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2008 OzarksSports.Net Football Preview
By Joboo | August 27, 2008
Finally. I’m digested every preview, stat, poll, and opinion I could find. The research has been exhaustive, the fact checking thorough, and the pondering mind-numbing. But it’s ready.
The 2008 OzarksSports.Net Football Preview
Comprehensive, informative, entertaining, and ultimately pointless because the teams will make fools of us anyhow. But carry on we must. Here are my Ozarks Top 5 in each class (except in class 6 where Joplin stands alone) and my overall Top 10. The conference breakdowns will follow later today with record predictions for each team. Tomorrow my picks for districts and possible playoff runs. Don’t worry about saving these picks. I will review them at the end of the season. To trumpet my brilliance, or face my stupidity.
Ozarks Top 5
Class 5
- Camdenton
- Waynesville
- Lebanon
- Ozark
- Glendale
Coach Bob Shore and the Lakers had a disappointing season by their standards. I look for them to reload and use that motivation to get back to the playoffs. Waynesville should still be good, but has a number of holes to fill. The Yellowjackets have some good talent and a good coach in his fourth year in Will Christian. This should be the year they get over the hump. Both Ozark and Glendale have some excellent skill position players returning, but need significant contributions from some untested talent to have good years. Teams 2-5 here are pretty much interchangeable.
Class 4
- Carthage
- Webb City
- Bolivar
- Republic
- Marshfield
Carthage returns a ton of talent from last years playoff team. Notably QB Trey Derryberry and sophomore RB Brian Poston who rushed for almost 1,000 yards last year. The Tigers are a legitimate force on the state scene this year. Webb City has a brutal schedule and some question marks. They have the look of a team that will be much better at the end of the season than the beginning. The trip to Carthage Oct 17 will be huge. Bolivar brings back plenty of starting talent and will challenge Marshfield(another team with lots of starters returning) for the COC small school title. Republic is a team on the rise for sure, but may be another year away. Carl Junction and Neosho also deserve consideration.
Class 3
- Monett
- Rogersville
- Seneca
- Mountain Grove
- Cassville
A loaded group. Monett’s only problem should be putting points on the board, but the defense is outstanding and should keep them in, if not win, every game this year. The Wildcats schedule sets up perfect for them this year with the Oct 17th clash with Mountain Grove on their home field. Lots of athletes on this squad. Seneca is my pick to surprise people this year. Lot’s of returning linemen and last years 3-7 record feels more like an fluke than a trend. Both Mountain Grove and Cassville appear to have entered ‘reload not rebuild’ status. The Panthers should be very good, but only one senior with starting experience gives me reason to think Rogersville will top them. Cassvill has a good number of returning skill position players, but the lines appear to be hurting from graduation. They should still have a good year, but down from their 1 loss standard of the previous 3 years. Salem sits just outside the top 5.
Class 2
- Stockton
- Strafford
- Fair Grove
- Pierce City
- Ash Grove
Who is going to claim the top spot in this group? Any of the first 3 could end up on top. I give the nod to Stockton because of a more favorable schedule. But it would be no surprise to see Tyler Evans and the Indians or Caleb Schaffitzel and the Eagles end on top. I’m just not sure what to make of Pierce City. Heavy losses including their top QB, RB, and a number of lineman. But they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt at this point. Ash Grove is another team on the way up, but too many holes in the line this year to pick them any higher. Watch out for Liberty to possibly crash the top 5.
Class 1
- Miller
- Cabool
- Thayer
- Lockwood
- Liberal
The three best teams in class 1 all come from district 3 and none of them are named Marionville. The times, they are a changin’. Honestly I think this is a two dog race. Both Miller and Cabool have a number of returning starters, but the Cardinals get the nod here. QB Justin Jack and the return of RB Spencer Goodman should give them even more offensive firepower than last year. I believe the graduation losses will hit Thayer harder than people think. Combine that with a tough schedule and you shouldn’t look for a repeat of their undefeated regular season. Lockwood has some big shoes to fill from graduation, but have shown they know how to handle that. And a strong senior class at Liberal should give them a shot at making the playoffs for the first time since 98. Osceola also garners some consideration.
Ozarks Overall Top 10
- Carthage
- Camdenton
- Webb City
- Waynesville
- Joplin
- Lebanon
- Ozark
- Monett
- Bolivar
- Glendale
Topics: Football |
August 27th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Number 1 game to watch: Webb City at Harrisonville, week 1. Harrisonville moves up to Class 4 after 3 straight state titles and a 41 game win streak.
August 27th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Don’t get ahead of me Mike. ‘Games to watch’ is for tomorrow. But you’re correct. That has to be the biggest one right now. I’ll list the rest of my top ten tomorrow.