Am I the only one who gets a little annoyed when red zone goes double box when one of the screens is showing a big play while the other is showing a meaningless second quarter extra point? So you can barely see either one? And don’t even get me started on quad box!!! Just show one play at a time, Scott Freakin Hanson!

So I decided to go watch several WC games, so I am asking the Webbies on here! Seems this team is winning in spite of the offensive coordinator and his play calling!

I mean the play calling is odd. Seems like the Johnson kid is making up for bad calls along with several of the backs!

MV @ Seneca. I think Seneca BIG
CJ @ Nevada. I think Nevada BIG
BG vs SS, very interesting game
MC vs Bolivar! I'm rooting for MC
Joplin @ Nixa. This will be a great game, IMO!
Adrian @ Lamar. I think this is Diamond all over again!
Carthage @ WC. Should be a great atmosphere and I think WC wins this time!
Should be fun Friday!

Scores 31 points to lead Mizzou to a 98-57 victory over Indiana State.

The true soph from West Plains, MO lead all scorers and scored on 6 of 7 possessions to start the game.

Totally different feel to this one from a year ago. Kearney was the "unknown" upstart who had pulled off two major surprises in a new HC's first year then eked this one out announcing a whole new era had begun in this town.

Tomorrow's game could be "vanilla city" given Smithville pretty much lost everyone significant from last year's C4 semifinalist who beyond revenged vs. Kearney in the District title game followed by shutting out the top C4 offense in Center then giving all-star superpower St. Mary's an effort of a lifetime. This year the Warriors have a cast who was very successful at the JV level and is likely going to be far better yet again come November. I do wonder what effect last week's shootout loss at PC will have on their D. The Bulldogs are not sneaking up on anyone this year but really gutted one out against the best 0-2 team in the KC metro without a doubt.

This one is likely (watch Grandview as a potential darkhorse) for the Sub Blue title and home field in another District final rematch barring a slew of injuries. On that subject the Bulldogs are in the throes of those now but that situation is likely to change and soon just not tomorrow night so not sure what Ambroson and co will learn beyond what I already see is a very fast, attacking D who also is a smidge shorthanded, though.

Overall I expect a close, low scoring game provided Kearney also cures their turnover bug. Coming off a loss expect Smithville to play very, very hard so ball security will be something to watch big time. The Dogs better dial up the pass rush, too, or they could get torched on the back side IF the Warriors choose to deploy that. Again these two know there is about a 99.9 percent chance they will play again in November. Not to get too far ahead but that game will have a totally different feel from last year as well.

1st half stats

Ruskin
160 yards
Rushing: 21 for 119
Passing: 2-6 for 51
3x in red zone

SV
179 yards
Rushing: 7 for 33
Passing: 10-15 for 146

Had to rely on those fundamentals to stop the Blue Eagles from scoring on all those trips to the red zone.

Tigers District Champs

Mizzou might have gotten in this year.

And if Oregon beats Washington and Bama beats Georgia. This is going to be a mess.

No way Georgia and Bama lose to FSU or Texas at this point.

Only 3 teams from the COC remain. Who advances? Possibility of all 3 making it to the final 4?

Nixa (11-0) @ Rockhurst (10-1) ---- Rockhurst... Not sure on this one, but I think Rockhurst will be a challenge for the Eagles.
Helias (10-1) @ Republic (10-2) ---- Republic... This is my upset pick! Helias may end up being too athletic, but I'll take the Tigers.
Grain Valley (10-1) @ Webb City (9-2) ---- Webb City... Should be a really good game, I'll take the Cards at home in a close one.

The tiebreak ended up not being needed this round so here we go!

ADVANCING TO ROUND 4 (8M, C2-6 QUARTERFINALS AND C1 DISTRICT FINALS) CONGRATULATIONS:

43 pts:

rattpack301, TadQueasy, NEMOFball

41:

ncmo24, carthagefan2006

40:

hangmanbobbyjaggers

39:

Herman.Boone

38:

HomeyR

ELIMINATED (THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR PLAYING HOPE TO SEE YOU BACK IN 2024!!!):

37:

trumanbulldog42

36:

Mowestdad

35:

Anti-BS

34:

KevAn92, Spartansguy23

33:

ChaoticFanatic, shoot90draw

32:

cardsfan200306, panther72

31:

Maverick_103, O Line Wins Games

30:

da bears 25, CaptainMullet

28:

NorthlandFootball, griffonsooner

27:

BlackSwarm

25:

BoosterBosko, Boogie_mane

ON to round 4 for you advancers: Games (unknown dates and number as of now) will post Sunday morning with a 7 PM Friday deadline for entries and there will be a tiebreak for position(s) if necessary. FOUR will advance from the next round and all MO games deemed competitive will be in play that semifinal round and all MO Championship games will post the final round where TWO will email picks. WHEW what a night! CONGRATS AGAIN to you eight!

6:08 left in 2q

Do I have this right?
Cape travels to Eureka (cape hosted district and Eureka didnt)
Ritter travels to Ft. Zumwalt ( Ritter hosted and Zumwalt didnt)
Helias travels to Republic (Helias hosted and Republic didnt)
GV travels to WC (both hosted championship, both hosted 2 games, WC is top of bracket)

Class 1 is next week
Portageville over Marionville in a defacto state championship game 28-20
St. Vincent over Tipton 28-14
North Platte over Windsor 21-13
Penney over Milan 7-6

Class 2
Valle over Scott City 42-20
Lift for Life over Jefferson 34-0
Fr. Tolton over Warsaw 48-26
Fair Grove over Strafford 49-7
Lamar over Adrian 42-7
Lafayette County over St. Michael 36-21
Bowling Green over South Shelby 48-42
East Buchanan over Mid Buchanan 35-0

Class 3
Park Hills over Ste. Gen 36-14
Borgia over St. Clair 31-14
Westminster over Orchard Farm 21-14
Blair Oaks over Moberly 42-6
Ava over Mtn. Grove 40-12
Seneca over Mt. Vernon 35-14
Odessa over California 42-12
Maryville over St. Pius 42-41

Class 4
Hillsboro over Festus 34-14
Pacific over Sullivan 28-27
Lutheran North over Clayton 56-0
Hannibal over Warrenton 42-20
Jeff City over Pleasant Hill 38-28
Bolivar over McDonald County 36-28
Nevada over Carl Junction 34-6
Kearney over Smithville 28-24

Class 5
Cape Central over Farmington 35-14
Summit over Eureka 28-14
Ritter over MICDS 42-14
St. Dominic over Zumwalt North 31-14
Helias over Capital City 27-13
Lebanon over Republic 28-22
Webb City over Carthage 34-20
Grain Valley over Platte County 41-21

Class 6
Jackson over Seckman 42-20
CBC over Howell 48-28
DeSmet over SLUH 38-21
Rick Bridge over Troy 28-17
Nixa over Joplin 35-14
Rockhurst over Lee’s Summit North 24-21
Liberty North over Liberty 38-0
Park Hill over Oak Park 36-35

Looks like a good game

.

Should be a good one. I think the only way SS not only competes but pulls it out is if they can control the clock and get a TO or two. Maybe I’m wrong. Definitely watching this one.

I’m very excited about this one! (Though not excited enough not to enjoy my first Friday Night home since August 😅)

These things typically go one of two ways:

The losing team from the first game comes ready and avenges their close loss with a close win…

Or the winning team from the first game wakes up and shows the world that the first game should not have been as close as it was…

Gotta be honest, I like Reeds’ chances to avenge 🤷🏻‍♂️

Looks like we will have a re-match of the State Championship game. After beating PC, no one will come close to toching Kearney until the championship game. No way will Hville be able to keep it close with Webb, they had the easiest road to a district championship. They lost to a district runner-up PC 49-0!!!!!Hville beat GV who lost to St.Joe Benton who was a 6th seed in Kearneys district. Parkway North will not have a shot at Webb, which will lead to the re-match.

Wash, rinse, repeat here we go again: This is the SIXTH straight year these two have played twice but just the second since the new Sheriff arrived in KTown. Last year was close for about one half of the first quarter then Smithville completely dominated from then on, something I don't nearly expect this go around.

FACTORS FAVORING SMITHVILLE:

1) Since the Warriors joined the Suburban Blue in 2018 they have been to FOUR final fours and won ONE championship two years ago PLUS have not been eliminated by a public school any of those runs. In other words this is now one of Missouri's ELITE HSFB programs and that will be extremely difficult for Kearney to overcome Friday.

2) Home field advantage. As most if not all of you know I travel all around looking for the best games of each week. Among my list of most difficult environments for a visitor to come in and win THIS ONE ranks at or very near the top in the entire NWMO region. Again Smithville's last loss at home to a public school was their nemesis (a subject for another time) Platte County when they collapsed in the second half October 2018 after being in full control the first one. Granted they did not play some years but Kearney has not been close to beating Smithville any visit since 2011.

3) HC Ambroson probably has assembled the best staff in the KC Metro (a major, major mouthful) and their experience will pay off in key moments in any game.

4) The confidence factor. Smithville is 10-1 vs. Kearney since the aforementioned joining the Sub Blue. I sincerely doubt anyone over that way believes that trend will change any time soon.

FACTORS FAVORING KEARNEY:

1) Senior leadership. Kearney has lots and lots of it and last year's experience should have left a very bitter taste in their mouths. Don't be deceived by the Week 3 result it was tainted by about as significant a rash of key injuries as you will see in this sport. Pay particular attention to RB #6 Emmons who is the definition of a gamer/workhorse and could carry this team onward and upward Friday.

2) The blowout rematch factor. I warn, warn and warn about this every season and many times it verifies. Even the elite teams tend to drop just a smidge when rematching a team they either blew away the season prior or earlier in the same one. Ambroson won't be able to sell the "us vs. the World underdog" narrative this time around.

3) All around athleticism. This program is definitely on the upswing and not just at the aforementioned Senior level. The RB corps is deep and talented so are the D Linemen and LBs and everyone knows about their prowess in other sports (please no Joey comments, thanks!).

So given all those items what are the concerns I've seen this year you ask? Here are a couple key ones:

Smithville is not playing nearly as well down the stretch in "overmatch" games as the past three years. I am particularly concerned about their ability to stop the run and overall defensive speed. This showed itself vs. Grandview in particular, a result I still have trouble wrapping my head around.

Kearney has shown tendencies to start slow even against overmatched teams (giving up big plays and first scores vs. Ruskin, Grandview and Ray South all games I attended in person) plus seems to have discipline/pen issues time and again. Much as everyone can be correct saying those will go away when the chips are all down I tend to believe your bad habits magnify in big games instead.


OVERALL SYNOPSIS: My expectations going into this game are polar opposite of last year when I all but knew Kearney had awakened the green monster in the regular season and they would have to match an extreme energy level to have a chance. This Friday I expect these two to face off more at eye level in a back and forth game that could actually resemble, score wise, the Smithville-Platte County shootout from which the Warriors were smarting which also contributed to the Week 3 blowout. As posted earlier my heart says Kearney breaks through but my head says Smithvillle guts this one out and moves on let's say 37-34.

Whatever happens GOOD LUCK to both fine teams, staffs and communities! It should be lots and lots of fun on a perfect evening for HSFB!

Congrats to Jeff City, Helias & Rock Bridge for winning their respective District Championships!

1st Q

Kearney with 180 yards in penalties at least.

Score made it look closer than it was.