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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

2/19/10 Scores

50!  Lot’s going on last night but we’ll start with that number.  That’s how many points Houston’s Kyle Poynter scored in the Tigers 65-62 loss to Willow Springs.  That ties the all-time school scoring record.  But Poynter was not able to get a game tying three to go in the final minutes to allow the Bears to leave Houston with the win.  Five shots from behind the arc and a 19 for 20 performance from the free throw line highlight Poynter’s night.

Four conference championships got wrapped up also.  In the marquee matchup, Nixa nipped Branson to win the COC Large and go to 25-1 on the season.  Jordan Keeney lead the way with 24 points.  Despite losing to Bolivar 72-69, Rogersville still claims the COC Small title via Marshfield’s 69-62 win over Reeds Spring.  The Wolves would have claimed a share of the title with a victory.  Hillcrest is the undisputed champion of the Ozark Conference with their 67-47 win over Marshfield.  And Strafford claims the Mid-Lakes crown by downing Fair Grove 52-46.

BASKETBALL

BOYS

Mark Twain Conference Tournament

  • Bradleyville 64, Everton 61

Varsity

  • Nixa 64, Branson 63
    • Nixa: Jordan Keeney – 24 pts
  • Willow Springs 65, Houston 62
    • Houston: Kyle Poynter – 50 pts
    • Willow Springs: Taylor James – 25 pts
  • Morrisville 59, Billings 53
  • Seneca 57, Cassville 39
    • Seneca: Stryker Harris – 21 pts
    • Cassville: Travis Northern – 13 pts
  • Pleasant Hope 60, Skyline 46
  • East Newton 62, Monett 47
    • East Newton: Brett Black – 24 pts
  • Summersville 73, Licking 71
    • Summersville: Scott Haynes – 27 pts
  • Miller 49, Pierce City 44
  • Continue reading 2/19/10 Scores

2009 COC Large All-Conference Football

2009 COC Large All-Conference Football Team

Co-Offensive Players of the Year: Brian Poston, Carthage & Jordan Keeney, Nixa
Defensive Player of the Year: Tee Helsel, Branson

First Team

Offense

Quarterfinal Football Review

A great Saturday of football.  Some great performances, a couple of fantastic finishes, and three area teams took a step closer to state titles.  The Big 8 had a big day.  And a future high school legend took his last trip to the end zone.

CLASS 1

  • Valle Catholic 42, Miller 6
    • Just a dominant effort by the Valle line and by QB Michael Greminger.  The Warriors scored on all five of their first half possessions.  Greminger had a part in the last four as he threw for 197 yards and 3 TDs, and rushed for 62 and a TD in the half.  Justin Jack lead Miller with 59 yards rushing and threw for 129 yards and finally got Miller on the board as time expired with a 7 yard TD pass to Tyler Hinshaw.  The Cardinals see a fine season come to a disappointing end.

    Continue reading Quarterfinal Football Review

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 review

CLASS 1

  • Adrian 28, Greenfield 25 (OT)
    • After Jamie Gray gave Greenfield the fourth quarter lead, Adrian got a TD and 2 point conversion with 2 seconds left to send the game to overtime.  Greenfield had the ball first, was held, and Jordan Bryant converted a 37 yard FG to give them some points.  But Adrian’s Skylar Kariker caught his second TD pass of the night to give the Blackhawks the win and eliminate Greenfield.  Bryant had 2 TD runs for Greenfield going in from 25 and 62 yards and finished with 160 yards rushing.  But it’s the Blackhawks avenging last years sectional defeat and moving on.
    • Continue reading Sectional review

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

2009 Regional Football Preview

“Playoffs?” - Jim Mora

Yes, coach.  We’re talking about the playoffs.  Because they’re here.  Thirty teams from the Ozarks seek the state championship in five different classifications.  Thirty teams are done for the year.  At least nine more schools will start basketball practice after tomorrow night.  Here’s what to watch for.

CLASS 1

  • Lockwood (6-4) at Thayer (8-1)
    • This one is simple.  Can Lockwood contain the running attack of the Bobcats?  Josh Huckabee is the big dog.  But Cameron Carey & Ethan Leisenring are equally able to run for big yards.  The weather should be good giving the Tigers and Blake Abbiatti a chance to make some yards through the air.  But if the defense doesn’t play their best game, it won’t matter.

    Continue reading 2009 Regional Football Preview

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