The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly - Week 9

The regular season is in the books and here are your conference champions.

Big 8: Lamar
COC Large: Carthage
COC Small: Bolivar, Reeds Spring, Springfield Catholic
Mid-Lakes: Fair Grove
SCA: Mt. View-Liberty
SRVC: Diamond
WEMO: Cass-Midway

Now anyone who picked those teams as your conference champions before the season started, please raise your hand so we can see who the liars are out there.  In fact, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who would have guessed those results Friday at about 7 PM.  But if we knew how all the games were going to turn out beforehand, we wouldn't watch.

District brackets are now set, the playoffs are here, and everyone has a chance to bring home a state title as long as they keep winning.  So sit down and take one last peek at the regular season with a 'Let the games begin' edition of...

The Good

• Lincoln (8-0) at Cole Camp (7-1)
• Prediction: Both teams are better than last year when Lincoln won 32-6.  But I think Lincoln does the better job shutting down the opposing offense and wins it comfortably.
• Result: Lincoln 46, Cole Camp 0.  The Cardinal defense showed their mettle with a shutout of the Bluebirds.  Blake Roberts returned 2 interceptions for TDs as Lincoln went up 24-0 at the half. 
• Camdenton (6-2) at Glendale (8-0)
• Prediction: I could see a scenario where this is the closest game Glendale has had all year, but I can't see one where the Falcons lose.
• Result: Glendale 63, Camdenton 35.  Toughest challenge the Falcons have had all year as Camdenton pulled within 7 at 42-35 early in the 4th quarter.  But they would not score again and Glendale ran off 21 straight to end the game.  Alex Huston with 515 yards and 7 TDs passing, 3 of those to Luke Montgomery who caught 9 passes for 137 yards.
• Carthage (7-1) at Neosho (5-3)
• Prediction: This should be an upset special, but I don't think so with the way Carthage is playing.  They win.
• Result: Carthage 35, Neosho 21. Neosho kept it interesting leading most of the first half but Carthage would tie it at 14 with 20 seconds left in the half, then scored 14 unanswered in the 3rd.  Neosho would pull within 28-21 with over 8 minutes to go.  But Carthage would kill off 7 minutes and score to seal their first COC Large title.
• Carl Junction (6-2) at Nixa (5-3)
• Prediction: Another close one for Nixa, but CJ wins.
• Result: Carl Junction 47, Nixa 14.  Not close at all as CJ took just 8 minutes to score 20 points to lead 20-0 ultimately going up 34-7 at the half.  Rayquion Weston with 200 yards and 2 TDs rushing.
• Greenfield (8-0) at North Shelby (4-4)
• Prediction: Greenfield wins, but it may take them a quarter to get going.
• Result: Greenfield 72, North Shelby 6.  Yep they started slow giving up 6 points in the first quarter.  Of course they scored 22 of their own and doubled that by halftime.
• Willow Springs (5-3) at Ava (6-2)
• Prediction: Give me Ava.
• Result: Ava 61, Willow Springs 27.  Ava led 21-0 just 5 minutes into the game after only 4 offensive plays.  They upped the lead to 34-6 at the half as they dominated.
• Mt. Vernon (5-3) at Cassville (6-2)
• Prediction: I'll go with the Wildcats to defend the home turf.
• Result: Cassville 30, Mt. Vernon 29.  6 lead changes after the Mountaineers returned a fumble for the first score of the game.  Cassville scored with 7:21 remaining on a 1 yard Shannon Haney run to go up 30-29.  Mt. Vernon drove and lined up for a game winning 20 yard field but the Wildcats blocked it to save the win.
• Lighthouse Christian (6-2) at Summit Christian (7-1)
• Prediction: Too much for the Chargers to handle.  Summit wins.
• Result: Summit Christian 60, Lighthouse Christian 20.  Summit led 32-6 at the half and it was academic from there as the Chargers wrap up MSHSAA competition.
• Rogersville (3-5) at Buffalo (2-6)
• Prediction: Rogersville with a good road win.
• Result: Rogersville 42, Buffalo 26.  A neck & neck game until Buffalo blinked first as Rogersville ran an interception back for a touchdown with 16 seconds left in the first half for a 20-13 lead.  The Wildcats would score first in the second half and the teams would trade scores most of the rest of the way.
• Mountain Grove (7-1) at Thayer (4-4)
• Prediction: Mountain Grove.
• Result: Mountain Grove 63, Thayer 8. Carter Otwell with 224 yards and 3 TDs on the ground, Chance Barbe added 154 rushing yards and 2 TDs as the Panthers amassed over 600 yards of offense.
• Aurora (1-7) at McDonald County (0-8)
• Prediction: This feels like McDonald County but something is holding me back.  Aurora wins.
• Result: Aurora 28, McDonald County 14.  The Houn Dawgs scored 4 times via Payton Evans to Preston Naylor TD passes as they came back from a 14-7 first quarter deficit. 
• Parkview (2-6) at Lebanon (5-3)
• Prediction: Yellowjackets win.
• Result: Lebanon 47, Parkview 29.  Parkview made it interesting as they took a 29-28 lead with less than a minute left in the 3rd, then Lebanon would dominate the 4th as John Berry finished with 319 yards and 4 TDs rushing.  Cole Breeden added 3 TDs and 103 yards.
• Adrian (5-3) at Fair Grove (8-0)
• Prediction: Blackhawks fail as Fair Grove rolls.
• Result: Fair Grove 60, Adrian 6.  Leading only 10-6 with just under 8 minutes left in the first half, Fair Grove exploded to make it 30-6 at halftime and end any upset hopes.  6 different Eagles scored with Austin Fodge and Dalton Cloyd each scoring twice.
• Republic (2-6) at Willard (2-6)
• Prediction: Give me Willard at home.
• Result: Willard 40, Republic 7.  Have we mentioned that Willard is better than their record?  They led 33-0 at the half as the Willard defense held Republic to just over 100 yards of offense.  Willard now has a 2 game winning streak going into district play.
• Rich Hill (1-7) at Liberal (1-7)
• Prediction: Give me Liberal.
• Result: Liberal 28, Rich Hill 22.  Tyler Stebbins scored his 3rd TD of the night with 8:48 remaining to put Liberal up and they held on from there as Rich Hill had 4th and 5 from the Bulldog 7 with a chance to score, but Liberal came up with a sack to end the game.
• Ash Grove (6-2) at Strafford (2-6)
• Prediction: Strafford defense stifles the Pirates for the win.
• Result: Strafford 33, Ash Grove 7.  Kensen White with a rushing TD and 2 TD passes to lead the Indians, but it was the Strafford defense that was the star holding the Pirates scoreless until 7:44 of the 4th quarter.
• Warsaw (0-8) at Blair Oaks (8-0)
• Prediction: Blair Oaks.
• Result: Blair Oaks 45, Warsaw 6.  24-0 lead for the Falcons at the end of the 1st was more than enough for the win.
• Miller (2-6) at Appleton City (6-2)
• Prediction: Some more people learn about Billy Prater as App City wins.
• Result: Appleton City 33, Miller 14.  On a night when Billy Prater struggled passing, Tyler Foley took over with 174 yards and 2 TDs rushing. Prater still added 2 TDs on the ground.
• Cass-Midway (7-1) at Sherwood (0-8)
• Prediction: No merry men in Sherwood tonight.  Midway easily wins.
• Result: Cass-Midway 62, Sherwood 0.  Midway rolled to a 41-0 halftime lead and cruised from there as the Vikings have looked great since their loss to Butler.
• Lone Jack (2-6) at Drexel (5-3)
• Prediction: Drexel wins a tough one.
• Result: Drexel 58, Lone Jack 26.  Ty Woltkamp goes over 2,000 yards rushing going to 283 yards and 3 TDs as Drexel rolls.  QB Keegan Nichols adds 120 yards, and 2 TDs on the ground and an 80 yard KO return for a score.
• Webb City (5-3) at Branson (2-6)
• Prediction: Webb City with the road win.
• Result: Webb City 55, Branson 14.  456 yards rushing for the Cardinals as they powered away from a 21-14 lead in the first half shutting our Branson for the rest of the game,
• Archie (2-6) at Diamond (6-2)
• Prediction: Diamond closes the regular season with a win.
• Result: Diamond 43, Archie 7.  The Wildcats just rolled going up 43-0 before Archie scored. They led 21-0 at the half with all the points coming off of Whirlwind turnovers.
• Hollister (4-4) at Marshfield (2-6)
• Prediction: Probably shouldn't, but I'm going with Hollister.
• Result: Hollister 28, Marshfield 14.  The Tigers jumped out to a 20-0 halftime lead to secure their first winning regular season.  Jackson Bekemeier with 3 rushing TDs and 106 yards.
• Marionville (2-6) at Stockton (4-4)
• Prediction: Stockton wins a low scoring game.
• Result: Stockton 41, Marionville 20.  The Comets stayed with striking distance until Stockton put it away with just over 6 minutes to go.
• Waynesville (0-8) at Kickapoo (7-1)
• Prediction: Kickapoo stays focused for the win.
• Result: Kickapoo 43 Waynesville 0.  Kickapoo keeps rolling without Maverick McGee.  Chris Lawson rushed for 2 TDs and tossed a touchdown pass to lead the way.
• East Newton (3-5) at Monett (7-1)
• Prediction: Monett holds off the Patriots at home.
• Result: Monett 56, East Newton 13.  The Cubs left no doubt about this one early as they led 28-0 after the 1st and 56-0 before the Patriots would score.
• Mt. View-Liberty (8-0) at Houston (1-7)
• Prediction: No problems for Liberty.
• Result: Mt. View-Liberty 55, Houston 15.  28-0 after the 1st and 47-0 at halftime.  Marcos Rodriguez had 122 yards and 2 TDs on just 4 carries.
• Nevada (2-6) at Clinton (6-2)
• Prediction: Clinton wins handily.
• Result: Clinton 49, Nevada 20.  Clinton opened up a 28-6 lead at the half and kept the hammer down scoring in every quarter.
• Bolivar (5-3) at Ozark (6-2)
• Prediction: Ozark holds on to win.
• Result: Ozark 34, Bolivar 12.  Bolivar scored late in the 3rd to pull within 20-12 but Ozark would keep them out of the endzone from there.  Nate Burlage had 172 yards and 2 touchdowns rushing for Ozark.  Lane Loomer had 171 yards and a TD on the ground for Bolivar.
• Chaminade (6-1) at Springfield Central (0-8)
• Prediction: Chaminade.
• Result: Chaminade 37, Springfield Central 0.  It was 37-0 at the half.  Moving on.
• Seneca (3-5) at Lamar (7-0)
• Prediction: No.  Lamar wins.
• Result: Lamar 49, Seneca 6.  Lamar led 14-0 after the 1st quarter but blew the game open with 29 2nd quarter points.  Game over and a 2nd straight Big 8 championship for Lamar.
• El Dorado Springs (3-5) at Skyline (5-3)
• Prediction: Skyline rolls at home.
• Result: Skyline 50, El Dorado Springs 42.  The Tigers couldn't shake the Bulldogs.  They scored 14 twice in the 2nd quarter to turn a 16-14 deficit into a 28-14 lead.  ElDo would make it 28-22 at the half, then trailing 36-22, they answered with their own 14-0 run to tie the game with under 9 minutes to play.  Skyline took a 44-36 lead only to see the Bulldogs make it a 2 point game with 3 minutes remaining. But their 2 point conversion was no good.  Skyline would score with 1:42 remaining but their conversion attempt was no good leaving the door open.  But Skyline would finally get the stop to secure the win.  Shawn Bryan with 6 TDs on the ground and a TD catch.  Dayton Austin with 3 rushing TDs and 360 yards including an 82 strike to open the scoring for the Bulldogs.
• Rolla (1-7) at West Plains (3-5)
• Prediction: West Plains gets the win.
• Result: West Plains 28, Rolla 6.  245 yards and 2 touchdowns for Keegan Hoopes as he goes over 2,000 yards for the season. The Zizzers led 14-6 at the half and wouldn't allow Rolla to score again.
• Cabool (0-8) at Salem (4-4)
• Prediction: Salem does enough to win.
• Result: Salem 39, Cabool 7.  J.J. McGowan and Xavier Elwood each scored twice for Salem as they pulled away from a 7-7 2nd quarter tie.

The Bad

• Reeds Spring (7-1) at Springfield Catholic (5-3)
• Prediction: The Irish score some points, but they can't slow down Reeds Spring.  Wolves win.
• Result: Springfield Catholic 16, Reeds Spring 14.  The Wolves gained more than twice as many yards as the Irish but this game came down to 2 field goals.  Ryan Miller hit a 37 yard attempt in the second quarter for a 10-7 lead and it would turn out to be the difference as the Irish blocked a 31 yard attempt by Reeds Spring to win the game and claim a share of the COC Small championship.  Blake Gronvold had 21 yards and a TD to lead the Wolves.  He also tossed a TD pass.
• Osceola (0-8) at Pleasant Hope (0-8)
• Prediction: This could be a whale of a game, but I think Osceola gets it.
• Result: Pleasant Hope 20, Osceola 18.  148 yards and 1 TD rushing for the Indians Blake Murray, but it was the Pirates hanging on down the stretch for their first win.
• Joplin (4-4) at Hillcrest (4-4)
• Prediction: I like the Hornets to win at home.
• Result: Joplin 38, Hillcrest 35.  A complete stat fest with over 1,000 yards of offense was also a great game as Hillcrest pulled within 3 points 3 times in the second half but couldn't get past Joplin.  Haden Parton passed for 421yds and 4 TDs for Hillcrest.  For Joplin Dustin Hunter had 196 yards rushing, Jokiem Crawford 144 yards and 3 TDs, and Chris Jones 113 yards and 2 TDs.
• Jasper (2-6) at Lockwood (7-1)
• Prediction: Lockwood makes it a co-championship at least.
• Result: Jasper 21, Lockwood 19.  The Eagles ran out to a 21-0 halftime lead but had to withstand the Lockwood storm in the second half.  Lockwood reeled in Jasper scoring with under 7 minutes to go to make it 21-19 and had a chance to win it, but Jasper picked off a Lockwood pass in the end zone late in the game to hold them off.

The Ugly

• Sarcoxie (5-2) at Pierce City (3-3)
• Prediction: Sarcoxie is focused and they win.
• Result: Pierce City 42, Sarcoxie 28.  The second quarter was the difference in this one.  Tied at 7 after the first, the Eagles found the end zone twice while holding Sarcoxie scoreless to go into the half up 21-7.  The Bears would score first in the 3rd to pull within 7, but Pierce City stretched the lead to 35-14 going into the 4th and it was too much for Sarcoxie to overcome.

Player of the Week: Alex Huston, QB, Glendale - 36-49 passing, 515 yards, 7 TD, 1 INT

• The Falcons were facing the most serious challenge to their undefeated season yet as Camdenton had pulled to within 42-35 early in the 4th quarter with 14 straight points.  With momentum on the Lakers side and 11:12 to go, Huston had a 4th quarter most quarterbacks would take in place of a whole game.  Huston went 14-19 in the final frame passing for 215 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Falcons slammed the door on the Lakers upset hopes.  If your one remaining question about Glendale was 'How will they respond under pressure?', Huston gave you your answer.

Record for the Week: 34-5, .872.  I'm greedy and want to do better, but that's not bad.

Overall Record: 286-60, .827.  My internal dialogue.  Me - "Oh my gosh!  I've missed 60 games this year!"  Me 2- "Yeah, but I've picked almost 350 games."  Me - "Oh....  OK then."