Each week the O-Zone staff will rank the top 10 area football teams based on dominance by class, aka how they stack up pound-for-pound with the other schools in their respective class.
Week 1 Roundup
Monday Rewind: Carl Junction announces presence with authority
Top 100 week 1 photos
VIDEO: In the Zone, week 1 recap
(Class, record, previous ranking in parenthesis)
1. Lamar (C2, 1-0, 1) – While most of the SWMO football world had its eyes on the CJ vs. Webb showdown, the Tigers went about their business with a 50-0 win at Cassville. Speaking of CJ, it was the Lamar’s 22nd straight win since a regular season loss to the Bulldogs back in October of 2014. Offense = great, but it’s the defense that has been really outstanding; allowing less than three points per game since the playoffs started last October.
2. Carl Junction (C4, 1-0, 4) – Wow! I would imagine the Bulldog community is just now catching its breath after Friday night’s historic win over Class 4 top ranked Webb City. Some questioned how CJ would handle the bump up to the COC Large. Well, I’d say pretty well. It was the first win over the vaunted Cardinal program since 1977, but it was also a key COC Large victory to start the season. With Kearney’s big win over Fort Osage I’d expect CJ to come in at number two in this week’s state poll. They’re now in the driver’s seat to win the conference, but don’t sleep on anyone, including visiting Republic this Friday.
3. MV-BT/Liberty (C2, 1-0, 3) – Last November’s crushing loss to Lamar was as painful as they come, but it was experiences like that one that have this year’s Eagles squad not only hungry, but battle-tested. On Friday night, the Class 2 2nd ranked Eagles found themselves trailing to Class 4 10th ranked Cape Girardeau Central in the third quarter. Led by Josh Pruett and Brenton Bush, the Eagles turned it on and pulled away to beat the school three times its size. It’s no accident Coach Acklin scheduled this much bigger and very good opponent. It’s games like this that will have the Eagles ready come playoff time.
4. Webb City (C4, 0-1, 2) – It’s only a loss right? Not exactly. Friday’s 23-7 defeat at Carl Junction was the Cardinals’ first in the COC Large era, first regular season loss to a Missouri school since 2003 and first to CJ since 1977. For Coach Rod and the Cards, it’s over, it’s done, it’s in the past. Webb City may not be the unstoppable force they’ve been in the past, but they’re still firmly a top 5 Class 4 team and are still very much in the COC Large/state championship conversation.
5. Monett (C3, 1-0, 5) – I went on a bit of a limb to call the Cubs the area’s best Class 3 team. So far, so good. On Saturday, the Cubs beat up on a California team that was receiving votes in Class 2. Our choice for “breakout player”, senior Michael Branch, did just that with three touchdowns and three sacks. I’m looking forward to a first-hand view of Coach Uhl’s club this week as they visit Rogersville.
6. Kickapoo (C6, 1-0, 7) – Last year we screamed at the mountain top to the rest of the state, KICKAPOO IS GOOD!!! Yes, even Class 6 good. Apparently they get it now. The slightly new-look Chiefs opened 2016 the same way they began 2015; with a dominating win over Parkview. Chris Lawson and Maverick McGee are a year better. Some newcomers stepped up big. And it appears the offensive line is getting the job done. It’s great that we have a true Ozark Conference champion, but it’s times like this I wish we could see a Kickapoo vs. Jeff City matchup to gauge how good the Chiefs are against the state’s elite Class 6 schools.
7. Mtn Grove (C2, 1-0, 6) – The Panthers got their quarterfinal revenge Friday night, beating Aurora 35-21. Credit Aurora, who returns only three starters from last year, for keeping it close, but in the end it was just too much Carter Otwell and Trystan Short. The QB/RB duo accounted for 90 percent of the Panthers’ offense, including all five touchdowns. Rich Adkins (previously at Jasper) had a successful debut as the Panthers’ head coach, making a halftime adjustment to the blocking scheme that turned out to be a big difference down the stretch. Look for MG to get a small bump up in this week’s state poll.
8. Fair Grove (C2, 1-0, 8) – It took them a quarter to shake the rust off, but once they did the Eagles soared so to speak; scoring four 2nd quarter touchdowns on their way to a 49-7 season-opening win over Buffalo. It was a huge game for running back Dalton Cloyd, but I was particularly excited to hear that the gigantic ‘basketball turned receiver’ duo of Evan Fullerton and Steven Huskey each hauled in touchdown passes. With those two creating a threat on the outside, Cloyd and Austin Fodge toting the rock and Brayden Lumley holding it down at QB, the Eagles seem nearly unbeatable in the Mid-Lakes. We’ll see this Friday as they host Skyline in the KY3 Game of the Week.
9. Lincoln (C1, 1-0, 10) – The Cardinals trailed Rich Hill 3-0 early. From there, they showed why they’re the fourth ranked team in the state in Class 1. Dominic Simmons rushed for 190 yards and two scores, Boone Kroenke added a TD on the ground and through the air and both Aaron Kranz and Derek Stephens found paydirt as the Cardinals rolled 52-3 in a game that was halted at halftime due to weather. How good are the Cardinals? It’s really hard to say until they play a proven squad.
10. Nixa (C5, 1-0, 9) – The Eagles are 1-0 after holding off a furious fourth quarter rally from visiting Willard. I got to see this one first hand and the book is still out on Nixa. They’re big, talented, disciplined on defense and once again have a great kicker, but I’m interested to see where they stack up against COC Large favorites Carl Junction and Webb City. I expect that talented Eagle offense to break loose this week at Branson.
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: Glendale, West Plains, Diamond, Lockwood, Reeds Spring
