Like I suspect everyone else in these parts been really, really waiting for this one to come back around and here it is! THE rematch in the KC metro this week if not all of MO. Here are the distant, from the stands observations about this ultimate District title Friday night tilt:
FACTORS FAVORING SMITHVILLE:
1) This is what I call the "back side of the bell curve" year i.e. the final one before youth and inexperience set the program back for a year or two (all relative they will still be competitive). All the key contributors both sides of the ball are Seniors so there is the urgency factor in play here.
2) The defense. Yeah they don't have any real huge superstars this year (could make an argument for the Boyd kid though) but this, from watching replays and live games the past month, unit is really rounded into shape and will be very difficult to score on.
3) Experience. All these players were in Columbia last year and the huge key is the returning field general Hedgecorth. Expect the Warriors to play very disciplined and mature (HC Ambroson has alluded to this factor more than once in Courier post game wraps this fall).
FACTORS FAVORING KEARNEY:
1) Coaching. This is completely off the charts this year. Yours truly was aiming for a 8-3 type season where the KDogs were more competitive with Fort and Smithville who I knew brought plenty back from very deep runs last year. My year one read is this is a very no-nonsense focused staff and the HC is as analytical as any in the Metro area. NO way to know what to expect both sides of the ball but will be tons of fun to find out.
2) Athleticism. This team is beyond loaded with top notch ones as others have pointed out here all year plus they have their fair share of Senior talent and #14 is the best player on the field and who knows where/when he will pop up (again back to coaching). HUGE key will be overall D Back play. This has been an early game issue at times. One other factor to watch is whether Kearney goes on one of those "spurts" they have shown in recent games and can Smithville stop that momentum if it happens.
3) Home Field Advantage. Cold as it will be expect a major crowd which will be augmented by players/coaches etc. from surrounding towns not playing this Friday night. Will be the best atmosphere K has hosted since Hannibal 2016 and the players etc. should totally avoid anything resembling the occasional slow starts we've seen in these overmatched games of late.
I could go deep in the weeds here but no point. Overall it is very rare I really don't have a good read on a game like this but there are too many unpredictable factors plus the fact round 1 was very close (20-19 Kearney). One thing I will say, though, is I have seen many even ones like this break one way or the other early. Would not be one bit surprised to see this happen especially given the very cold conditions to come. Told one of my old HS buddies this is the kind of game I would crawl the six blocks to the Stadium from the house in a foot of snow to witness. FUN TIMES AWAIT.
FACTORS FAVORING SMITHVILLE:
1) This is what I call the "back side of the bell curve" year i.e. the final one before youth and inexperience set the program back for a year or two (all relative they will still be competitive). All the key contributors both sides of the ball are Seniors so there is the urgency factor in play here.
2) The defense. Yeah they don't have any real huge superstars this year (could make an argument for the Boyd kid though) but this, from watching replays and live games the past month, unit is really rounded into shape and will be very difficult to score on.
3) Experience. All these players were in Columbia last year and the huge key is the returning field general Hedgecorth. Expect the Warriors to play very disciplined and mature (HC Ambroson has alluded to this factor more than once in Courier post game wraps this fall).
FACTORS FAVORING KEARNEY:
1) Coaching. This is completely off the charts this year. Yours truly was aiming for a 8-3 type season where the KDogs were more competitive with Fort and Smithville who I knew brought plenty back from very deep runs last year. My year one read is this is a very no-nonsense focused staff and the HC is as analytical as any in the Metro area. NO way to know what to expect both sides of the ball but will be tons of fun to find out.
2) Athleticism. This team is beyond loaded with top notch ones as others have pointed out here all year plus they have their fair share of Senior talent and #14 is the best player on the field and who knows where/when he will pop up (again back to coaching). HUGE key will be overall D Back play. This has been an early game issue at times. One other factor to watch is whether Kearney goes on one of those "spurts" they have shown in recent games and can Smithville stop that momentum if it happens.
3) Home Field Advantage. Cold as it will be expect a major crowd which will be augmented by players/coaches etc. from surrounding towns not playing this Friday night. Will be the best atmosphere K has hosted since Hannibal 2016 and the players etc. should totally avoid anything resembling the occasional slow starts we've seen in these overmatched games of late.
I could go deep in the weeds here but no point. Overall it is very rare I really don't have a good read on a game like this but there are too many unpredictable factors plus the fact round 1 was very close (20-19 Kearney). One thing I will say, though, is I have seen many even ones like this break one way or the other early. Would not be one bit surprised to see this happen especially given the very cold conditions to come. Told one of my old HS buddies this is the kind of game I would crawl the six blocks to the Stadium from the house in a foot of snow to witness. FUN TIMES AWAIT.
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