Since maxpreps & MSHSAA have started keeping track, West Plains and Bolivar have met 7 times with the Zizzers leading the series 5-2.
West Plains has won the last 3 meetings by a combined score of 117-14 including a 45-0 shutout in last years Class 4 district title matchup on their way to the programs first semifinal appearance since 1969 and first quarterfinal win ever.
Bolivar has a new coach this year in Jamie LaSalle who has been successful just about everywhere he’s went.
This game will be played @ Bolivar. The last time the Zizzers traveled to Bolivar, the Z handed the Liberators a 56-7 drubbing @ SBU in a regular season matchup in 2021.

Coach Wyatt and the Zizzers were victorious in both clashes with Bolivar last year.

I’ll give WP the edge on this one. I went to their jamboree, I still think they have some work to do with their O Line, but that will come.
Their skill players are better than I expected with as much as they graduated.
Hughston(signed w/ Northern Iowa) is obviously their primary receiver at 6’6 230 lbs but the QB Jones looks better than I had expected and WP will have a strong ground game once again anchored by FB Dawson Howell at 6’3 240 lbs.
WP tailbacks both looked nice as well. Not as big as the last few years but they ran hard.

I expect something like 35-14 or 28-14 WP in this one. But who knows..? That’s why we play the game.

I won’t be attending, I’ll be out in SCA land watching a week 1 matchup there but I’ll watch the stream over the weekend I’m sure.

It has been preached to every team I have been around.... question is how many actually do it, when they are away from the field?

Nixa
Joplin
Republic
Carthage
WC

Neosho
Ozark
Willard
CJ
Branson

Feel ok about the top 5. Bottom 5 not so much.

Nixa is the team to beat.

For those predicting WC to win Class 5 I’ll say,
This ain’t 2012 and Rod ain’t the Coach.

CJs first year trying to run the split back option will make for a really long season. Stamp it.

Joplin has some speed and I’ve seen enough of the coach Jasper teams to say if he’s there, the Eagles have a shot. A little defense this year boys, please.

Carthage…Meh. No Gall.

Republic- I look for this smash-mouth team to rumble their way to bronze.

Who you like?

Hannibal, Kearney, West Plains

All 3 lose

Didn’t expect this.

One of the wackier weeks ever many games were selected correctly by the (vast) minority of players (everyone got the PC-Kearney game wrong) and many like so often happens this virtually unknown week went bonus/deduction. Here are the stats and CONGRATS LombardiHalas for an exceptional debut!

25 pts:

LombardiHalas

22;

HomeyR

21:

Maverick 103, carthagefan2006

18:

NorthlandFootball, panther72, da bears 25, shoot90draw, O Line Wins Games

17:

Herman Boone, rattpack301

16:

Mowestdad

15:

TadQueasy, GAB90, griffonsooner

14:

thelizardking1969, ChaoticFanatic, CaptainMullet

13:

cardsfan200306, hangmanbobbyjaggers, Anti-BS

12:

BoosterBosko

7:

JNsDaddyzDaddyIOwnU (did have the only correct Platte Valley over Worth County pick)


On to Week 2 which is not complete due to games involving Harrisonville and Richmond today. Once those finals are known will complete the list. To this point I have selected 23 games including a Thursday doubleheader plus a pair of 8-man Saturday ones so next week will be quite stretched out. Look for live score updates both Thursday and Saturday. The out of region game of the week is an obvious one down in Arkansas while the NWCMO was made far more difficult by last night's results but I will stick with it anyway. Again THANK YOU for making this the largest NWCMO Pick Em since 2018 and please do not get discouraged if you didn't fare so well this week.

FYI this week's maximum possible score was a whopping 34!

Week 2 will post tomorrow by mid-afternoon with a current 5 PM THURSDAY deadline for entries. GOOD LUCK everyone!

Bolivar with a big return on the opening kick.

WP D holds them in the red zone.

Bolivar Kicker misses FG from left hash. Z take over at their own 7

I know MICDS graduated several stars but Harrisonville could indeed be on the improve this year! Sure hope so!

nm

Cabool is driving. Up 8-0 with 3 min left in 1st

Joplin 28
Branson 7
3rd Qtr

Trip to two time defending Arkansas 7A champ Bryant is next up for the Cadets.

?

Howell got the go-ahead TD on the opening kickoff in the 2nd half. Howell and Zumwalt North games have been close games in recent years, with last year being an exception.

HERE WE GO: Opening week is always pure guesswork and this year I decided to go "kitchen sink":

Blair Oaks vs. Maryville (at UCM)
Blue Springs South at Lee's Summit
Capital City at Warrensburg
DeKalb at St. Joseph Christian
East Atchison at King City
Fort Osage at Grain Valley
Grandview at William Chrisman
Jackson at Edwardsville (IL)(Out of Region Game of the Week)
KIPP KC Legacy at Madison (IL)
Lawson at Oak Grove
Lee's Summit West at Liberty
Liberty North at Lee's Summit North (NWCMO Game of the Week)
Paris at SW Livingston
Park Hill South at Columbia Rock Bridge
Platte County at Kearney
Platte Valley at Worth County
Raymore-Peculiar at Rockhurst
Sherwood at Holden
Slater at Braymer
Smith-Cotton at Moberly
South Holt at Princeton
Southern Boone at Odessa
St. Joseph LeBlond at North Shelby
Staley at Blue Springs
Van Horn at TDW Academy (STL)
West Platte at Polo

NOTES: As of this writing the Van Horn game will kick @ 6:30 PM so that is our FRIDAY entry deadline time. I all but expect some games to kick later because of impending heat but will update as those become known. GOOD LUCK everyone!

are these scores im seeing correct?

Nm

.

Nm

Nm

Wondering how many of yuns have heard this political song that's blown up on the internet in the past week. Listen carefully to the lyrics, I missed some of the references first time. Here's a couple lines I didn't get until reading about the song;

"I wish politicians would look out for miners - as in coal "miners"
and not just minors on an island somewhere." - "minors" as in underage girls and Jeffrey Epstein and human trafficking reference

Love that renewed Appalachian sound like Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, and Tyler Childers!! Hope you enjoy!!

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56-0 final

RECORDS
-------
CARTHAGE (0-1, 0-1 COC)
REPUBLIC (1-0, 1-0 COC)

Wrong Board