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2009 MFBCA Football Academic All-State Team

Last year I was highly critical that the Ozarks wasn’t very well represented on the football academic all-state team.  A grand total of 16 teams and 47 players from the Ozarks made it last year.  Well let’s give a big round of applause to all the coaches who took the time to nominate their players this year because this year, the Ozarks are proudly represented by 27 teams and 88 players.  Leading the way is Webb City with 8, Lebanon with 7, Fair Grove with 6, Springfield Catholic and Thayer each have 5, and Nixa, Neosho, Salem, Seneca, and state champion Cassville each place 4 players.

Twelve players make their second appearance on the team.  They are Zach Cooley of Lebanon, Damian Fadl of Waynesville, Alex Wise of Neosho, Tanner Green and Ron Johnson of Nevada, Beau Bounous of Monett, Ben Selby of Reeds Spring, Ty Floyd and Kevin Presley of Salem, Max Jersak of Catholic, and Alec Hackett and Caleb Schaffitzel of Fair Grove.  Continue reading 2009 MFBCA Football Academic All-State Team

2009 Coaches All-State Football

The 2009 Missouri Football Coaches Association All-State Teams have been announced and class 3 is dominated by Ozarks squads.  Cassville leads the way with 6 first team, 2 second team, and 2 third team selections.  And Coach David Large repeated as class 3 coach of the year.  Rogersville grabbed 4 picks overall including class 3 defensive MVP Conner Smith.

Thayer lead the way in class 1 with 6 picks overall headlined by first team picks Josh Huckabee at running back and Eli Martin on the offensive line.  Miller had 3 players recognized.

While in class 2, Lamar’s playoff run helped them net 4 all state selections.  And Fair Grove’s Caleb Schaffitzel was deservedly recognized as class 2 offensive MVP.

Webb City had 6 players selected all-state in class 4.  While Hillcrest’s Doriel Green was the only sophomore selected in class 4.  Bolivar also had 4 players tabbed for inclusion.

Continue reading 2009 Coaches All-State Football

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

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

Week 8 review

What a week.  Class 3 #1 Monett goes down hard.  As does #6 Mountain Grove.  A team wins on a safety.  A running back averages almost 34 yards a carry.  Class 4 #1 Webb City and class 1 #5 Thayer make big statements about their intentions.  And 200 yard rushing games abound this week with at least 6 different runners hitting the mark.  Now here’s your piping hot version of…

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The Good

Week 6 review

When did basketball season start?  Seriously.  54-41? 60-41? 69-63?  7-6?  Oh wait, that’s more like it.  Yes it was an offense happy week 6.  But the defense was still out there.  Nixa & Camdenton played a 7-6 headknocker.  Pierce City & Miller only put up 25 points combined, and even #1 Monett only managed 14 points in their 14-7 win over Aurora.  Ava & Mt. View-Liberty setup a big matchup next week.  Osceola got a little help from the team they need to beat Friday.  And Ozark & Kickapoo got their district campaigns off to good starts.  Read all about it.

Because I’m still not happy, until all the ugly is eliminated from…

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The Good Continue reading Week 6 review

Week 5 picks

We’ll be at the halfway point after tonight.  That means the weekly rankings, undefeated list, & winless list will debut this season next week.  Both lists have been shrinking each week & I think the same happens tonight.  At least two winless teams will get their first W as we have two 0-4 matchups.  And I think one of the remaining 4-0 teams will drop a game tonight.  We go to Rolla for our game of the week as the Bulldogs look to move into the class 5 state rankings.  To do so, they’ll have to lay a second straight Ozark Conference loss on Joplin.  Nixa & Webb City battle for the top spot in the COC Large division.  Other teams looking to rebound from their first loss include Mt. View-Liberty against Strafford, Neosho against Carthage, Carl Junction against #1 Monett, Catholic against Marshfield, & Jasper against Liberal.  It’s week 5 baby.  When the contenders step forward, & the pretenders walk away.

Week 5 Picks

Continue reading Week 5 picks

Week 4 picks

“Oh, it’s on.  It’s definitely on.” – Double Down Trent, Swingers

Yeah, that’s right.  Three weeks of chaos is enough.  I’m bringing the heat this week.  Takin’ it to the house.  Goin’ all the way.  Throwin’ down at the hoedown.  No double digit misses this week, no sir.  In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if I had a perfect week.  That’s right.  And while we’re at it, I might as well pick the Super Bowl winner for the next 10 years, the winning power ball numbers, and the number of weddings to be held in Burkina Faso during the third week of July, 2018.

In other words, it’s been a rough first 3 weeks for the picks.  But we’ve got another great week of games lined up to enjoy at least.  A clash of state ranked squads in Thayer as Mt. View-Liberty tries to continue their great play against Thayer.   A few teams have a chance to pick up a big win & prove themselves this week.  Including Catholic hosting Bolivar, Jasper taking on visiting Miller, Parkview with 3-0 Rolla coming to town, Ava trying to down Salem, Marshfield looking to upend Branson, and Seneca taking to the road against Carl Junction.

Teams looking for an unlikely 4-0 start include the aforementioned Catholic Irish and Jasper Eagles, as well as Osceola who takes on 0-3 Northwest.  Should be another fun week out there, so without further ado, here’s the…

Week 4 Picks

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