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Open forum: 2024 games to watch

Gosh so far all the top matchups are down in Miami. The interstate one between Our Lady of Good Counsel (MD) and Miami Christopher Columbus is probably the best game I can find but that shows as 80 miles away from Palm Beach.

Closer in could watch St. Thomas Aquinas or Chaminade Madonna problem is those both look like bad blowouts.
80 is still doable.
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Week 1 COC picks

I'm willing to bet that change is inevitable in the OMG ... all one has to do is read the social media comments on the CJ Athletics Facebook page this week in regards to travel to Jefferson City for the season opener. Be sure to bring your popcorn, it's entertaining. At the same time, it's a reflection of just how clueless the community is when it comes to school affiliation.

Keep in mind who made and what led to the decisions that were made in the past. When the court of public opinion gets its say, often times those voices can carry some weight.
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Week 1 COC picks

I don't know how close you are to CJ? But it would be interesting the new conference is not a great fit its a fit if you bang it with a hammer, but who knows.
I just repeat what I hear from family that live there, and many are giving it a chance, many are hoping it does not last.
The OMC does have a temporary feel and by that I mean 7-10 years. However there will probably be additions and subtractions in that time.

Week 1 COC picks

I don't ever see CJ reapplying. Outside of football and wrestling the league isn't that competitive. Of course football is the most important sport by a thousand miles but still.
I don't know how close you are to CJ? But it would be interesting the new conference is not a great fit its a fit if you bang it with a hammer, but who knows.
I just repeat what I hear from family that live there, and many are giving it a chance, many are hoping it does not last.

Week 1 COC picks

I would ponder to guess that while the current Sup and AD are still CJ, the Big 8 will probable not let them back in. Those two both made sure to insult every Big 8 school they could on the way out and talk about how their demographics and facilities don't fit with the conference. I guess they never thought about what would happen if the the COC would never work out and they would have to cross that bridge again? But there is always hope Nevada did the same thing and later once some changes were made they were able to reapply and get in.
I don't ever see CJ reapplying. Outside of football and wrestling the league isn't that competitive. Of course football is the most important sport by a thousand miles but still.
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Preseason Rankings

I know the AP doesn't put out any preseason rankings, as no one knows the classes before the day of the first games (that's still crazy to me btw), but I figured we could attempt something. We have a pretty good understanding of who will be in each class besides maybe the borderline teams.

Class 1:
Marionville
Adrian (if they are Class 1)
No clue otherwise. I do believe Portageville will move up.

Class 2:
1. Lamar
2 - 8. Valle Catholic, Fair Grove, Lafayette County, Adrian, Bowling Green, Father Tolton, South Shelby in some order I'm guessing

Class 3:
1. Blair Oaks
2. Seneca
Not too sure after this. Pius moves up, PHC lost almost entire skill group and good crew of linemen. Any insights?

Class 4
1. Kearney
2. Lutheran North
3. Smithville (just because)
4 - 10. Not sure...Hillsboro or Festus this season? Who else?

Class 5
1. Cardinal Ritter
2. A mess

Class 6
1. Liberty North
2. DeSmet
3. CBC
4. Lee's Summit North
5. Rockhurst
6 - 10. Nixa, Howell, Rock Bridge, a whole bunch of KC schools, a whole bunch of STL schools. Great quality top 15 or so.

Help me out here!
Carthage #2 in C5 followed by Platte County. After that yes a jumble but Fort and Webb have to be in there somewhere.

Still want to see Rock deep into their demanding schedule to make any judgement.

Assuming the numbers say C4 Parkway North should be ranked without a doubt.

Other classes look pretty spot on unless MSHSAA changes the classification breaks. Adrian is borderline C1-2 will contend in the latter be the favorite in the former.

C3-4 watch the very deep MRVC West assuming they don't cancel each other out. Maxwell has been back at HVille for a bit now I'd watch them for sure.
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Week 1 COC picks

If Willard has a few bad football seasons I still wonder if they will change their mind about the COC. CJ, Willard, Mac County, Nevada and Monett could form the core of a league.
Monett would really have to out grow the conference. The roots run deep they are a founding member, and the history in the conference goes all the way back to the 1920's. Many in the community are excited to get back to playing Aurora and MV every year.
The Big 8 with its core members has been the most stable conference over the last several decades, even going back to the Big 12,13,14 years most of these members have stayed. Then you look those wayward Members such and Mac and Nevada who decided to Follow Webb and Carthage to form the Big 6 got left out in the cold by those members when they jumped to the COC. the Big 8 is still here and kicking.

Preseason Rankings

I've heard plenty of buzz for Festus around the social media sphere. Apparently they have a ton of returning starters and they did in fact nearly upset Hillsboro in the playoffs last year if that's anything to go off. AJ Ofodile's a good coach so he'll have them prepared.

For Class 2 throw in Lift For Life. Extremely athletic team who plenty of transfers and return some talent. They always seem to fall under the radar and play competitive football in the playoffs.

May be biased and a little ill-informed on Liberty North, but I think De Smet and CBC are the two best teams in Class 6. Nixa's probably top 5 and might even give the top 3 a run for their money with the size and depth they have.

STL Today Large and Small class 2024 COMPLETE Top 10s

For those of you, like me, who follow other states the NATIONAL spotlight comes to East Saint Louis this Saturday at 7 PM as perennial Chicago stalwart Loyola Academy comes calling.

This should be on NFHS I will source if available anywhere else................
That'll be a fun one. I got Loyola winning. Back-to-back Class 8 championships says a lot.
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Week 1 COC picks

If the Big 8 would be willing to bring CJ back, then the OMC would be the right league probably for those schools. It'd be a better geographical thing. Of course, it was CJ that burned the bridge quite successfully with the Big 8. And it appears the OMC wants CJ if they accepted the distance argument.
I would ponder to guess that while the current Sup and AD are still CJ, the Big 8 will probable not let them back in. Those two both made sure to insult every Big 8 school they could on the way out and talk about how their demographics and facilities don't fit with the conference. I guess they never thought about what would happen if the the COC would never work out and they would have to cross that bridge again? But there is always hope Nevada did the same thing and later once some changes were made they were able to reapply and get in.

Preseason Rankings

I know the AP doesn't put out any preseason rankings, as no one knows the classes before the day of the first games (that's still crazy to me btw), but I figured we could attempt something. We have a pretty good understanding of who will be in each class besides maybe the borderline teams.

Class 1:
Marionville
Adrian (if they are Class 1)
No clue otherwise. I do believe Portageville will move up.

Class 2:
1. Lamar
2 - 8. Valle Catholic, Fair Grove, Lafayette County, Adrian, Bowling Green, Father Tolton, South Shelby in some order I'm guessing

Class 3:
1. Blair Oaks
2. Seneca
Not too sure after this. Pius moves up, PHC lost almost entire skill group and good crew of linemen. Any insights?

Class 4
1. Kearney
2. Lutheran North
3. Smithville (just because)
4 - 10. Not sure...Hillsboro or Festus this season? Who else?

Class 5
1. Cardinal Ritter
2. A mess

Class 6
1. Liberty North
2. DeSmet
3. CBC
4. Lee's Summit North
5. Rockhurst
6 - 10. Nixa, Howell, Rock Bridge, a whole bunch of KC schools, a whole bunch of STL schools. Great quality top 15 or so.

Help me out here!

The real 24 classes

Circling back here:
East (KC) no longer has a District icon on their Football Schedule page. So I do believe they're out for districts.
MMA out, DuBourg out as well (officially).

Also, very confident MICDS will be class 5. At 480 enrollment (last year's number) they'd be safely inside of Class 3 and then bump up to Class 5. Would take a pretty healthy increase in enrollment to get them to Class 6.

NWCMO Pick Em Week 1

North Kansas City
North Platte
Center
Cole Camp
Fayette
Maysville
Kearney (NWCMO Game of the Week)
St. Mary's Academy (KS)
Lee's Summit West
Lathrop
Chillicothe
Blair Oaks
Oak Park
Odessa
Pewaukee (WI) (Out of Region Game of the Week)
Savannah
West Platte
Park Hill
Seymour (IA) (8-Man Game of the Week)
Truman
Lincoln Prep
Versailles (host venue changed Monday per Mowestdad and MSHSAA)
Warsaw
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