Joboo's State Semifinal Picks

For the final time this year, team's will be looking to extend their season.  3 area teams remain with varying levels of experience in the semifinals.  But it's high school and sometimes experience means nothing.  So who will rise to the moment to play another game in Springfield next week.

CLASS 1

• Lincoln (13-0) at Monroe City (10-3)
•  Unlike the other 2 local entries, Lincoln is here for the first time.  Monroe City has been here & beyond with 2 state titles and 2 runner up finishes.  But those all were in class 2A and the last one was in 1998.  Their last semifinal was in 2001.  But they're confident enough of their chances against Lincoln that they already have a game with Valle Catholic added to their Hudl page.  And they have the right to feel confident as they've played a good schedule.  All of their losses are to class 2 teams including quarterfinalist Centralia, and their last 3 wins have come over teams with a combined record of 27-9.  They are battle tested and throw a number of looks at the opposition.  Pro set, pistol, wishbone, single & double wing, the Panthers will roll out a lot of different run based looks.  They have the weapons to match with speedsters Zach Osborn and Cody Porter offset by bruising backs Cole Pennewell and Logan Minter.  Minter is the beast of the team at 6'2" and 225 pounds.  But QB Blake Hays is a threat throwing the ball as well.  And they have good size on the offensive line and execute very well.
• Prediction: I'm honestly not sure either team can stop the other defensively.  Lincoln's speed and multiple weapons offset the Panthers strength nicely, but Monroe's power running and multiple looks should nullify the Cardinals speed.  I think it comes down to who gets the breaks and who has momentum, and I'm afraid both will favor Monroe City.  I'll take the Panthers.

CLASS 2 

• Lamar (12-0) at Brentwood (11-1)
• Let's think about this game as a match up of superheroes.  For Brentwood, they have the dynamic duo leading the way, Superman and Batman if you will.  We'll call RB Kaylon Jenkins Superman as he has 28 TDs (26 of them rushing), 1,764 yards rushing, and averages 10.9 yards per carry.  Batman will be Justice Harris who has 15 TDs rushing, 9 receiving, 2 on returns, and is the team's 3rd leading tacklers with 89 on the season.  If you want to bring in some more Justice League members QB Skylar Sappington can be Green Lantern after passing for over 1,100 yards, leading tackler Justin Shipley and his 131 tackles is obviously Martian Manhunter, and let's make Jordan Tate and his 110 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks Aquaman.  Just because I like Aquaman.  The Eagles only loss this year was an overtime defeat to class 3 Orchard Farm who finished the season 8-3, and they've score over 60 points 5 times breaking 70 twice.  Lamar would obviously be the Avengers in this example.  Or if you're a Brentwood fan, they're the Legion of Doom, except they don't keep messing up when it looks like their evil plan is about to succeed.  If Lamar was the Legion of Doom, people would be complaining about world overlord Lex Luthor instead of President Trump.
• Prediction: Just as the Avengers are clearly better than the Justice League, Lamar is clearly better than Brentwood.  The Eagles will get some shots in, but barring a Captain America: Civil War type breakdown for Lamar, the Tigers move on. 

CLASS 3

• Monett (12-1) at McCluer South-Berkeley (12-0)
• On the one hand, Berkeley played a pretty 'meh' schedule and dominated them.  Their first 11 opponents had a combined regular season record of 40-58 and the Bulldogs outscored them collectively 449 to 75 while pitching 5 shutouts.  That's good, but you could say that competition wasn't great.  But then came last week when they went to face the undefeated, state-ranked, 2 time state champion Blair Oaks Falcons.  McCluer took them to the woodshed proving that they are legit.  QB Tavian Willis completes a ridiculous 67% of his passes and is a strong dual threat.  While no one player is a dazzling speedster, they have a number of guys who are very fast.  They play lots of single back sets with multiple receivers in a number of configurations.  The defensive focus needs to be on containment and good tackling.  Obviously, that speed translates great on defense but the Cubs can't just try to muscle their way through.  I think the plan should be to pound the Bulldog defense as much as possible as they have a depth advantage, but they have to present passing threats to keep the defense honest.
• Prediction: The Cubs have to avoid what happened to Blair Oaks, not give up a ton of big plays.  They absolutely could be blitzed out of the game early, but I think they keep the score close, and let their superior numbers take over in the 2nd half.  This could be tense, but I think Monett pulls it out.