Month: August 2018

A year ago things in the SCA looked a lot different than that have in the past few seasons.  It wasn’t Grove-Mt View Liberty and then everyone else.  Ava emerged as the best in the group.  The Bears displayed a tough defense and a high powered flex bone offense.  How will everyone look in 2018?

Ava- Bears will look to repeat.  They might just have the horses to do it.  They liked the taste of success and will look to keep the train rolling. In my estimation they will most likely be able to do just that

Thayer-  This is a little school that rarely does not amaze me.  You could understand how maybe a team their size, playing in a physical conference, would take their lumps in conference play but be able to turn in on when they get to districts and play teams there own size.  The Bobcats do plenty more than that.  They go up against the bigger schools and more than hold their own…  They will contend for the title this year.

Mountain View-Liberty – The Eagles fell off a little bit a year ago but look for that to be a short lived thing.  They have talent returning at key spots.  It will be key for them to get off to a better start than they did a year ago.  If they do, they might just be able to start another streak

Mountain Grove- Things will look a little different for the Panthers this year.  Gone is Coach Adkins and most of the offensive production for last years team.  But this is a school with a lot of tradition and a school that, normally, kind find ways to win.  Do not be surprised if they are not better than a lot of people are predicting

Salem- These guys have been the sleeping giant for a few years now.  You have to wonder if this is not the year that the BIG school of the bunch takes its place back at the top.  When they load up and use that big line to run, run, run, history says they are awfully hard to stop.

Houston- Talk about a school that might be ready to shock some people that might just be the Tigers.  Low on numbers but not necessarily on experience.  Had a chance to see them at camp this summer.  They might just be the most improved team in this part of the state.  They may not be ready to win the SCA but they could very well be ready to make a little noise.  They dont have a lot of depth.  If they stay totally healthy I am most likely picking them a little low.

Willow Springs- This is another team that I think will take a step forward.  I think its safe to say that they will be better just not sure how much that will actually show in the final standings. I have a friend that is a HUGE Willow guy.. for his sake, I would love to see the Bears contend.   IF they can stay healthy they will have a shot to pull of some upsets and finish in the middle of the league.

Cabool- The Bulldogs have struggled as of late.  That is not exactly a secret.  They do have some experience returning.  They will try to use that leadership to surprise some people.  While a lot of people will pick them near the bottom of the league.  They are not a group that you will want to overlook.

My worthless Prediction…

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

In past years we have not only known the schedule but District alignments long before now.  But, one of the big changes this year was MSHSAA deciding to go to annual reclassification.  Part of that is a later release of not only those classifications, but also the list of districts.

Next Friday all will be revealed.  Until then, its anyone’s guess how everything will turn out.

Reeds Spring and Hollister have been in the same district since MSHSAA went to this current format.  I look for this to remain the same.  The real questions for this district stands with Monett, Logan-Rogersville, and East Newton.  Bare in mind, as I type this I have not seen all of the enrollment numbers that have been turned in by the schools.  I dont know how many teams will drop varsity football at the last second…  But for entertainment purposes only… Here is what I can see happening..

Monett dodged the bullet two years ago.  The Cubs will not be so lucky this time.  They are headed for Class 4 and the same district as Webb City.

Logan-Rogersville….talk about a coin flip.  I am going to say the see-saw will stop on the DOWN side for them and they stay in Class 3.  (this is close and I am not totally confident at all… If one or more KC or STL schools end up not playing it could all change for the Wildcats.)

That leaves East Newton on my list.  Again I have not seen numbers that were turned in but they have to be close and I am going to say that they drop below the magic number (whatever that is) and go down to Class 2 (Hello Lamar)

So what does that mean for Class 3 District 4.  Well, again with MSHSAA you never know..  They could go up and pull Clinton down.  But, I see Springfield Catholic and Logan-Rogersville leaving District 3 and joining their conference brothers.

So if my GUESS, is right.. We are looking at a district that would consist of…  Reeds Spring, Hollister, Catholic, Rogersville, Cassville, Seneca, Aurora, and Mount Vernon.   That is a very solid District.

GUESS is the key word in everything you just finished reading.  I didnt even think of the East Newton part of this equation until Last Night…

Branson will most likely see a change in their district as well.  Ozark could very possibly move up to Class 6.  Nixa wont be far behind them but for now I think the Eagles will stay down.  I could have those two reversed.  Nixa turned in the higher number two years ago but I think they have traded places in that respect.   Class 5 is still the “catch all” class so they can and do have an uneven number of teams in districts.  MSHSAA could simply not replace Ozark in the district and just have a Five team district, They have done it before.  It would be simple to move Nixa over, but that would cause the same issue in the district they vacate.  It will be interesting to see how that comes out.

Forsyth will be in a district for the first time… Look for them to be Class 2.  I think they get shipped east with the likes of Ava, Mountain Grove,  Willow Springs, and other SCA schools.

All the guess work will be old news pretty soon.  The waiting will end and the new Class and District assignments will be released next Friday.  Until then its all speculation….

It is not unusual for me to hype Reeds Spring football.  As a matter of fact, I admit that it is a pretty common occurrence.  But I normally stick to the High School Wolves.  More than that, its just about always the Varsity guys.

But, this is the exception.  Reeds Spring has a young Wolf that is getting a chance to perform on a national stage.  Caden Wiest is a eighth grader to be.  If you saw Reeds Spring Middle School play last year you know which guy he is.  He was the seventh grader that looked to be at least a foot taller than any one else on the team.  He can run, he can block, and he can disrupt.

Currently he is in Canton Ohio for this weeks Hall of Fame ceremonies.  He has been invited to take part in the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-American Game.  This is put on by the Hall of Fame Academy.  The event claims to bring together the “World’s Top 60 Rising 8th Graders”.  It will be an east-west game format with  Wiest playing for the East.

While it will be AT LEAST another year before we will get a chance to see Wiest competing with the high school Wolves, you can always take a Tuesday Night this fall and go cheer on the 8th grade Wolves.  I am sure he and his teammates would love to see you there.

The 6-3 , 220 pound defensive end will wear number 30.  The game is scheduled to take place on Friday afternoon at 1:30.  If you would like to watch.  It is rumored that the game will be streamed on CBSsports.com