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.
(Class, record, previous ranking in parenthesis)
1. Lamar (C2, 3-0, 1) – I’m pretty much at a loss for words. The Tigers haven’t allowed a point in 22 quarters dating back to last November’s quarterfinals. That’s 264 minutes! You could watch the movie Malcom X then take an hour nap and still not go as long as Lamar’s defense has held their opponents off the scoreboard. Does winning ever get old? Are you bored Lamar? Hopefully, the Brotherhood will get its first test this week as they visit fellow 3-0 Monett for what should equate to the Big 8 title game.
2. MV-BT/Liberty (C2, 3-0, 3) – If not for that team just above this sentence, we would likely be talking dynasty for the Eagles. It seems they can do no wrong and that was once again the case in Friday’s 32-0 shutout of Thayer. Josh Pruett is now averaging five touchdowns per game. The defense is suffocating. In case you’re wondering, it’s 68 days until the quarterfinals, not that we’re anticipating a fifth meeting in six years between Liberty and Lamar 😉 For what it’s worth, the two super-squads do have a similar opponent this season; Lamar beat Aurora 50-0, Liberty beat Aurora 49-7. Just sayin’
3. Monett (C3, 3-0, 4) – There was some question going into the season who the area’s top Class 3 team was in a bit of a down year. Well, there’s very little debate right now. It’s the Cubs! Even IF you can slow down Michael Branch, expect a heavy dose of Ian Marshall, not to mention receiver Brian Parra-Navarro, who had a breakout 147 yard, two touchdown game in Friday’s 42-28 win over Mt Vernon. Buckle up for Friday! The five-time defending state champ Lamar Tigers are coming to town. Can Monett pull the biggest shocker of the year? Find out in the KSPR Game of the Week.
4. Kickapoo (C6, 3-0, 5) – There’s a few teams on this list that haven’t really been tested so far, and the Chiefs are one of them. Maverick McGee worked hard for his 160 rushing yards and four touchdowns in Friday’s 49-20 win over Joplin, but it almost seemed too easy. I for one predicted a second straight undefeated OC run, but that premonition will be mightily tested over the next two weeks as the Poo hosts Camdenton, then batten down the hatches as the Chiefs visit Glendale on a special Thursday night game for the Falcons’ homecoming on Sep. 15.
5. Mtn Grove (C2, 3-0, 6) – I was particularly interested to see how the Panthers would perform Friday night at fellow 2-0 Ava. The Panthers passed the test with flying colors, staying tied atop the SCA with a 26-0 shutout. We had a camera out there in Douglas County and it looked like the Panthers were up to their usual blue collar, hard-nosed, old school ways. The Grove looks to hand another SCA team its first loss this Friday as they host 3-0 Willow Springs.
6. Carl Junction (C4, 2-1, 2) – After Friday’s 10-7 upset loss at Ozark, head coach Doug Buckmaster said you have to “show up and play the game”. A CJ player said, “we’re not in the Big 8 anymore.” Bottom line, Ozark came to play and the 2nd ranked Bulldogs got beat. Major credit to Chad Depee and the Tigers for a great game plan and execution, especially on defense. They certainly proved us wrong (all eight of our staffers picked CJ)! And apparently that literally motivated the Tigers. CJ is still a very very good Class 4 team and there’s no time to sulk as they prepare for 3-0 Neosho back at the friendly confines this Friday.
7. Fair Grove (C2, 3-0, 7) – Fair Grove could not have played better so far this season and yet I still can’t move them up this list…at least not yet. It’s a group that actually reminds me a lot of Strafford two years ago or Skyline last year; athletes all over the field. The staff has obviously done a great job of preparing their team each week, and while I honestly don’t see a loss on their schedule, don’t sleep on an improving Catholic squad this week.
8. Lincoln (C1, 3-0, 8) – Similar to Lamar, the Cardinals seem to have sleep walked their way through the first three walks, outscoring their opponents 148-3. Unlike Lamar, success, especially this kind of success, is very new for the Class 1 school just northeast of Warsaw in Benton County. After an undefeated regular season last fall, the Cardinals got blown out of the water by Skyline in the district championship. You can bet they’re itching to get back to that spot and turn the tide. The problem is it doesn’t appear they will be tested. Lincoln’s first eight opponents are a combined 5-18 so far with only week 9 opponent Cole Camp having a winning record. They’re a very talented group, but it may be a while until we know how they compare to the rest of the top teams in Class 1.
9. Glendale (C5, 3-0, 10) – Strike up the band, the Glendale Falcons have arrived! Third year head coach Mike Mauk is a humble, very respectful, normally reserved coach, but you could see it in his eyes how much beating a West Plains team, that frankly had beaten up on the Falcons the last few years, meant to the hall of fame coach and his squad. The accolades, rankings and media attention is pouring in for the scarlet and blue, something these players are not used to, but you can bet Mauk and the staff is urging this team to keep its focus on the field, and that is a trip to 3-0 Lebanon this Friday.
10. Nixa (C5, 3-0, 9) – The Eagles once again took care of business last week with a 49-0 win over visiting Springfield Central. That seems to be the theme for Nixa so far. They held off Willard’s furious 4th quarter comeback in the opener before coming back to beat Branson week 2. There’s certainly nothing wrong with Nixa, but in order to vault them into state championship contending status in my mind, I’d like to see a full four quarters and a little domination this week against battle-tested Republic.
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: Webb City (1-2), Lockwood (3-0), Neosho (3-0), Carthage (2-1), Ozark (2-1)
A LITTLE BIT MORE TO PROVE: Lebanon (3-0), Cassville (2-1), Reeds Spring (2-1), Ash Grove (3-0), Salem (3-0)
