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

Friday night brought the district season to a close and chances are that if you weren't a #1 seed, your season is done. Statewide through all classes, #1 seeds won 35 of the 48 districts being contested, tied for the most ever under the present system. 9 #2 seeds won leaving just 4 titles for teams seeded #3 or below. In fact only 11 #3 seeds and 6 teams seeded #4 or below even played for a district title. In that regard, it was the most predictable district season ever. Or you can say that MSHSAA has done a good job with the district ranking system, but that's probably too much for most people to admit.

For me, having #1 & #2 seeds win the majority of the titles is as it should be. When you try to rank their entire season the teams that claim those spots should be the best in their respective districts. It's the disparity between #1 and #2 seeds I find puzzling. When #1 and #2 seeds play, the #1 comes out on top way more than they should. In a large tournament situation such as this, a 2 to 1 win ratio favoring the #1 seeds is fairly standard. Over the 5 years of this district setup, in #1 vs #2 match ups #1 seeds have a record of 107-42, or better than 2.5 to 1. That's a significant difference over a 5 year sample size. And this year was even worse as #1 seeds had an almost 3 to 1 win ratio vs #2s going 23-8.

There was a bit of excitement this year though as we had the most teams seeded #4 or below win a district title with 2, tying 2012. Rockhurst in class 6 and Plattsburg in class 1 each beat a #2 seed to take their district. But that's it. They become only the 5th and 6th teams seeded #4 or below to win a district in the 5 years of this system. Yeah, the end results were a little boring. And for some of you, I'm sure the numbers above were even more boring. But what wasn't boring were the actual games Friday night as we had some great contests, and some HUGE performances. So grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and take it all in as you read this 'highly predictable'....

The Good

Thayer (6-5) at Ash Grove (8-3)

Prediction: Thayer has the team speed to contain the Pirates and the weapons to put up enough points. I'm taking the Bobcats.
Result: Thayer 6, Ash Grove 0. A 40 yard Ayden Stone to Austin Bowers pass set up Garrett Young's 6 yard TD run with just under 5 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, and that was all the Bobcats needed as Thayer repelled every Pirate scoring chance. That included a drive in which Ash Grove recovered a fumble to start at the Thayer 15 late in the game. But linebacker Danny Gorham broke through on 3rd & 11 to register a sack and a loss of 16 yards to keep the Pirates from finding the end zone and secure the 2nd straight district title for Thayer.

Lockwood (8-2) at Cass-Midway (10-1)

Prediction: The Vikings have been getting it done all year, I think they do it here.
Result: Cass-Midway 42, Lockwood 20. The Tigers came out hot taking the initial lead on a 44 yard halfback pass from Paxton Masterson to Brady Waters, then after the Vikings scored twice to take a 13-7 lead, a 66 yard Will Beerly to Logan Sparkman catch & run put Lockwood up 14-13. But Peyton Richardson was too much for Lockwood scoring 5 times and rushing for 248 yards as the Viking ran off 29 straight points before Lockwood would score again.

Skyline (8-3) at Lincoln (11-0)

Prediction: The Cardinals have the tools on defense to contain Skyline. Their offense should be able to cover whatever they defense allows. Lincoln wins.
Result: Lincoln 58, Skyline 28. The Tigers got off to a flying start with an 85 yard kickoff return by Shawn Bryan to take a 6-0 lead. But 2 Boone Kroenke TD runs sandwiched around a 40 yard scoop and score by Caleb Smith put Lincoln up 22-6 with just over a minute to go in the 1st. Skyline would fight back to tie the game at 22. And after Kroenke found Bobby Williams for a 52 yard score and 30-22 lead, Trevor Russell would get Skyline within 30-28 with his 2nd TD run of the first half. But Skyline would not score again while Lincoln kept the pedal to the metal with Dominic Simmons returning the ensuing kickoff 87 yards for a score. Kroenke would add his 3rd TD run of the first half to make it 44-28 at the break and would finish with 201 yards on the ground. Derek Stephens would add 120 yards and a TD on the ground while Mason Sanders had 3 catches for 127 yards and a TD.

Mountain Grove (10-1) at Mt. View-Liberty (11-0)

Prediction: Look for the Panthers to try to go physical, but I think the Eagles pull it out.
Result: Mt. View-Liberty 26, Mountain Grove 25. A classic between these 2 as they were never separated by more than a single score. The last of 4 lead changes came with just over 6 and a half minutes left in the 3rd when Liberty QB Josh Pruett ran for his 2nd TD of the game to put his team up 20-19. Less than 3 minutes later, Marcos Rodriguez made it 26-19 Eagles with a 10 yard TD run. But early in the 4th quarter, Grove would cap a drive with a 1 yard sneak from QB Carter Otwell to pull within 26-25, but would miss the extra point. And that would be the difference as their last gasp pass would fall incomplete giving Mt. View their 8th district title in the last 9 years. Pruett was a monster for Liberty passing for 281 Yards and a TD and rushing for 146 Yards and 2 scores. Otwell had 2 rushing TDs and a TD pass of his own for Grove.

Fair Grove (11-0) at Lamar (10-0)

Prediction: Just too much from Lamar on both sides for Fair Grove to handle. Lamar wins another district title.
Result: Lamar 53, Fair Grove 0. The Tigers warmed up with a 14-0 first quarter, then took off in the second quarter scoring 3 TDs and booting a field goal to make it 39-0 at the half. Fair Grove would end with negative rushing yardage for the game and saw their perfect season came to an end. Cooper Lucas led Lamar with 160 yards and a TD while Matt Wyman added 3 rushing TDs.

Mt. Vernon (7-4) at Monett (10-1)

Prediction: This feels like a great game waiting to happen, but I think the Cubs prevail in the end.
Result: Monett 44, Mt. Vernon 28. The Cubs opened up a 17-0 lead and looked like they were going to run away with the title, but Mt. Vernon pulled within 3 with 3:55 left in the half, then responded to the next 2 Cub TDs getting within 2 twice in the 3rd quarter, the last time with 4 minutes left in the period. But our player of the week would score twice within the last 4 and half minutes of the game to secure the win for Monett.

Rolla (3-8) at Parkway West (7-4)

Prediction: I want to pick the Bulldogs, but I just feel the Longhorns are ready to handle business.
Result: Parkway West 42, Rolla 7. PW was just too good offensively for Rolla to handle as they methodically went up 28-0 at the half, and 42-0 before Rolla got on the scoreboard. And the Longhorns shut down Rolla's rushing duo of Josh Pritchett and Xaviar Douglas with the Bulldogs only score coming through the air on a 74 yard pass from Pritchett to Brett Gonzalez.

Ozark (8-2) at Glendale (10-0)

Prediction: I think once the Falcons take the lead, Ozark will not be able to catch up. Glendale wins.
Result: Glendale 85, Ozark 44. Down 21-0, the Tigers found a ray of hope as a safety and a 2 yard Brad Bonewell TD run got Ozark within 21-9. But Glendale extinguished that hope with gusto scoring 28 points in the final 1:59 to take a mind-boggling 49-9 lead after the first quarter. Ozark played Glendale even from then on, but the damage was already done. Alex Huston would finish with 715 passing yards and 9 TDs, and just for good measure, added 2 rushing TDs. 561 yards and 7 of those TDs came in the 1st half as they would lead 71-23 at the break. Jeremy Almeida, Von Oeser, Nader Leali, and Max Nichols each caught 2 TD passes with Oeser running up 226 yards, and Almeida 151. Reed Harold led Ozark with 2 TD runs and 168 rushing yards.

Nixa (6-4) at Carthage (9-1)

Prediction: I don't see anything that indicates a change in the result. Carthage wins.
Result: Carthage 47, Nixa 7. All Tigers as they jumped out to a 20-0 1st quarter lead and led 27-0 at the half as Keith Guest found Arkell Smith for 3 TD passes in the half including an 87 yarder to cap the early scoring. Smith would finish with 4 TD catches while the Carthage defense would hold Nixa to just a single 1 yard TD plunge on 4th down in the second half.

The Bad

Sacred Heart (6-3) at Greenfield (9-0)

Prediction: This may be close early as the Wildcats haven't played in almost 3 weeks, but I think they get back in the groove fast enough to win.
Result: Sacred Heart 40, Greenfield 38. The Wildcats looked like a team that hadn't played in three weeks as they committed 3 1st quarter turnovers which led to a 12-0 deficit after 1. But 32 straight points, including 3 TD runs by Charles Servoss put Greenfield in command 32-12 midway through the 3rd. Sacred Heart would answer with 22 straight point of their own to go up 34-32 with just under 11 minutes left in the game. Greenfield would go back to the lead 38-34 via a 13 yard Dravon Stapp run with over 7 minutes left. But Sacred Heart would mount a late drive, and a deflected pass would fall to a Gremlin receiver for a 9 yard TD with 22 seconds remaining to make it 40-38. Greenfield would make a last stab, but could only get inside the Sacred Heart 10 yard line as time expired, as their perfect season came to an end. Servoss finished with 149 yards rushing.

The Ugly

Webb City (8-3) at Carl Junction (9-2)

Prediction: Webb City's turnover woes plus Carl Junction being so hot has me going with the Bulldogs.
Result: Webb City 27, Carl Junction 6. The Cardinal defense rose up to avenge their week 1 loss to the Bulldogs, holding Carl Junction scoreless in the 2nd half and giving up only a pair of field goals in the 1st. Meanwhile, the Cardinal offense took control in the second half as Will Larson scored in the 3rd, then Durand Henderson (who rushed for 100 yards) and Larson again in the 4th to slam the door. Rayquion Weston was held to just 46 yards rushing as Webb City won their 18th consecutive district title.

Player of the Week: Michael Branch, RB, Monett. 35 carries, 329 yards, 5 TDs.

Branch scored the first touchdown for Monett on a 35 yard run to put them up 10-0, then was the answer every time the Mountaineers threatened. With the score 17-14, he scored from 8 yards out. Mt. Vernon pulled within 23-21, Branch broke 2 tackles and sprinted in from 65 yards. The Mountaineers got back within 30-28, and Branch was the workhorse in a back breaking drive that he capped with a 10 yard TD run with 4:19 to go. Then following a Cubs interception, Branch sealed the win with a 24 yard strike. Huston had a record breaking night for sure, but Branch was 'The Answer' every time Monett needed a score. And yes, I know that Allen Iverson was called 'The Answer'. But he's retired and that was in basketball. Give it to Branch.

Record for the Week: 9-2, .818.

Overall Record: 347-71, .830.