HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Smithville....BOOM!
- Thread starter Missouri Kid
- Start date
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anon_utvqikut1knht
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Everyone got it wrong on Pick Em. I came away from this crazy one (have another one on right now in Northtown so no summary yet) scratching my head more than ever about HOW THE HECK the Warriors blew that 27 point 3rd quarter lead vs. Platte County. They showed up big big time tonight. They were my Class 4 team to watch pre-season and sure announced themselves as legit! Congrats to them............now on to the playoffs. This district, I will all but guarantee, will produce one of the C4 finalists in Columbia. Which one?
Picked Smithville at first in pixkem then thought they would blow it at the end.
Just getting #1 seed in D8 has to make them the favorite. Think Kearney and Platte County will wear themselves out in the semifinal battle.
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anon_utvqikut1knht
Guest
If Kearney plays with energy and attitude I came away from this one loving their chances in a rematch. Smithville will have to play the favorite role now.............much more pressure when everything is on the line and you haven't won a district title in eons. That being said they were my C4 team to watch for a reason. Very senior led and talented on both sides of the ball.
Kearney was exposed tonight. In my opinion, their chances of winning districts went way down.
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anon_utvqikut1knht
Guest
The offensive issues have been there since the Staley game. The final offensive drive, though, shows what they can do if motivated. They have the athletes it is the CONCENTRATION and EXECUTION that is missing for some reason. Again I hate to say it but I saw some of this last year and wonder if they are being properly motivated/prepped for games like this. NOW, though, it is all on the line for both sides from here on out. I came away a bit more optimistic again because of that last offensive drive. The D was on the field way too much, though, and gave way on the last drive (along with a ridiculous series of pens).
I agree with everything you said Top. I rarely question coaching but what I saw tonight made me scratch my head.
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anon_utvqikut1knht
Guest
Exactly what I said after the 31-7 (deceiving final score) win vs. Grain Valley. In all fairness it could be the kids just aren't paying attention but I bet they do NOW. If they don't it will be on to basketball/wrestling ahead of schedule.
Top - I know you've been really sold on this D...I think it's improved at a corner (from last year), other than that I've never been as sold (that it was significantly improved.) Last year's dogs (and prior versions) played tougher schedules - they've replaced 3 class 5 teams (from last season w/H'ville, Grain Valley & Smithville.) Last year's Fort, Raytown & PC teams had skill position players that would have caused match-up problems for this D as well. I HATE playing 10 yards off the receiver - IMO, they haven't faced teams that could/would exploit it (Platte County might have, but their qb struggled with the wet ball.)
The Dogs are still good enough to come out of this district - they've got some things to work on though - clean up the penalties, be more creative in getting the ball to Connery when teams stack the bock (IMO, that's splitting him out), and IMO, a couple of kids need to get more involved playing both ways.
I was amazed that Connery wasn't returning punts last night - biggest game of the season and one of the best returners in the state is standing on the sidelines...
Not to bag on the refs, but I hated that PI in the end zone...receiver throws up his arms after the play and the ref follows that with the flag (and Smithville was throwing up their arms all night.) I didn't see contact late - if there was any, it was early (holding), and the flag should have been out early. I didn't see the roughing call, but have no issue with the ref throwing the 2nd unsportsmanlike - kids have to shut up & get back in the huddle (that lack of discipline.)
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anon_utvqikut1knht
Guest
The defense was on the field the entire night. Just at eye level the speed difference between the past two and this year is noticeable. After digesting it overnight think they played this one a bit too "safe" knowing they may face the Warriors again with everything on the line. I think they didn't want to expose Connery to injury and thus didn't utilize him in full until they had to (that final TD drive).
IF they play with energy and efficiency offensively all this will be moot because they will win District 8. There were many very surprising Week 9 scores across the state and I think the fact the games that really matter are around the corner is a major contributing factor. The officials were hard to read: let them play the first half then went into tight mode the second. There was another factor and that was this was, at this level, a mirror image of the Park Hill-Staley game as things were chippy at the least all night. That targeting play on Connery on the sideline is one I have a feeling that great kid will remember should these two rematch.
Overall I LOVE the fact this happened now because had K gutted/lucked this one out they would most certainly not have learned from it and would be extremely vulnerable in the playoffs. That is much less likely now. Again again again they now MUST open up the playbook and play with urgency the ENTIRE GAME. Beginning next week we shall see.............
