The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly - Week 7

The real good this week is that I had no ugly picks.  But that makes the bad even worse as all of my misses except 1 were by 7 or less.  Oh well.  As the Stranger said in the Big Lebowski "Sometimes you eat the bar, and sometimes the bar eats you."

Big wins this week for Lamar, Lockwood, Ozark, Carthage, Greenfield, and of course Mt. Vernon who defeated Aurora in the Bell Bowl.  Great rebound wins from Lebanon, Cass-Midway, Ash Grove, Diamond, and Cassville.  And a close but no cigar to Liberal, Joplin, West Plains, Archie, Sarcoxie, Strafford, Willard, and El Dorado Springs who were all victimized by comebacks.  We'll plan our comeback for next week while you enjoy this 'closer than a politician and their financial records' version of...

The Good

• Lamar (5-0) Class 2 #1 at Valle Catholic (6-0) Class 1 #1 – Saturday
• Prediction: Lamar's defensive backfield should be able to keep the passing damage to a minimum which should keep the Warriors within range.  Even if they go up early, I think the Tiger's depth and physicality will wear them down in the end.  I think Lamar wins comfortably, but not by turbo clock.
• Result: Lamar 50, Valle Catholic 13.  It looked like the kind of game I was expecting for a while as Valle scored first and were down just 21-7 approaching halftime with Lamar hitting a couple of big plays and a fumble return to score. But Luke Hardman punched in his 3rd TD of the game with 38 seconds remaining in the half and the rout was on. Stuart McKarus went 7 of 7 passing for Lamar for 177 yards and 2 TDs both to Hardman.  The first covering 64 yards and the second 73.  McKarus added 135 yards and a TD on the ground.
• Nixa (5-1) at Carthage (5-1) Class 5 #9
• Prediction: Nixa will be looking to bounce back from their loss last week, but I believe Carthage has proven they are the team to beat in the COC.  Tigers win.
• Result: Carthage 26, Nixa 7.  The race isn't over yet, but you have to recognize that Carthage is the best team in the COC Large right now.  A dominating performance for Carthage as Nixa's only score came on a 93 yard Sean Sample kickoff return.  That was in the 3rd after Carthage had built a 19-0 lead on 3 Keith Guest to Arkell Smith TD passes.  Smith would finish with 145 yards receiving while Guest passed for 220 and rushed for 148.
• Ava (4-2) at Thayer (4-2) Class 1 #10
• Prediction: Thayer is going to be a tough out in class 1, but I think Ava gets them here.
• Result: Ava 34, Thayer 19.  Ava broke away from a 6-6 tie to lead 20-6 at the half.  It would stay that way until the first play of the 4th quarter when Thayer scored to make it 20-13.  But Ava would score twice in less than a minute with just under 3 minutes to go to ice the game.
• Salem (4-2) at Mountain Grove (5-1) Class 2 #6
• Prediction: Grove bounces back well.
• Result: Mountain Grove 55, Salem 0.  105 yards and 2 TDs for Trystan Short as the Panthers made quick work of Salem busting open a 13-0 game with 28 2nd quarter points.
• Aurora (1-5) at Mt. Vernon (4-2)
• Prediction: The Mountaineers may be the 3rd best team in the Big 8.  They win.
• Result: Mt. Vernon 42, Aurora 28.  The Mountaineers led 28-14 at the half and 35-14 before Aurora added a pair of scores in the 4th.  Garrett Hadlock passed for 283 yards and 3 TDs, Sammy Robinson rushed for 163 and a score, and kicker Jayden Buttram hit field goals of 42 and 44 yards.
• Greenfield (6-0) at Northwest (Hughesville) (3-2)
• Prediction: Northwest lost 66-6 to Sacred Heart who Greenfield beat by 18 in week 2.  Greenfield stays unbeaten.
• Result: Greenfield 88, Northwest 22.  And the northwest corner of the state is officially on notice that the Wildcats can play 8-man.  572 yards of offense from Greenfield with Charles Servoss going for 265 yards and 5 TDs rushing.  For good measure, he also completed a 37 yard TD pass.  Jerrett Esposito with 4 sacks, 7 tackles, and 2 TFL.
• Cabool (0-6) at Mt. View-Liberty (6-0) Class 2 #2
• Prediction: It would take a big letdown from last week to make them vulnerable.  Liberty wins.
• Result: Mt. View-Liberty 50, Cabool 0.  Just 8-0 after the opening stanza, Liberty got untracked in the second to lead 36-0 at the half.  Brenton Bush picked up 11 catches for 186 yards and 2 TDs all in that first half.  Josh Pruett with 275 yards passing and 3 TDs.  While Marco Rodriguez beat up the Bulldog defense for 155 yards and 3 TDs on just 14 carries.
• Fair Grove (6-0) Class 2 #8 at Marionville (2-4)
• Prediction: Eagles clinch with a win.
• Result: Fair Grove 59, Marionville 21.  The Comets struck first with just seconds left in the first quarter to make it 7-0.  But Dalton Cloyd would add 2 TD runs and caught a TD pass to help make it 36-7 at the half.  Cloyd would also score on a 75 yard return to start the second half and the Eagles had the game well in hand.  Evan Fullerton with a pair of touchdown catches from Brayden Lumley.
• Lighthouse Christian (4-2) at Springfield Central (0-6)
• Prediction: I want to say Central wins, but they just look down & out.  Chargers.
• Result: Lighthouse Christian 48, Springfield Central 32.  Still winless, but the Bulldogs kept firing away despite falling behind 34-14 in the second quarter.  Pulling within a single score in the third, then getting within 42-32 in the 4th before Bryant Taylor punched in his 5th TD run of the game to seal the deal.  156 yards on the ground and 193 passing for Taylor.  Central got a huge game from freshman Montrey White who scored 4 times while rushing for 278 yards on 24 carries.
• Warsaw (0-6) at Hallsville (2-4)
• Prediction: Hallsville is still just a little too good for the Wildcats.
• Result: Hallsville 51, Warsaw 6.  Hallsville was a lot too good.  20-0 lead for them at the half was more than enough as the Wildcats struggle to find offense.  Keegan Glenn with 130 yards rushing and a TD for Warsaw.
• Seneca (3-3) at Cassville (4-2)
• Prediction: Cassville stays strong and wins.
• Result: Cassville 59, Seneca 26.  Closer than the final score looks as Seneca trailed 35-26 entering the 4th quarter.  But River Phelps picked up his touchdown rampage scoring 6 times while rushing for 258 yards. 
• Jasper (1-5) at Liberal (1-5)
• Prediction: I think Jasper is a tough matchup for Liberal.  Eagles win.
• Result: Jasper 27, Liberal 16.  Jasper lead 6-0 going into the 2nd quarter but Liberal found paydirt twice for a 16-12 halftime lead.  That would hold until Jasper's Byron Stevens would run one in from 35 yards out in the fourth to take the lead back.  Jasper would add an insurance TD for good measure.  Stevens finished with 135 yards on the ground.
• Kickapoo (5-1) Class 6 #8 at West Plains (2-4)
• Prediction: Kickapoo holds off the Zizzers.
• Result: Kickapoo 42, West Plains 21.  Not only did the Chiefs have to hold off the Zizzers, they had to come from behind as West Plains led 21-17 at the half.  But it was all Chiefs from there.  The Zizzers held Maverick McGee to just 48 yards, but Chris Lawson rushed for 129 and a TD.  Robbie Merced added 2 TDs and 112 yards receiving.  Defensively, Sam Gleason had 18 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery for the Chiefs.  Keegan Hoopes with 135 yards and 2 TDs for West Plains.
• Cass-Midway (5-1) at Rich Hill (1-5)
• Prediction: The Vikings get the win and some momentum.
• Result: Cass-Midway 44, Rich Hill 21.  The Vikings busted out to a 21-7 first quarter lead and that stood at halftime.  In the second half, Midway just held Rich Hill at bay before extending the lead in the final quarter.
• Hollister (3-3) at Springfield Catholic (3-3)
• Prediction: Catholic wins at home.
• Result: Springfield Catholic 45, Hollister 7.  38-0 at the half and that was all there was.  The Irish again break the 400 yard mark rushing as Tyson Riley goes for 153 yards and 5 TDs on just 12 carries while Ramiro Avila got 158 and 1 TD on 16 touches.
• Adrian (3-3) at Osceola (0-6)
• Prediction: Adrian keeps Osceola winless.
• Result: Adrian 35, Osceola 12.  21-12 at the half, but the Indians would not score again as they would accumulate only 143 yards of offense.  Adrian would almost double that in rushing yards with Hunter Steen going for 189 and 3 TDs.  The Blackhawks picked off 3 Osceola passes and recovered a fumble as well.
• Buffalo (2-4) at Bolivar (3-3)
• Prediction: Liberators move above .500.
• Result: Bolivar 55, Buffalo 0.  Connor Sechler was 7 of 9 passing for 165 yards and 4 TDs all in the first half as the Liberators led 49-0.  That put's Sechler over the 20 TD pass mark for the 3rd time.  Lane Loomer added 141 yards and 2 TDs rushing also in the first half.
• Ash Grove (5-1) at Pleasant Hope (0-6)
• Prediction: They won't.  AG wins.
• Result: Ash Grove 55, Pleasant Hope 0.  Now that's an aggressive bounce back.  Spencer Eagleburger scores 4 times in the first quarter as the Pirates explode to a 35-0 1st quarter lead.  They would go up 55-0 at the half.
• Skyline (3-3) at Strafford (2-4)
• Prediction: Tigers do their part and beat Strafford.
• Result: Skyline 35, Strafford 28.  In a game where almost every score resulted in a lead change, Skyline came up with the last score and then a defensive stop.  Shawn Bryan opened the scoring with a TD catch and closed it out that way with the go ahead 23 yard winner in the 4th.  In between he rushed for 256 yards and 2 more TDs.  But the Indians still had a chance to win it driving deep into Skyline territory.  But facing a 4th down from the Skyline 24, Justin Sons broke through to sack Indian QB Kensen White to preserve the victory. 
• Rolla (1-5) at Glendale (6-0) Class 5 #3
• Prediction: Falcons win.
• Result: Glendale 56, Rolla 21.  Luke Montgomery was the show racking up 224 yards receiving including a 96 yard TD strike to open the scoring.  He also hauled in a 77 yarder also in the 1st quarter.  42-7 at the half and the Falcons keep rolling.
• McDonald County (0-6) at Monett (5-1) Class 3 #4
• Prediction: Cubs keep winning.
• Result: Monett 35, McDonald County 0.  A slow start for Monett as it was a scoreless game after the first quarter, but 21 2nd quarter points combined with scores on their first 2 drives of the 3rd quarter kicked the turbo clock on for the Cubs.
• Waynesville (0-6) at Camdenton (4-2)
• Prediction: Nope, Lakers win.
• Result: Camdenton 50, Waynesville 6.  Waynesville took their first lead of the year with a 31 yard TD pass from Braden Drehle to Tyler Pouncey to lead 6-0 at the end of the 1st quarter.  But the Lakers would score 3 times in the 2nd period and 4 times in the 3rd to end hopes of an upset.  Jay Griffin with over 150 yards rushing and 3 TDs for the Lakers.
• Carl Junction (4-2) Class 4 #5 at Willard (1-5)
• Prediction: Hard luck continues for Willard.  Bulldogs win.
• Result: Carl Junction 24, Willard 20.  Not the prettiest game for CJ but they come from behind for the win.  They had a touchdown called back by penalty after returning the opening kickoff to the house.  Then Willard scored 14 points off of 2 turnovers in building a 20-7 lead.  But they fired out of the locker room scoring 17 points in the 3rd to take the lead.  Then the Bulldog defense stepped up first stopping Willard after a 19 play drive, then Michael Elbert picked off the potential game winning touchdown pass with just seconds left to play.
• Willow Springs (3-3) at Houston (1-5)
• Prediction: Could be a close one, but the Bears win.
• Result: Willow Springs 40, Houston 18.  Closer than the final score as Houston led 12-0 early and trailed just 21-18 in the 3rd quarter before the Bears rolled off the last 19 points.
• Drexel (4-2) at Sherwood (0-6)
• Prediction: Drexel wins.
• Result: Drexel 58, Sherwood 22.  The Bobcats jumped out to a 39-0 first quarter lead on their way to 46-16 halftime edge and it was academic from there.
• Neosho (4-2) at Rogersville (3-3)
• Prediction: Neosho drops the Wildcats.
• Result: Neosho 53, Rogersville 0.  Never a game as Neosho led 20-0 after 1 and 39-0 at the half.  Senior James Goff rushed for 133 yard and 2 TDs for Neosho.
• Diamond (4-2) at Miller (2-4)
• Prediction: Diamond takes it.
• Result: Diamond 47, Miller 8.  Miller would only score via an interception returned for a touchdown.  Other than that, it was all Wildcats.  Tristan Shepherd with a pair of TDs on a 8 yard run and 50 yard interception return.
• Stockton (3-3) at Butler (5-1)
• Prediction: Butler drops Stockton below .500.
• Result: Butler 39, Stockton 8.  Stockton scored to pull within 13-8 with just over a minute to go in the first half.  But an unsuccessful onside kick let Butler score once.  And an interception then facemask penalty on a play that would have ended the half let Butler score again for an 18 point halftime lead instead of 5 points.  They would add 2 more TDs in the 3rd to ice it.
• Nevada (2-4) at DeSoto, KS (3-1)
• Prediction: DeSoto drops Nevada.
• Result: DeSoto, KS 35, Nevada 0.  DeSoto powered their way through Nevada leading 14-0 after the first period.  The Tigers would hold there until the 3rd when DeSoto again found the end zone twice to put the game away.
• Slater (1-4) at Lincoln (6-0) Class 1 #4
• Prediction: Cover the eyes of the children.  Lincoln.
• Result: Lincoln 60, Slater 6.  Not as bad as I thought it would be, but still an easy win for Lincoln.  They led 32-0 after 1 and 52-0 at the half.
• East Newton (1-5) at El Dorado Springs (2-4)
• Prediction: East Newton gets win #2.
• Result: East Newton 31, El Dorado Springs 30.  The Patriots led 16-14 after 1, but failed to score in the 2nd even though they were inside the Bulldog 10 yard line twice.  ElDo took a 22-16 lead at the half and they would increase their lead to 30-16 with 4:38 left in the third period.  But Brett Pendergraff returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards to make it 30-24.  And Coleman Booker would score on a 12 yard run to take the lead with 8:22 left in the game.  East Newton would lock up the win when they forced and recovered a Bulldog fumble with under a minute to play.
• Marshfield (2-4) at Reeds Spring (5-1)
• Prediction: Almost home, Wolves win.
• Result: Reeds Spring 36, Marshfield 8.   Steady balanced effort from the Wolves as they led 21-0 at the half and pulled away in the second half for their 4th straight win over Reeds Spring.  5 different Wolves scored.

The Bad

• Lockwood (4-1) at Sarcoxie (5-1)
• Prediction: Sarcoxie looks to be the cream of the crop in the Spring River.  I think they take it at home.
• Result: Lockwood 28, Sarcoxie 16.  Great win for Lockwood after trailing 10-0 early to the Bears.  They used a 4 yard TD run from former bear Jobe Edwards, then a 73 yard score from Edwards to take a 14-10 lead into the half.  Lockwood would add 2 more scores before Sarcoxie finally found the end zone again with 58 remaining in the game.  125 yards and 3 TDs for Edwards as Lockwood forces a 3-way tie atop the SRVC.
• Ozark (4-2) at Webb City (4-2) Class 4 #4
• Prediction: The Tigers have shown some defensive vulnerability lately.  The Cardinals will make them pay.  Webb for the win.
• Result: Ozark 17, Webb City 12. The turnover bug hit again keeping the Cardinals from making Ozark pay as the Tigers got their 1st win ever over Webb.  The third Cardinal turnover of the night game Ozark the ball on the 27 of Webb where they took 10 plays to go in for a 17-6 lead.  A 65 yard Hunter Vanlue TD run was the Cardinals response to make it 17-12, and a Tiger fumble would give them the ball on the Ozark 17 with a chance to take the lead.  But Ozark would keep them out of the end zone to preserve the win.
• Lebanon (4-2) at Joplin (4-2)
• Prediction: Toughest pick of the week, but I'm going with Joplin.
• Result: Lebanon 42, Joplin 35. Joplin jumped out to a 21-0 lead with just under 12 minutes left in the second quarter before Lebanon exploded for 3 TDs in 4 minutes to tie the game.  Joplin would answer to make it 28-21 at the half, then go up 35-21 with 4:48 remaining in the 3rd.  Que another Lebanon run.  John Berry scored his second TD of the game with 30 seconds left in the 3rd, his 3rd with 8:14 left to tie the game at 35, then broke a 71 yard run down to the Joplin 1 yard line allowing Cole Breeden to give Lebanon with a 1 yard plunge with 6:09 left.  The Yellowjacket defense would rise up and stop Joplin on their last 2 possessions to win the game.  Berry finished with 217 yards on the ground with Hunter Bray adding 144.
• Parkview (2-4) at Hillcrest (2-4)
• Prediction: I'll go with Parkview to get back on the winning side.
• Result: Hillcrest 31, Parkview 24. Parkview took an 8-7 lead early in the 2nd quarter only to see Hillcrest run off 18 straight points for the 25-8 lead in the 3rd.  After Parkview pulled within 25-16, Hornet QB Eric Savage would seal the win with a 12 yard rushing score (his second of the game) midway through the final quarter.  Savage would finish with 202 yards on the ground.
• Branson (1-5) at Republic (2-4)
• Prediction: Tigers take it.
• Result: Branson 21, Republic 14.  Break up the Pirates!  Branson again turned to the run game getting scores on the ground from Luke Masters and the eventual game winner from Chad Utzman in the 3rd to get their first 2 game winning streak since weeks 1 & 2 of 2014.  Utzman's 9 yard run was the only score of the second half.
• Archie (1-5) at Appleton City (4-2)
• Prediction: Now that the bad luck is off their back, I like Archie.
• Result: Appleton City 33, Archie 26.  I can't talk about it. Archie rallied from an 18-13 halftime deficit to take a 26-25 lead in the third quarter.  But their luck hasn't changed yet as Appleton City scored late to get the win.

The Ugly

•  Nothing but crickets here this week.  And not the talking all the time crickets like Jiminy.  The crickets that shut up when they see you coming.

Player of the Week: Montrey White, RB, Springfield Central - 24 carries, 278 yards, 4 TDs.  It's easy to play well when you have everything ahead of you to play for.  Playing for pride can be one of the hardest things to do.  But Central's freshman running back did it in a great way Thursday night as White had touchdown runs of 27, 46, 46, and 95 yards to help keep the Bulldogs in the game against Lighthouse Christian.  Hopefully this is just the beginning of great things for Mr. White.

Record for the Week: 32-6, .842.  Pretty good, and even better when you consider how close the misses were.

Overall Record: 217-50, .813.  Still batting over .800 which is pretty middle of the road for me.