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

And then there were 3. Only 3 area teams are moving on to the state semifinals after this weekend. We are down to only Lincoln in class 1, Lamar in class 2, and Monett in class 3. Each one got there in impressive fashion. Thayer, Midway, Mt. View-Liberty, Webb City, Carthage, and Glendale are done. Here's how they all arrived where they are in this '2 wins away' edition of...

THE GOOD

Valle Catholic (10-1) at Thayer (7-5)

Prediction: Thayer has gotten past their district opposition, but Valle is another animal. Even being depleted with injuries themselves, the Warriors are still the class 1 favorite. And with good reason. Valle wins.
Result: Valle Catholic 35, Thayer 8. Not a bad showing for Thayer but they just didn't have enough to stay with the Warriors. Valle jumped out to a 13-0 1st quarter lead as Cole Wood caught a TD pass and ran another score in. Wood's 2nd TD run expanded the lead to 20-0 in the 2nd. The Bobcats got back into it as a sack and a bad snap resulted in a Valle safety. Then a 14 yard Ayden Stone to Chase Powell TD pass on the ensuing possession capped an 8 play drive to make it 20-8 going into the half. But the momentum would not carry over, and Wood found the end zone 2 more times in the 2nd half to end the Bobcats season.

Cass-Midway (11-1) at Lincoln (12-0)

Prediction: Obviously Midway has a chance, but barring some turnovers from Lincoln, I don't think they can maintain a ball control game the entire 48 minutes against the Cardinals. I see Lincoln taking control early and maintaining it.
Result: Lincoln 46, Cass-Midway 0. Lincoln started slow leading just 8-0 after the first quarter on the first of Boone Kroenke's 4 TD runs, but they didn't need any more points as the Cardinal defense held the Vikings to just 159 yards on the day. Meanwhile Kroenke added 2 more TD runs in the 2nd while Tyler Kroenke returned a fumble for a TD for a 30-0 halftime lead, then Boone would turn on the turbo clock with his final TD run with under 5 minutes left in the 3rd. Kroenke finished with 118 yards rushing. Derek Stephens had 156 yards and the other Lincoln score to cap off the Cardinal scoring.

Mt. View-Liberty (12-0) at Lamar (11-0)

Prediction: I think last year will give Lamar some special motivation and focus. They will be sharp. If they don't commit some turnovers to give Mt. View some extra possessions, look for the Tiger line to control the game for a Lamar win.
Result: Lamar 42, Mt. View-Liberty 7. The Tigers took a 13-0 lead in the 2nd quarter behind TD runs from Luke Hardman and Anthony Wilkerson. But Liberty responded with a nice drive capped by a 10 yard Marcos Rodriguez 10 run to make it 13-7 and give the Eagles hope. But the Tigers snatched it away with an 11 play drive and another Hardman TD with 11 seconds left to go up 21-7 at the half. The Tiger defense did the rest in the 2nd half holding Liberty scoreless while QB Stuart McKarus rushed for a pair of TDs to send Lamar on to their 8th straight semifinal appearance.

Owensville (12-0) at Monett (11-1)

Prediction: The Dutchmen are a great matchup for Monett. The Cubs have playmakers Owensville has to respect, and the hammering running game that can wear them down. I think it stays close for a while, maybe deep in to the game if Owensville hits some big plays, but the Cubs take command down the stretch.
Result: Monett 48, Owensville 20. Owensville scored first 53 seconds into the game to take a 6-0 lead. But Monett ended each of their next 2 drives with Ian Meyer TD rushes to go up 14-6. Owensville would get back within 14-13 with 32 seconds left in the 1st quarter but lost starting QB and leading rusher Wyatt Ellis for the game on the drive. The next time they found the end zone, they were trailing 48-13 with 9 and a half minutes left. Michael Branch had 1 TD on the ground and caught 2 TD passes in the 3rd for Monett. Meyer capped the scoring for the day with his 3rd TD rush of the day in the 4th.

Carthage (10-1) at Battle (11-0)

Prediction: So let's get to brass tacks. Carthage has the tools to win, including the coaching of John Guidie and staff. But they may still need some breaks. And Battle always seems to play a disciplined game. On their home turf, I think it's close, but the Spartans prevail.
Result: Battle 37, Carthage 20. The game might have turned at the end of the 1st half. After trailing early 16-0, Carthage got a TD run from Keith Guest and a Guest to Arkell Smith TD pass to pull within 16-14 with 42 seconds left. But with momentum going Carthage's way, Battle grabbed it back going 59 yards in just 3 plays to go back up 22-14 at the half. In the 2nd half, Battle stuck to the ground and shortened the game as QB Brevinn Tyler ran for 233 yards and 3 TDs, and Hunter Smith ran for 116 yards and 1 TD. Carthage would get within 10 at 30-20 with 8:36 left in the game, but that would be it for the Tigers.

THE BAD

Harrisonville (9-3) at Webb City (9-3)

Prediction: I think this game will be summation of Webb City's season. They have remade themselves offensively while the defense has been solid all year. The Wildcats will be tough, but I think Webb City executes their game plan completely and win.
Result: Harrisonville 27, Webb City 21. Webb City actually outgained Harrisonville by almost 100 yards, but a pair of turnovers and numerous penalties tripped them up. Harrisonville scored first, then the two traded scores until the half ended with the Wildcats up 21-14. Webb City blinked first in the second half, when after recovering a Harrisonville fumble, they fumbled it right back. Harrisonville would then take a 27-14 lead early in the 4th, only to see Webb City get within 6 with 7:11 remaining when Cade Beason connected with Terrell Kabala for a 41 yard TD pass. Webb City forced a punt and took over with 4:52 remaining. The Cardinals picked up 3 first down and drove to the Harrisonville 25 yard line, but there their season would end as a 4th and 5 pass attempt fell incomplete. Sophomore Durand Henderson led the Cardinals with 122 rushing yards and a TD on 23 attempts.

THE UGLY

Ft. Zumwalt North (10-1) at Glendale (11-0)

Prediction: I honestly don't see any way the Panthers can keep up with Glendale's scoring output. They have some good athletes and seem to be fairly deep on defense, but I don't think it's nearly enough to slow down Glendale. Feels like a comfortable win for Glendale.
Result: Ft. Zumwalt North 52, Glendale 22. All North from the beginning as they shocked the Falcons with 17 1st quarter points and a 24-0 lead before Glendale finally scored their only TD of the first half. They defensive scheme frustrated Glendale all night and kept them from finding a rhythm. The Panthers just kept going scoring on all but 2 possessions and doing what no one else has been able to do, contain the Falcon offense. QB Cade Brister was the star on both sides rushing for 177 yards and 5 TDs and intercepting Alex Huston 3 times. Huston finished with 348 yards and 3 TDs passing, but the Falcons have to be content with the best season in school history.

Record for the Week: 5-2, .714.

Overall Record: 352-73, .828.