Month: August 2017

There are a few rule changes this season that high school football fans might want to be aware of.

Not a lot of major changes but a few rules that you might want to know..

1. Face Guarding, as long as you avoid contact with the receiver, is no longer a violation.
2. Blind Side Blocks outside the blocking zone will result in a personal foul if they are deemed forceful and contact is made without an open hand.
3. The definition of a defenseless player has been broadened
4. No contact with the ball or the snappers hand/arm is allowed until he releases the ball.
5. A rule to insure that home teams wear dark uniforms in contrast to the white uniform worn by visitors (the use of grey uniforms forced this)
6. “pop-up” kick-offs are now illegal and will be penalized.
7. From the “there has to be a story behind this one”…  a ball to be whistled immediately dead if the ball carrier completely looses a prosthetic limb
8. the offended team may ask for the clock to be started on the snap after an accepted penalty in the final two minutes of the game or half.

a few more changes but they have to do with official meetings, markings on the ball, etc.

I will continue my look at some of the high school football conference with a trip east to check out the contenders in the South Central Association.

In recent memory it has been Mountain View-Liberty and Mountain Grove, Mountain Grove and Mountain View Liberty.  With an occasional upset, here and there, those two, with very loyal, and vocal, fan bases have butted heads to decide the Conference Champ.

Well times, they could possibly be changing.

By most accounts the conference, as a whole, might  be a little bid down this season.  If it is, it might be easy to understand.  They have had teams near the top of the state rankings on a real consistent basis.  But teams at the top, were hit especially hard by graduation this past season.  The question is, who is ready to step up and take the mantle away from one of them.

My guess, the most ready is Ava.  The Bears have been knocking on the door the past couple of seasons.  And, with a healthy contingent back from last years squad they are my pick to make the rise and actually claim the SCA Championship this season.

Now, that being said, the Panthers and Eagles are not just going to lie down and take it.  They might both have a lot of new starters but they are programs that are used to winning.  The players dont really know anything else.  The toughest thing for me has been in which order to pick these two. I have seen Mountain Grove (at Branson Camp) but have not seen the Eagles.  A week ago I would have picked the Panthers third but as I write this, there is just something that tells me I better not drop them any lower than #2.

Thayer might be small but we have seen that the Bobcats are very competitive against their bigger opponents.  Like some others, they lost some key personnel but they still have a shot to finish in the top half of the league.

Salem is a team that I have trouble figuring out week to week.  They are by far the biggest school in the SCA and there was a time when they were the mightiest.  When they had the running game going out of that bone attack, they were hard to stop.  They wont stay down, but Im not sure this is the year they make their run.

Willow Springs is next on the list.  The Bears have had it a little tough as of late.  A couple of years ago it looked as if they were ready to make a little bit of a rise, but they have suffered through some staff changes and numbers have dropped.  They have a supportive fan base, and really want a winner.  It might take a bit for that to happen, though.

One thing that has not changed is Houston and Cabool will most likely be fighting for the final spot.  These are just a couple of programs that have had trouble getting any kind of traction.  I could very well flip a coin, and did, Heads says that Cabool gets the win in the head to head game and avoids the cellar.

Overall, I may think the league be a little bit down in total talent but there will still be some very competitive football on Friday Nights.  While not everyone plays the smash mouth football of yesteryear there is still plenty that can be found in the league.  Best of luck to all…

My worthless predictions….

1. Ava
2. Mountain Grove
3. Mountain View-Liberty
4. Thayer
5. Salem
6. Willow Springs
7. Cabool
8. Houston

Citing a desire to spend more time with her family, North Arkansas College Women’s coach Stacie Klott has resigned as the leader of the Lady Pioneers and school athletic director.

Klott, a College of the Ozarks grad, and a former assistant coach for the Lady Cats won more than 250 games as helm of the North Ark club.  She has lead them to four appearances in the National Tournament, including the last two.  Those are the only four times the school has qualified.

She is a 3-time region Coach of the Year and a 3-time District Coach of the Year.  Her teams won six regional and four district titles.

North Ark’s loss will be the Branson’s gain as she has accepted a teaching job in the school district.