go away scoring with 2:07 to play to pull within 7. But the 217 yards and 2 TDs of Ethan Bates combined with Josh Osterdyk's 191 yards and 2 TDs were to much to overcome.

Cassville (2-1) at McDonald County (0-3)

Prediction: Wildcats keep rollin'.
Result: Cassville 33, McDonald County 22. They didn't exactly roll as the Mustangs made it interesting. Cassville led all night but McDonald County wouldn't go away pulling with 27-22 with 8:30 to play, but Cassville would ice it 5 minutes later. 3 more rushing TDs for River Phelps.

Warsaw (0-3) at Osage (3-0)

Prediction: No problem for the Indians.
Result: Osage 42, Warsaw 6. The Wildcats could only muster up 186 yards of total offense on the night. Osage led 28-6 at the half.

Drexel (2-1) at Osceola (0-3)

Prediction: Drexel gets their must win.
Result: Drexel 28, Osceola 6. Garrett DeWitt hit Joel Higgins for a 53 yard scoring pass for Osceola. Other than that, it was all Drexel who get their shot at Midway next week.

Pleasant Hope (0-3) at Skyline (1-2)

Prediction: 2 wins in a row for Skyline
Result: Skyline 62, Pleasant Hope 13. 192 yards, 4 touchdowns, 16 carries. Ladies & gentlemen, I give you Shawn Bryan of the resurgent Skyline Tigers.

The Bad

Cedar Ridge, AR (0-1) at Diamond (2-1)

Prediction: Diamond falls to the Timberwolves.
Result: Diamond 27, Cedar Ridge 20. Wildcats come from behind in the second half and took the lead for good with 30 seconds remaining on Triston Shepherd’s 4th TD run of the day. He finished with 188 yards on 16 carries.

Stockton (1-2) at Strafford (1-2)

Prediction: This one will be close, but give me the Indians.
Result: Stockton 20, Strafford 12. In probably the biggest mud bowl of the night, Stockton led throughout but never by more than 1 score.

O’Hara (1-2) at Nevada (0-3)

Prediction: O'Hara with the win.
Result: Nevada 28, O'Hara 24. The Tigers get their first win in style coming back from a 24-13 halftime deficit. Payton Bright scored both TDs in the second half including the eventual game winner on a 27 yard run with just over 5 minutes left. The Tigers defense then forced O'Hara to turn it over on downs for the win.

Hillcrest (1-2) at West Plains (1-2)

Prediction: Zizzers and Keegan Hoopes get back on the winning track.
Result: Hillcrest 42, West Plains 28. The Hornets scored 20 points in the 4th quarter to break open a 22-20 game for the win. The Zizzers held a 20-14 lead at the half, but would only score once in the second half.

The Ugly

Miller (1-2) at Jasper (0-3)

Prediction: Miller does enough to win.
Result: Jasper 37, Miller 14. Yeah, they didn't. It was 12-0 Jasper at the half before the Eagles exploded in the second half to run away from Miller for their first win.

Cabool (0-3) at Houston (0-3)

Prediction: After 2 close misses, I think Cabool gets their first win.
Result: Houston 34, Cabool 14. Houston jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and just kept going answering both Cabool scores to keep the Bulldogs at bay.

Player of the Week: Triston Shepherd, RB, Diamond. 16 carries, 188 yards, 4 TDs. After what had to be a crushing loss to Buffalo last week in which Diamond let a 20 point lead get away, Shepherd wouldn't let the Wildcats lose again as he scored twice in each half including the game winner with 30 seconds left.

Honorable Mention: Jon Ramsey, LB, Branson. In their week 3 loss to Carthage, the Pirates senior linebacker set a new team record with 18 tackles including 14 solo tackles.

Record for the Week: 31-6, .838. That's not bad, and I wouldn't change any of my picks if I had to do it again. But it feels like I should have done better.

Overall Record: 125-26, .828. I've yet to have a really big week and I'm just itching for one.