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Week 1 Review

A pretty typical week 1.  Some shocking results, some teams looking just as good as advertised, some HUGE performances, some fresh faces emerging, some questions answered, and some questions still open.  The big question right now is “Who won between Ava and Strafford?”  Usually we’d be pretty set on this point but multiple sources are reporting the score different ways.  The score was 35-28.  And it did go to overtime.  That we know.  Everyone agrees.  But was it the Bears or the Indians?  That’s the point of contention.  Well I can say on good authority (i.e. someone who was actually at the game) that Ava did come out the winner.  Now that we have that out of the way, it’s the moment you’ve all really been waiting for since last year’s Show-Me Bowls.  Yes, we all enjoy the football games.  But everybody loves the Ozarks favorite game…

Continue reading Week 1 Review

2010 Week 1 Picks

It’s finally here!  Let the trumpets be sounded forth.  Slay the fatted calf.  Prepare to make merry uponeth the greenery of many fields as dusk settleth over the earth.  Yea verily, it is good and shall be good forevermore.  Bringeth forth mistrials to delight our ears with the anthems of our lands.  Set the musicians to play, the spotted hordes to cheer, and the young men who recalleth the titans of yore to clash within the arenas of our land as they seek to claim eternal, resplendent glory for themselves and their principalities!

In other words, let’s play some football.  I’ll be doing an SCA swing this weekend starting in Mountain Grove to watch the Panthers clash with defending state class 3 champions Cassville.  Then it’s off to Howell County for Hogan Prep and Mt. View-Liberty Saturday afternoon.  More great games this opening week than I think I’ve ever seen before.  So, town cryer, announceth the picks!

WEEK 1 PICKS

Game of the Week

  • Hogan Prep at Mt. View-Liberty – Saturday at 1 PM
    • The Rams gave eventual state champion Maryville all they wanted & more last year in the state quarterfinals eventually falling 35-32. Continue reading 2010 Week 1 Picks

2010 COC Small Football Predictions

Rogersville was a clear choice for second best team in the state in class 3 last year.  But again fell in the quarterfinals.  While Bolivar has kept bumping into Webb City in the same round.  Are they still the cream of the COC Small and will they fare any better.

Team

Wins Losses Conf wins Conf losses
Bolivar

9

1

6

0

Rogersville

9

1

5

1

Catholic

8

2

4

2

Marshfield

6

4

3

3

Buffalo

2

8

1

5

Reeds Spring

2

8

1

5

Hollister

1

9

1

5

By the time Bolivar and Rogersville meet in week 7, the young Wildcats will be matured, ready, and have the Liberators on their home turf. Continue reading 2010 COC Small Football Predictions

2010 OzarksSports.Net Football Preview

Schools are starting back up again, jamborees are tonight, and temperatures are still in the 90s.  Ah, football season in the Ozarks.  And so here begins the flood of football information over the next week.  Today is the preview with my entirely meaningless yet so much fun preseason rankings, week to week games to watch and why, and the players to go see.  Next will come my conference by conference previews & predictions.  And we’ll finish up with my entirely fearless predictions on who advances to the playoffs.  With that, away we go.

2010 OzarksSports.Net Football Preview

Continue reading 2010 OzarksSports.Net Football Preview

Quarterfinal Preview

Alright folks.  Quarterfinal Saturday.  Here’s what to look for.

CLASS 1

  • Valle Catholic (12-0) at Miller (10-2)
    • After getting the past their recent nemesis, Thayer, the Cardinals come up against an even more formidable challenge in Valle Catholic.  The Warriors have scored an astonishing 125 points in their first two playoff games.  And average over 45 ppg on the season.  They run a spread offense triggered by senior QB Michael Greminger who passes well, runs well, and causes havoc for opposing defenses.  The Warriors also have athletes all over the field for him to hand off & pass to.  Defensively, they use their speed to attack & force turnovers.  The key for Miller will be to contain Greminger, force him to throw to beat them, and close on receivers quickly to minimize gains.  If they try to cover man-to-man, Greminger has the arm strength to go deep.  If they try to blitz to bring pressure, he read the field very well and will hit his check down receivers.  A balanced, consistent, defensive approach is needed.  Derek Jack and Damon Dempster having big days would help also.  They will score points, just keep it from being too many.  Offensively, Miller has the horses to open some holes, and the speed to exploit them.  But Valle brings great speed also.  Justin Jack needs to use a variety of receivers, Daniel Parscal needs to use his speed to make some plays on the ground, and the Miller offense needs to keep the Warrior defense on the field as much as possible.  A big challenge, but not out of reach.

    Continue reading Quarterfinal Preview

Sectional Football Preview

Monday night is rematch night.  Seven of the ten games feature teams playing each other for the second time this year.  Six of those being replays of district games.  Two of the remaining three are repeats of games from last year.  Some things are quite different, some are exactly the same.  Here’s what to look for.

CLASS 1

  • Miller (9-2) at Thayer (9-1)
    • The big question here is did Lockwood find a chink in Thayer’s armor with the passing game?  Or was it just one of those nights?  In week 8 Thayer brought the heat on Miller QB Justin Jack in his first game back & battered him on their way to a 54-14 trouncing of the Cardinals.  As usual, the Bobcats found major yards on the ground rushing for almost 500 yards.  Miller has changed up their defense since then with good results, but can they shut down that Thayer rushing attack?  Before you answer, consider this.  Last year’s district game between these two at Miller, Thayer wins 43-7.  When they met in the second round at Thayer, the Bobcats won but only by a score of 28-21.

    Continue reading Sectional Football Preview

Regional football review

It was almost a perfect night to be an eagle on the gridiron.  4 out of 5 Eagle teams playing won including Pierce City knocking off undefeated Warsaw.  Fair Grove, Mt. View-Liberty, and Nixa also soared to wins.  Only Jasper falls from the feathered football ranks.

Enough with the bird puns.  A great night of football for Ozarks teams.  Some last minute finishes, huge performances, a big upset, 11 teams say goodbye to another football season, and 19 are still alive.

CLASS 1

  • Thayer 36, Lockwood 21
    • This game was 22-21 with just over 4 minutes left and would have been tied but for a missed Lockwood XP.  But a score, an interception, and another TD secured the win.  Cameron Carey was the wrecking ball for the Bobcats rushing for 232 yards and three TDs.  Josh Huckabee added 100+ rushing yards also.  Reports put Lockwood QB Blake Abbiatti at over 350 yards passing.  I’ll update this when I can verify.

    Continue reading Regional football review

Week 10 review

It was simply a glorious couple of nights for football.  While I enjoy catching a game indoors, I think football should be played outside.  The elements are part of the game.  And Thursday night was a football cathedral.  Wind & rain.  Mud & muck.  Slipping, sliding, sloshing.  It was beautiful man.  A perfect end to a great regular season.  Yes, some teams lost that wouldn’t have if the weather had cooperated.  But that’s just another nuance that we all love.  Unless it’s your team that loses.

Last year I picked the playoff games and did really freaking good.  But, I’m not doing it again.  I’m going to sit back and enjoy them myself instead of rooting for someone because I picked them.  You’ll still get a preview before each round so you’ll know what to look for.  But I’m shutting down the prediction machine until next year.  I’m done channeling my inner Carnac.  The crystal ball has left the building.

Shed no tears my friends as we say good bye to this year’s last…

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The Good

Week 9 review

Some teams rise up when the stakes are high.  Others fall flatter than a Kansas wheat field.  Seeing a team make the transition from one who falls to one who stands strong can be exhilarating.  Watching a team go the other way can be painful beyond all measure.   Friday’s action showed off some of both.  And for many of you, you don’t have to search your memory very much to find those teams who have changed lately.

A couple examples of teams that have changed for the better?  Cassville.  0-10 a few short years ago and a team that won only 1 district title from ’05 to ’07 despite losing only three games during that stretch.  Now, the defending state champs have consecutive wins over excellent teams to win their district title.  How about Lebanon?  After breaking a 14 year losing streak to Camdenton last year, they put a huge crimp in the Lakers playoff fortunes by starting their own winning streak in the series.  I won’t point out teams that have changed for the worse.  I’m sure you can come up with those on your own.

Remember to slow down and savor your next to last helping of…

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Continue reading Week 9 review

Live! From the Ozarks! It’s week 9!!

OK folks, I’m wrapping this up for now.  I’ll post the full scoreboard later.  And if I ever suggest doing this again, somebody kindly shoot me.  Thanks.

9:37 – Lockwood 39, Sarcoxie 13 – final.  Jasper 55, McAuley 0.  Bolivar 55, Hillcrest 14.

9:33 – It’s a final, Fair Grove 38, Strafford 30.  Other finals.  Lamar 35, Pierce City 0.  Stockton 35, Diamond 18.  And just for everyone’s interest, the #1 class 3 team in the state Potosi is tied 36-36 with St. Genevieve late in the fourth.

9:16 – Mt. Vernon 29, Reeds Spring 19 in the fourth.

9:13 – Final, Cassville wins their district with a 24-13 win over Seneca.  Bolivar leads Hillcrest 48-14.  Rolla defeats Waynesville 14-0.  And a final from KC.  Glendale 41, East KC 6.  A final from Sullivan, Salem 29, Sullivan 26.

9:07 – And the record TD may make district champions out of Fair Grove.  38-30 Eagles over Strafford with less than 7 minutes left.
Continue reading Live! From the Ozarks! It’s week 9!!