Battle of Unbeatens This Week

[MidMoFBCoach1970]

Looks like we have about 10 battle of unbeatens this week. Should be some interesting games and paint of clearer picture of where some of these teams stand this season:

Lafayette County vs Warsaw
William Crisman vs Van Horn
Sullivan vs Union
Clark County vs Macon
St Dominic vs Lutheran St Charles
Kearney vs Smithville
Francis Howell Central vs Ft Zumwalt South
Tipton vs Cole Camp
Nixa vs Carthage
Seneca vs Cassville

Any thoughts or predictions?

I may have missed some, as this was a quick search on MSHSAA site

 

[thetophat2021]

Looks like we have about 10 battle of unbeatens this week. Should be some interesting games and paint of clearer picture of where some of these teams stand this season:

Lafayette County vs Warsaw
William Crisman vs Van Horn
Sullivan vs Union
Clark County vs Macon
St Dominic vs Lutheran St Charles
Kearney vs Smithville
Francis Howell Central vs Ft Zumwalt South
Tipton vs Cole Camp
Nixa vs Carthage
Seneca vs Cassville

Any thoughts or predictions?

I may have missed some, as this was a quick search on MSHSAA site

Higginsville will roll. Chrisman at VH is in my Pick Em because I think the home team is a 100 percent unknown. Kearney-Smithville will be a grinder. Tipton-CC is a pure coin flip. Nixa-Carthage, based on what I've seen so far, will be whomever controls the offensive tempo. The others will defer those would be flat out guesses.

 

[503_Maple]

Seneca wins by a fair amount.

 

[ugaboz]

Chrisman has the edge

 

[thetophat2021]

Chrisman has the edge

Agree they should but they haven't played any major competition, either.

 

[sw5890]

The only one I know anything about is Nixa at Carthage. To me Nixa has the edge on paper. They are horrifically deep with more talent probably at most positions aside from Carthage #14. Nixa's defense supposedly isn't outstanding. Carthage defense looked solid both weeks aside from getting burned on big plays in week 1. I had heard passing was going to be a much bigger component of this years Tigers but so far haven't really seen that. There are a number of things I could see happening:

1- Carthage gets gassed and Nixa outlasts and tacks on a late score or two for the W.
2- One team makes a few mistakes - penalties or turnovers that kill a drive or setup the other team for an free/easy score. In a close game those things can be the difference. I could see Carthage getting into a bind from a penalty or something then getting picked throwing on a 3rd or 4th and long.
3-Nixa has slightly more talent but Carthage is still a better team overall and wins in similar fashion as last year.

It should be a really great game both of these teams appear to be outstanding. I'm glad it's at Carthage!

As for Seneca and Cassville that sounds like a great game. I haven't heard anything about Cassville this year but they are a team I hear about fairly regularly. I've heard Seneca is quite good this year and should be pretty good for the next several years. Someone commented to me that McF left Seneca at precisely the wrong time - of course there is never really a wrong time to leave somewhere if where you are ending up is Webb City. As far as who will win no idea I don't really follow the Big 8 super close even though I like that league a lot. If I had to pick one I'd definitely go with Seneca!

 

[thetophat2021]

The only one I know anything about is Nixa at Carthage. To me Nixa has the edge on paper. They are horrifically deep with more talent probably at most positions aside from Carthage #14. Nixa's defense supposedly isn't outstanding. Carthage defense looked solid both weeks aside from getting burned on big plays in week 1. I had heard passing was going to be a much bigger component of this years Tigers but so far haven't really seen that. There are a number of things I could see happening:

1- Carthage gets gassed and Nixa outlasts and tacks on a late score or two for the W.
2- One team makes a few mistakes - penalties or turnovers that kill a drive or setup the other team for an free/easy score. In a close game those things can be the difference. I could see Carthage getting into a bind from a penalty or something then getting picked throwing on a 3rd or 4th and long.
3-Nixa has slightly more talent but Carthage is still a better team overall and wins in similar fashion as last year.

It should be a really great game both of these teams appear to be outstanding. I'm glad it's at Carthage!

As for Seneca and Cassville that sounds like a great game. I haven't heard anything about Cassville this year but they are a team I hear about fairly regularly. I've heard Seneca is quite good this year and should be pretty good for the next several years. Someone commented to me that McF left Seneca at precisely the wrong time - of course there is never really a wrong time to leave somewhere if where you are ending up is Webb City. As far as who will win no idea I don't really follow the Big 8 super close even though I like that league a lot. If I had to pick one I'd definitely go with Seneca!

Great, great measuring stick game for Nixa and Carthage. The Eagles will not see a team with similar depth to their own until District play. The Tigers are the current top team in C5 perhaps along with Francis Howell but never count Webb out. Not at all sure, after what happened to Fort, who the heck will emerge in C5 in NWMO/KC metro.

 

[sw5890]

Great, great measuring stick game for Nixa and Carthage. The Eagles will not see a team with similar depth to their own until District play. The Tigers are the current top team in C5 perhaps along with Francis Howell but never count Webb out. Not at all sure, after what happened to Fort, who the heck will emerge in C5 in NWMO/KC metro.

Definitely will be a good gauge for these teams especially Carthage. Nixa already has a good win over WC so in mind they have established themselves as the team to beat. Carthage has decisive wins but has only played a lower level COC and possibly a mid tier team in Republic. If Nixa wins then really only Joplin stands between them and the conference title.

 

[hitch_and_go]

Carthage is physically better than nixa . Nixa is deeper and more talented . It will come down to mistakes . I bet Gall runs for 300 yards against nixa . Their defense isn't impressive . Webb ran for 360 yds plus on them and just crapped the bed inside the 20's . Neoshos RB who is actually pretty darn good but Neosho as a team isn't ...ran for over 250 yds against nixa by himself . Webb struggled comparatively to run the ball against CJ compared to nixa . Ramone Green is the key to this game . If Carthage can wrap him up on the first opportunity they win . Webb would get to him in the backfield or near the los and he would get 5-20 yards on plays where he should have gotten -2 to 2 yards

 

[hitch_and_go]

Logic tells me nixa will win . My eyes say Carthage will win . I'm guessing it's going to be a high scoring game . Don't see either team stopping the other very often.

 

[TheRealJoey]

Smithville at Kearney is the game of the week in the KC area.

As predicted, Smithville's offensive passing production has fallen off a cliff versus last year, at least in the first couple games. They were passing averaging 400+ yards/game their first couple games last year. This year: 110/game. Running dropped off too, from the breakneck juggernaut of last year, down by almost 50%. Defense still looks great though. Run D and pass D good.

K's run D scores a little better, at least versus PC, where they averaged holding PC to just 2.5 ypc. Pass D not performed as well as Smithville's. K Offense has been prolific so far, except for the 1st half vs. PC and the 4th Q against Fort, when they were in mop up JV mode.

Big edge on the Jimmys and Joes to K this week. Too many athletes...and that is verifiable in that you have four or five players on their D that were all-state in track. You have a linebacker group that is super strong, in terms of power lifting--two of them were top three in the squat at the state meet as frosh and sophs last year. Front line has been excellent, and as a result they have recorded six sacks and four interceptions And that is no disrespect to SV, who also has a good number of athletes too. Like the O-line discus thrower - big dude. Excellent athlete. It is just a wave of x factor players. Fort didn't know what hit them. Players that were bigger, faster and stronger. Two D1 recruits on the O. This will be a good one.

I think the Smithville D better be ready to get their bones crushed when K lines up in their big man sets on O.

 

[thetophat2021]

Smithville at Kearney is the game of the week in the KC area.

As predicated, Smithville's offensive passing production has fallen off a cliff versus last year, at least in the first couple games. They were passing averaging 400+ yards/game their first couple games last year. This year: 110/game. Running dropped off too, from the breakneck juggernaut of last year, down by almost 50%. Defense still looks great though. Run D and pass D good.

K's run D scores a little better, at least versus PC, where they averaged holding PC to just 2.5 ypc. Pass D not performed as well as Smithville's. K Offense has been prolific so far, except for the 1st half vs. PC and the 4th Q against Fort, when they were in mop up JV mode.

Big edge on the Jimmys and Joes to K this week. Too many athletes...and that is verifiable in that you have four or five players on their D that were all-state in track. You have a linebacker group that is super strong, in terms of power lifting--two of them were top three in the squat at the state meet as frosh and sophs last year. Front line has been excellent, and as a result they have recorded six sacks and four interceptions And that is no disrespect to SV, who also has a good number of athletes too. Like the O-line discus thrower - big dude. Excellent athlete. It is just a wave of x factor players. Fort didn't know what hit them. Players that were bigger, faster and stronger. Two D1 recruits on the O. This will be a good one.

I think the Smithville D better be ready to get their bones crushed when K lines up in their big man sets on O.

Did you get a chance to read both of last week's game summaries in the Courier? It is obvious they have youngsters writing the articles (which I think is great experience) but I always head to what the HCs have to say: Ambroson was his usual very professional, respectful (if a bit overly so) self toward PC and K while Minnick, again, comes across with a blunt, no-nonsense, confident tone not about the result but the approach i.e. "the Champs are coming to town and we WILL match their intensity". Cannot wait to see this APPETIZER game (unless winning the Sub Blue is your ultimate goal) unfold tomorrow night!

 

[TheRealJoey]

Did you get a chance to read both of last week's game summaries in the Courier? It is obvious they have youngsters writing the articles (which I think is great experience) but I always head to what the HCs have to say: Ambroson was his usual very professional, respectful (if a bit overly so) self toward PC and K while Minnick, again, comes across with a blunt, no-nonsense, confident tone not about the result but the approach i.e. "the Champs are coming to town and we WILL match their intensity". Cannot wait to see this APPETIZER game (unless winning the Sub Blue is your ultimate goal) unfold tomorrow night!

I would say I would not be so up on K if not for what I witnessed at the UCM camp, where K moved the ball and scored twice on Liberty North. Where against every C6 team they faced, they rolled up on them and moved the ball. I saw some serious potential for a stream roller there. My only surprise this season was the first half versus Platte County. But there, you have two questionable official calls that killed scoring drives too--took away a 55 yard TD on one.

I have watched Smithville play Raytown and Platte County. The D looks really good to me. I think they can do some things to slow down Kearney for a while, maybe. I thought going into the season that Fort would be the best D Kearney would face. Friday we shall see if that is the case. Turnovers might be a key to the game. I don't see Smithville scoring that much on this D. They lost most of the WR and TE production from guys that were two and three year starters in those positions, and flat out studs. And that has shown in those games. 9 of 19 passing against Platte County. 48 yards? They used to get that in one Rhett Foster play.

I can't wait to find out.

 

[ugaboz]

Agree they should but they haven't played any major competition, either.

better than van horn and vs grandview had multiple starters out.
chrisman might start 5-0

 

[thetophat2021]

I would say I would not be so up on K if not for what I witnessed at the UCM camp, where K moved the ball and scored twice on Liberty North. Where against every C6 team they faced, they rolled up on them and moved the ball. I saw some serious potential for a stream roller there. My only surprise this season was the first half versus Platte County. But there, you have two questionable official calls that killed scoring drives too--took away a 55 yard TD on one.

I have watched Smithville play Raytown and Platte County. The D looks really good to me. I think they can do some things to slow down Kearney for a while, maybe. I thought going into the season that Fort would be the best D Kearney would face. Friday we shall see if that is the case. Turnovers might be a key to the game. I don't see Smithville scoring that much on this D. They lost most of the WR and TE production from guys that were two and three year starters in those positions, and flat out studs. And that has shown in those games. 9 of 19 passing against Platte County. 48 yards? They used to get that in one Rhett Foster play.

I can't wait to find out.

Low scoring and close likely hinging on turnovers and key pens at inopportune moments is where this one goes for me as of today.

 

[thetophat2021]

better than van horn and vs grandview had multiple starters out.
chrisman might start 5-0

Why I say Van Horn is a total unknown is because they've barely had to do anything to easily win. NOW they play the underdog role who knows what will happen?

 

[TheRealJoey]

Low scoring and close likely hinging on turnovers and key pens at inopportune moments is where this one goes for me as of today.

If K plays a decent game and reps the way they should, they put up 28 on SV., SV won't be able to hang. But penalties and turnovers could slow that down. SV will need to ground and pound and stall, kill time like they did on PC. Hell, it looks like their run game is better than their passing game. But Smithville doesn't have a Fenner X factor player to worry about this year. And those K defenders cover serious ground.

 

[TheRealJoey]

I assume ambulances will be at the ready at Carthage vs. Nixa.

 

[thetophat2021]

If K plays a decent game and reps the way they should, they put up 28 on SV., SV won't be able to hang. But penalties and turnovers could slow that down. SV will need to ground and pound and stall, kill time like they did on PC. Hell, it looks like their run game is better than their passing game. But Smithville doesn't have a Fenner X factor player to worry about this year. And those K defenders cover serious ground.

QB is dual threat he is my X factor (Hedgecorth). Smart kid with excellent "full court awareness".

 

[TheRealJoey]

QB is dual threat he is my X factor (Hedgecorth). Smart kid with excellent "full court awareness

That would be more the case if K had slow, weak LBs. But they do not. The SV QB can take off--and does effectively, but he might regret the 200 lb soph LBr that can bench 285 putting shoulder in his helmet. Menne found out what that feels like last week. But certainly something to watch for--since K has held their opponent QBs to a 44 rating, there might not be many targets for him in the air. They will have to resort to that tactic.

 

[_slo_mo_]

I'll be heading to Kearney tonight for the game, will anyone else be there?

 

[thetophat2021]

I'll be heading to Kearney tonight for the game, will anyone else be there?

I will be likely with family and meeting a couple of LONG AGO posters from our great town............

 

[ugaboz]

Why I say Van Horn is a total unknown is because they've barely had to do anything to easily win. NOW they play the underdog role who knows what will happen?

true
could go either way
van horn is always physical

 

[WFBuckely]

Smithville at Kearney is the game of the week in the KC area.

As predicted, Smithville's offensive passing production has fallen off a cliff versus last year, at least in the first couple games. They were passing averaging 400+ yards/game their first couple games last year. This year: 110/game. Running dropped off too, from the breakneck juggernaut of last year, down by almost 50%. Defense still looks great though. Run D and pass D good.

K's run D scores a little better, at least versus PC, where they averaged holding PC to just 2.5 ypc. Pass D not performed as well as Smithville's. K Offense has been prolific so far, except for the 1st half vs. PC and the 4th Q against Fort, when they were in mop up JV mode.

Big edge on the Jimmys and Joes to K this week. Too many athletes...and that is verifiable in that you have four or five players on their D that were all-state in track. You have a linebacker group that is super strong, in terms of power lifting--two of them were top three in the squat at the state meet as frosh and sophs last year. Front line has been excellent, and as a result they have recorded six sacks and four interceptions And that is no disrespect to SV, who also has a good number of athletes too. Like the O-line discus thrower - big dude. Excellent athlete. It is just a wave of x factor players. Fort didn't know what hit them. Players that were bigger, faster and stronger. Two D1 recruits on the O. This will be a good one.

I think the Smithville D better be ready to get their bones crushed when K lines up in their big man sets on O.

Well, that was a good one.

 

[thetophat2021]

Yes. # 14 crushed their bones. 2 TDs. The stand up one was impressive. Walked into the end zone after crushing a defender.

Overall yes but Smithville's D did force one lateral run for no gain. That was actually the best D Kearney has faced this year but PC was a very close second. The Highway 92 regular season round robin is over and I bet the HCs of all three are RELIEVED.