By Jordan Burton & Chris Parker
There are some huge matchups in Week 7 of the football season with many key conference races on the line. There are four games featuring either two unbeaten teams or two state-ranked teams. Below are some of the big games to watch in the area.
STATE FOOTBALL RANKINGS – CLICK HERE
CONFERENCE FOOTBALL STANDINGS – CLICK HERE
DISTRICT FOOTBALL STANDINGS – CLICK HERE
FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS – CLICK HERE
Carthage (6-0) at Joplin (6-0)
The Story: Carthage has won two of the programs’ three meetings since Joplin joined the COC. The home team has won all three meetings.
What’s at Stake: This is THE game in the regular season to this point of the season. Joplin has one of the area’s top offenses and Carthage has one of the area’s top defenses. The winner of this game controls its destiny for the COC championship and the loser will need some help. The biggest difference is Joplin has already beaten Webb City and Nixa. Carthage has yet to play Nixa. A win for Joplin and it’s essentially over. A win for Carthage and we’re looking at Week 9 still.
What to Know: This game will be decided in the trenches. Yes, Joplin can score with the best of them. However, if they can’t stop Carthage’s power run game and the Tigers keep Always Wright and company on the sideline for an extended amount of time, Joplin might struggle to find a groove offensively. Basically like this year’s Chiefs-Ravens game.
Webb City (4-2) at Nixa (5-1)
The Story: As far as MSHSAA records go back, Webb City has won 13 straight vs. Nixa, including back-to-back shutouts.
What’s at Stake: A win for Nixa and the Eagles will play Carthage for a share of the COC championship in Week 9, assuming Carthage beats Joplin. Also, Lee’s Summit North is currently the 1-seed in C6-D3, the district that houses both Joplin and Nixa. Nixa can’t jump Joplin, but both teams could jump LSN, who still has Liberty North, Park Hill and Lee’s Summit West on the schedule. A loss for Nixa and they’re all but eliminated from the conference race. Webb City is looking to play the role of spoiler. The Cards own the head-to-head over Republic so there’s nearly no chance they’ll get jumped for the 2-seed in C5-D6. They also can’t jump Carthage for that same reason.
What to Know: The lack of physicality shown by Webb City against Carthage has been remedied in wins over Carl Junction and Branson. I don’t see Webb getting bullied like that again. However, they don’t have a matchup for Kael Combs, who has been a nightmare all season on the outside. If he can pull a safety from the box and keep the WC secondary away from the line of scrimmage, Nixa will be able to keep Webb guessing. Coach Rod is also the same guy that held DGB in check, so this will be another fun one to watch.
Camdenton (5-1) at Lebanon (6-0)
The Story: Their last 14 meetings have been split down the middle with each program winning seven. Seven of those have been decided by single digits.
What’s at Stake: A win for Lebanon and the Ozark Conference race is over by virtue of head-to-head wins over Glendale, West Plains and Camdenton in consecutive weeks, which might be the most impressive stretch of wins in the Ozarks. A Camdenton win and the OC is split three ways with WP, Lebanon and Camdenton all having one loss. It would also bring Glendale back into the picture, setting up a Week 8 elimination game between Camdenton and Glendale with the winner claiming a share of the OC crown. Also, these two are both in C5-D5 along with Glendale. A Camdenton win over Lebanon put the Lakers in position to have homefield throughout
What to Know: Tristan Wilson is an absolute man and he, along with the Lebanon offensive line, dominated the West Plains game and were the difference against Glendale as well. Camdenton doesn’t have anyone with that size and ability, but they return several experienced players on the defensive side of the ball, with Wiley Powers and Jaden Parkman being two of the better run stoppers in the league. Along with Landon Thomas, they’ll have to be ready to answer Lebanon’s relentless attack.
Thayer (5-1) at Ava (6-0)
The Story: Thayer drilled Ava last year (43-6) but the Bears won the previous four and seven of the last 11 overall.
What’s at Stake: The winner has a clear path to the SCA crown, the loser is relegated to trying to “settle” for just a state championship. Thayer won it in 2020, Ava 2019, 2018 and 2017.
What to Know: Webber and Swofford are SCA royalty and the longest-tenured coaches in the league. Few coaches in the Ozarks are as familiar with each other as these two. It’ll be interesting to see who is able to throw some wrinkles in, especially Thayer offensively. Aside from last year, the Bobcats have averaged just 15 PPG against Ava since 2010.
Fair Grove (6-0) at Buffalo (4-2)
The Story: Buffalo has won two of the last three meetings. Fair Grove won the previous eight, none of which were close.
What’s at Stake: This game is purely for bragging rights as these two don’t share a conference or class. But it’s also a unique barometer game. Buffalo’s two losses have come to currently unbeaten teams and on the road in extremely competitive games. This is yet another opportunity for the Bison to prove they’re among the elite in a wide open Class 3 scene locally.
What to Know: Fair Grove is one of the area’s top scoring teams, scoring at least 56 points in three straight games. The Eagles can turn it on in a hurry. Buffalo has been competitive with high-level teams, but struggled to get key stops. If they can limit big plays and get off the field on third down this game can be an upset alert special. If not, it could get ugly in a hurry.
Marshfield (4-2) at Aurora (5-1)
The Story: Marshfield is 2-1 against Aurora in the past three seasons. Aurora won last year’s matchup 40-13.
What’s at Stake: A win for Aurora clinches at least a share of the Big 8 East title with one game against Reeds Spring remaining. A win for Marshfield and the Blue Jays are tied atop the conference standings in the loss column with Aurora and the winner of Hollister at Marshfield.
What to Know: It will be a clash of styles between a balanced Marshfield offensive attack and a ground-heavy Aurora attack. Marshfield’s Bryant Bull has thrown for 1,424 yards and nine touchdowns with just two interceptions on 154 attempts. He is also effective on the round with 64 carries for 562 yards and 12 touchdowns. Dayvion Harris leads the team in rushing yards with 598 on 73 carries. Marshfield has 1,424 yards passing and 1,310 yards rushing as a team on the season. Aurora has rushed for 2,183 yards as a team against just 205 total passing yards. Kohl Rohlman and Ian Jackson do most of the damage for the Houn’ Dawgs with 732 and 722 yards rushing, respectively. The each have nine rushing touchdowns.
Butler (6-0) at Warsaw (6-0)
The Story: They’ve split four meetings since 2012. All have been decided by 28 points or more.
What’s at Stake: These two share a conference and a district and the loser of this will find winning either of those exceedingly more difficult. Butler already knocked off Buffalo so a win here and things are basically over in the Ozark Highlands. Butler also has a three point lead in the district standings for homefield throughout, which is made even more important due to Lafayette County (5-1) being in the district. Currently ranked No. 6 in Class 2, whoever loses this game will likely have to travel to see LC in the district semifinals. Warsaw has a brutal stretch of games left with Butler, Skyline and Buffalo all waiting. The positive is Warsaw gets Buffalo and Butler at home.
What to Know: Butler has won 14 straight regular season games and most of those have been blowouts. The toughest part is their defense, where rarely do they allow more than two scores. Warsaw has been explosive offensively, but they haven’t seen anything like Butler. How Warsaw’s Brady Slavens handles the Bears defense will be huge, especially since the Wildcats will have their hands full stopping Brendin Patrick.
FULL WEEK 7 SCHEDULE
Ranked Teams
No. 1 Lamar vs. Monett
No. 2 Carthage vs. No. 3 Joplin
No. 2 Fair Grove vs. Buffalo
No. 4 Webb City vs. No. 6 Nixa
No. 4 West Plains vs. Parkview
No. 4 Ava vs. No. 8 Thayer
No. 4 Marionville vs. Sarcoxie
No. 5 Butler vs. Warsaw
No. 5 Lebanon vs. Camdenton
No. 9 Nevada vs. East Newton
No. 10 Skyline vs. Lighthouse Christian
Rest of Area
Glendale vs. Kickapoo
Branson vs. Willard
Carl Junction vs. Republic
Neosho vs. Ozark
Waynesville vs. Rolla
Bolivar vs. Hillcrest
Marshfield vs. Aurora
Hollister vs. Rogersville
Catholic vs. Mount Vernon
Cassville vs. Seneca
Lamar vs. Monett
Reeds Spring vs. McDonald County
Forsyth vs. Strafford
Mountain Grove vs. Salem
Houston vs. Willow Springs
MV-BT/Liberty vs. Cabool
Stockton vs. Diamond
Ash Grove vs. Clever
Missouri Military Academy vs. Central
El Dorado Springs vs. Sherwood
Osceola vs. Liberal
Rich Hill vs. Jasper
Lockwood vs. St. Paul Lutheran
Greenfield vs. Drexel
Lincoln vs. Crest Ridge
Pierce City vs. Agape
