I forgot about BO. They are up there with them. I still think Lathrop is their with both of them. Find out better Friday for sure
Let's take a deep dive into Class 2
- Thread starter Cards1968
- Start date
I echo most of your sentiments. I have not seen Lathrop play so it is hard for me to know where they are but suspect they will be a tough out.
I have seen Blair Oaks play and they are everything described by a poster early in this thread. Only injuries or a bad weather day will keep them from being a handful for anyone come playoff time. Their win over Maryville was no fluke but, even though both teams are obviously better now than when they played, Maryville has probably improved more.
Blair Oaks my fav because of matchup issues they will cause with their passing game against your typical class 2 defense. Going to have to have great team speed against them. BO's offense line is really good and will give the qb plenty of time to pass when they do their RPO offense.
I know the focus in on schools up around KC right now, but in SWMO look at Strafford's District. How much of a head scratcher is Ava's Week 1 loss to Buffalo, now that they are sitting at 4-1?
That district usually plays Lamar in the quarterfinals, but it has in the past given Lamar some trouble.
That district usually plays Lamar in the quarterfinals, but it has in the past given Lamar some trouble.
Peter Quill
Well-Known Member
Ava & Mt. View Liberty has given Lamar some trouble. Not so much Fair Grove or Strafford.
I agree with that. I still don't know they can match the size and physicality of Lamar.
Ava’s loss isn’t too much of a head scratcher.
Yes, they’re 4-1, but they have fallen quite short of expectations
The SCA as a whole is down this year, so cruising through it doesn’t mean what it would have in years past. Plus, they still have some teams left on their schedule that can beat them before districts.
I thought that was maybe the case, just didn't know for sure what the SCA was like. It is usually a strong league, but was not sure.
Unfortunately that is the case this year. There is quite a bit of parity, Houston is 4-1, Ava is 4-1, Mountain Grove is way down. Probably more than they have been since the 90s.
Wish realray would get on here to confirm some of this. He is a wealth information. Especially when it comes to Grove and the SCA. I was a sportswriter for a newspaper based out of a town in that conference for a couple of years, about a decade ago lol, but he definitely takes the cake in all-time knowledge of that conference and surrounding area.
Cabool has had a good start for them(3-2), but the second half of their schedule is going to be rough on them. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them give people fits in districts after playing up the majority of the year though.
Liberty is not the Liberty of years past, and Thayer has already lost two ball games 5 weeks into the season which is not like them.
Willow is way down. Salem is average which has been their usual theme since Coach Shu retired
Who knows though? Ava could prove me wrong and take the district by storm, but even with Grove being down, it’s going to be a very tough district to get through.
It will depend how Ava can do upfront with Strafford and Fair Grove. Fair Grove has some good size, but I don't know if they are truly physical. I liken the Mid-Lakes to the Big 12 of Class 2 teams, especially in SWMO. A lot of speed and athletes, but not always physical enough to match the SCA or Lamar.
Well, their 1st and 2nd string QBs both went down in the 2nd Quarter and one of their 2-way lineman is out of the country at the moment so...? That’s 10% of the roster and about 20% of their starting lineup. I still like them as the favorite to win district 7 if they’re healthy.
We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. They are probably the fourth best team in district 7. Their starting QB was certainly a loss for them, but they were getting man handled before he went down. The backup didn't look like he was ready to step into that position, and the offense actually played better when the FB started taking snaps. Summit Christian, Higginsville, and maybe Holden are better teams, and I really don't think it's that close. Knob is better than usual, but they still aren't close to being contenders.
I guess we shall see come District time. I’d say they’re second best team in the district. But they’re still my favorite to win, I’ve been wrong before.
Welp after being one of only two teams that has been turbo clocked by Lexington this year, guess we can scratch higginsville off the list. Pretty sure Knob scored 5 TDs on Lexington and Higginsville couldn’t manage even 1 touchdown?
Lathrop plays mainly class 1 teams. Plenty of class 2 schools with undefeated records have had the goal to knock off Lamar, and have seen they couldn’t. MVL and some schools over the years were actually battle tested, and have been about as good in those certain years. I’ll believe Lathrop, or other CCC schools have a chance to beat Lamar when they play Lamar. And actually give them a game or beat them. Until then? I don’t see it. BO/LN are the biggest threats to Lamar this year. And that would be the state title game. Not saying it’s impossible, or I won’t sit there watching the game online versus Lathrop or a CCC school and be shocked it’s a game. I just need to see it, to believe it honestly.
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I’m I truly overlooking this CCC conference? I know you and Cards seem to like that conference. I just don’t see it.
Monroe City is the defending class 1 champions out of the CCC, they also have beaten a class 4 Helias team. There may not be a Lamar in the CCC, but there are several good teams. MC has seemed to find another gear the past couple weeks .
Monroe City has won 22 of their last 23 games, many of the kids helped win a championship in 2017 & were runner up in 2016 (Insert the Class 1 hate here). The CCC's success over the last 30 years speaks for itself. I will also stand by Macon as a threat in D8
I’m sure all of these mentioned teams are really scrappy. And I believe Macon has a great run game. I’m hoping I’m wrong. That I eat crow. Figuratively speaking of course. We will see how this goes come time. Lamar will have to travel to play any of these teams. From watching hudl and hearing Cards talk. Here’s my list of most dangerous to Lamar. (Before state no particular order.)
Macon
Lathrop
Monroe City
We are not on the same page, In no way am I saying these teams can take on Lamar. I was simply stating that I believe Macon is a threat in D8 that no one is mentioning. Monroe City is on the opposite side of bracket.
Ok I was confused because I thought I was possibly wrong on where Monroe City was located on the bracket. Haha. I see what you are saying.
After Monroe City’s performance last night, I think they are a legitimate threat, but they would have to get past Blair Oaks and Lutheran North to even face Lamar. They should be in the discussion too.
That’s why I don’t have them higher. It’s really a BO/LN matchup and it’s basically a given.
I’m stoked for Buffalo that they’re having such a great season. Was on the phone with a friend from there after they beat Fair Grove the other night. They’re definitely significantly improved from years past, though they do play mostly smaller schools. Kudos to them.
You haven't been paying close enough attention lately. I've got Lawson coming out of D8. My Tigers are really good offensively. They have a really good RB and their QB is also good on the ground and through the air. My concern for them is the same it's been all season - defense. When Macon has been a real threat they have been led by great defense ie: 2010 and 11. This group is not on that level.
It's too bad Macon and Lamar couldn't close the deal in 2010. That would have been a whale of a ballgame.
Peter Quill
Well-Known Member
Speaking of travel that is definitely an advantage for Lamar over every other class 2 team they face. If they travel to any school that has never hosted them it can be overwhelming due to the numbers of fans and players. No team in class two travels as well as they do. They have had eight years experience.
Peter Quill
Well-Known Member
Not sure if it’s BS and if Macon travels well I will take your word on it. I still think Lamar has the advantage on this subject. Every year in the playoffs Lamar has traveled in large numbers across the state to the east side and the dome.
I've got a post from a neutral fan on here that was at the Blair Oaks game in 2011 tucked away somewhere. Anywho, the gist was how Macon decended on Wardsville that day, occupying a third of the home side and all around the track on the concession side. I'll try and find it, but it's well known Macon travels very well. I'd also throw Penney in the running.
Peter Quill
Well-Known Member
I think Macon is a larger town than Lamar and more boys on the team? The BO game what is that, about 100 miles? I believe you in how well they travel.
What always surprised me is the numbers that Lamar has on a 4 hour one way travel.
At this point I will let the Lamartians reply (or not.)
What always surprised me is the numbers that Lamar has on a 4 hour one way travel.
At this point I will let the Lamartians reply (or not.)
I can't defend how Higginsville played Lexington, it was embarrassing. But that doesn't make Knob any better. They are still a mediocre team in a weak district. They should be favored against Holden, but it wouldn't surprise me if they lost. Knob and Lexington will both be sitting at home when their respective district champs are crowned.
1. I am not a Lamartian. 2. I can google search. 3. Lamar 4,353-Barton County 11,880. Macon 5,377-Macon Cnty. 15,335. As far as Roster - I do not know. The past few years Lamar has run about 70 players (give or take a few) 9th - 12th grade.
I can attest from watching Lamar play in state three times. And watching them play Valle Catholic on the road, that Lamar brings about the whole
city with them. (Not literally but close to it.) You’d be hard pressed to see a bigger class 3 or under travel crowd quite like Lamar.
I guess it just doesn’t make sense to me that Knob gives Lexington one of their toughest games this season, and then higginsville gets routed by Lexington but since Knob had an off night against higginsville, you’re saying that Knob doesn’t have a chance at winning districts. As previously stated, we shall see.
And I do agree that Knob should be the favorite against Holden but hopefully they aren’t taking that for granted after Holden handed Lexington their only loss of the season. I would say that Knob has a much better shot at winning District 7 than Lexington does at winning District 8 and that’s not a slight to Lexington, District 8 is just absolutely loaded this year.
Similar to how the Webb district was the last few years with Webb, CJ, West Plains, and Camdenton all in the same district.
Similar to how the Webb district was the last few years with Webb, CJ, West Plains, and Camdenton all in the same district.
MC beat Valle in the championship last year 12-7, in what had to be a closely contested game. Lamar beat Valle in the regular season 55-7, after pulling off the gas in the second half. Most of these teams you guys talk about are not even in the same galaxy as Lamar. You ought to sit through Lamar's first three district games.....It's painful!
They also beat a PAIR of class 4 teams, along with 5 class 3's and one class 2 thus far THIS YEAR.
LN, BO, and Cassville this week may test them, but barring Webb, there isn't a team in the state with more big game experience in recent years. Good luck to everyone, but it's way more likely than not Lamar repeats in class 2.
