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By Chris Parker
Before I go any further, THESE ARE NOT A HEAD-TO-HEAD RANKING, BUT A RANKING OF DOMINANCE BY CLASS. I am not saying I think the Class 1 schools on this list could beat all the Class 4-6 teams ranked below them or not ranked.
STATE FOOTBALL RANKINGS – CLICK HERE
1. Lamar (C2 – 1-0)
Few teams had a better debut than the defending state champion Lamar Tigers. They dominated Catholic in all phases of the game on the way to a 46-0 win. On offense, Lamar had 520 yards rushing on 41 carries with five different players scoring touchdowns. Defensively, Lamar shut out the Irish while holding them to -26 yards rushing and 77 yards through the air. 10 of 13 rushing attempts for Catholic went for a loss. The Tigers also picked off two passes. This team was the unanimous No. 1 team in the first state football rankings for good reason.
2. Nixa (C6 – 1-0)
Nixa had no trouble in a 42-6 win over Branson to open the season. The Eagles had 310 yards rushing on the ground with 117 yards passing while holding Branson to 118 yards of total offense. Ramone Green showed off his speed with three touchdown runs including two scores that came from beyond 60 yards out. The defense was keyed by John Gholson causing havoc in the Branson backfield. Nixa proved last year that it can compete in Class 6 by giving eventual state champion Ray-Pec its biggest scare of the post-season in a game decided by just three points. Up next is a huge road trip to Joplin. Nixa beat Joplin by one point in Week 2 last year. Both teams are currently ranked in the top 6 in the Class 6 state rankings. The atmosphere in Joplin will be electric on Friday.
3. Joplin (C6 – 1-0)
Joplin beat Webb City for a third-consecutive time in the state’s most exciting game of Week 1. Joseph Ipsen hit a 42-yard field goal as time expired gave the Eagles a 41-40 victory. Always Wright was masterful at quarterback going 26-for-34 for 272 yards and four touchdowns. All four touchdowns went to different receivers. Wright also rushed 8 times for 44 yards and a touchdown. Drew Vangilder chipped in 11 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown. Joplin started out with a matching 41-40 win last year over Webb City before falling 35-34 on the road at Nixa in Week 2. Joplin avenge that loss in Week 2 at home against Nixa in what will be a battle of two of the top six teams in Class 6.
4. West Plains (C4 – 1-0)
West Plains spent all summer thinking about how to slow down Glendale’s high-flying passing offense in Week 1. Then on Tuesday afternoon about 72 hours before kickoff, Glendale had to cancel due to a COVID exposure. West Plains scrambled and added a game with Center Hill out of Mississippi. The Zizzers had one practice to prepare for a flexbone team after expecting the Glendale passing attack. No problem. West Plains beat Center Hill 38-12. Dagen Kenslow completed 12 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 75 yards on 11 carries. Heston Miller turned five carries into 88 yards and two receptions into 69 yards and a touchdown. Connor Lair carried the ball 12 times for 67 yards and 2 touchdowns along with 3 receptions for 62 yards. In sum, West Plains was balanced with 230 passing yards and 225 rushing yards on 50 total offensive plays. The Zizzers are tied for No. 2 in Class 4 in the first state football rankings.
5. Webb City (C5 – 0-1)
Webb City lost to Joplin on a field goal as time expired in Week 1. The Cardinals are going to be fine. Two years ago, Webb City lost to Joplin in Week 2 then rattled off 13 consecutive wins on the way to a state title. Last year, Webb City lost to Joplin by a matching 41-40 margin and then won 11 straight games before falling to Platte County in the state semifinals. Expect Webb City to stack a lot of wins over the rest of the season. DuPree Jackson led the Cardinals with 18 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. Cade Wilson scored three touchdowns on 16 carries for 92 yards. Webb City sits at No. 2 in Class 5 in the first state rankings.
6. Marionville (C1 – 1-0)
Marionville has big goals coming off an 11-1 season that ended with a loss to the eventual state champion Windsor in the state quarterfinals. The Comets rolled by new Southwest Conference member Stockton 36-8 in Week 1. Dakota Wilson carried the ball 16 times for 225 yards and four touchdowns. Wil Carlton added in 123 yards and a touchdown through the air with 9 carries for 79 yards on the ground. Marionville is ranked No. 4 in Class 1.
7. Carthage (C5 – 1-0)
Carthage found success with a dual-threat quarterback in Patrick Carlton the past three years. Caden Kabance showed that he is an equally dangerous weapon in an opening week 49-14 win over Ozark. Kabance had one of the longest touchdown runs in the state during Week 1 with a 92-yard touchdown run. He helped the Carthage tally 368 total yards on the ground while throwing for 85. Luke Gall was also effective with 10 carries for 141 yards and a touchdown. The Tigers are ranked No. 6 in Class 5.
8. Fair Grove (C2 – 1-0)
Fair Grove football picked up an impressive 48-19 win over Mountain Grove in Week 1. Logan Daniels was the author of four of those touchdowns in a breakout game that saw him score two touchdowns receiving and one each on pick-six and punt return. The Eagles get a tough matchup on the road at Liberty in Week 2. Last year, Fair Grove beat Liberty by 20 in their Week 2 matchup before falling by 24 to Liberty in the district title game. The Eagles are ranked No. 3 in the Class 2 state rankings.
9. Cassville (C3 – 1-0)
Cassville was a big unknown coming into the season. The Wildcats graduated basically everybody from last season’s 9-3 district championship team. The saying goes: tadition doesn’t graduate. It is a cliché but it is true when it comes to Cassville. Cassville rushed for 332 yards as a team with another 68 while the defense shut out Mt. Vernon in a 27-0 win. The Wildcats hit the road to face Marshfield this week as the No. 8 ranked team in Class 3.
10. Liberty (C2 – 1-0)
Tyler Watts and Carter Pruett worked well together splitting quarterback duties in Week 1 on the way to a 26-6 win over Strafford. Watts completed 7 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 52 yards on 8 carries. Pruett completed 5 passes for 28 yards and a touchdown while carrying the ball 11 times for 57 yards and another touchdown. Noah Jester was the top target catching 8 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. Up this week is a showdown with Fair Grove. The teams split their two games last year. Liberty is ranked No. 8 in Class 2.
