The O-Zone Football Power rankings will be released on every week throughout the football season. Rankings are a measurement of dominance within class and not a strictly head-to-head comparison. Coaches are encouraged to send any information, including stats, milestones and records to Chris Parker (cparker@ky3.com). See the top plays of the week in the video above.
STATEWIDE FOOTBALL RANKINGS – CLICK HERE
DISTRICT FOOTBALL STANDINGS – CLICK HERE
1. Lamar (8-0 – LW: 1)
The Silver Tiger rivalry renewed on Friday with Lamar rolling to a 43-6 win over Nevada to extend nation’s best winning streak to 57 games. Trevor Medlin led the way in the game with four touchdowns scoring both on the ground and through the air. This sets up Lamar for its biggest test of the year traveling to face undefeated and Class 3 state ranked Cassville this Friday. Lamar is sitting on a 12-point lead in the district standings, so win or lose it will be home field throughout the district playoffs for the Tigers.
2. Webb City (8-0 – LW: 2)
Webb City had no trouble in a 42-0 road win over Ozark on Friday. The Cardinals rolled up 416 yards and five touchdowns on the ground on 34 carries. Devrin Weathers took 11 carries for 185 yards and two of those touchdowns for a 16.8 yards per carry average. Durand Henderson chipped in seven carries for 125 yards and two touchdowns of his own for a 17.9 yards per carry average. Webb City, which hosts Nixa to finish out the year, is locked in as the No. 1 seed in its district.
3. West Plains (8-0 – LW: 3)
West Plains scored 42 points on the way to a 70-8 win over Central. Dalton Lucas had the stat line of the night with two carries for 110 yards. Brayden Lidgard turned nine carries into 134 yards and a touchdown. He is now just 38 rushing yards away from 4,000 for his career and one away from 60 rushing touchdowns in his career. The West Plains defense tallied 12 tackles for a loss and three interceptions in the game. The Zizzers travel to Glendale looking to finish out an unbeaten run through the Ozark Conference. They are locked in as the No. 1 seed in their district with a hefty 16.93-point lead. No other team in West Plains’ district has fewer than three losses.
4. Cassville (8-0 – LW: 4)
Cassville continued to state its case as one of the state’s best Class 3 teams with a 35-0 win over Class 3 No. 10 Reeds Spring on Friday. The Wildcats jumped out to a 21-0 lead after one quarter en route to the shutout victory. DJ White caught two touchdown passes from outside 30 yards while Bowen Preddy scored the last two touchdowns of the game on three-yard runs. Now Cassville gets its shot at Lamar and its 56-game winning streak with the Big 8 West title on the line. Cassville looks poised to stay at No. 1 in its district even in the event of a loss. The Wildcats have an almost five-point lead on one-loss Mt. Vernon.
5. Carthage (7-1 – LW: 5)
Carthage hit the road and took care of business in a 42-26 win over Republic. Sophomore quarterback Patrick Carlton continues to play like anything but a sophomore. He completed 78% of his passes for 172 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Tigers. Jayden Morgan hauled in seven of those passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. The running game remained very effective with 254 yards in that facet. Carthage hosts one-win Ozark to finish out the regular season before hosting throughout district play. The Tigers currently have a 15.83-point lead on second place Parkview in the district standings, and they are the only team with fewer than four losses in their district.
6. Pierce City (8-0 – LW: 7)
Pierce City had one of the more impressive wins of Week 8 with a 44-12 win over Miller to claim a share of the Southwest Conference Championship. Trey Sagehorn scored a trio of touchdowns for the Eagles while Colton O’Hara threw for 129 yards and two touchdowns in addition to stellar work on the defensive side of the ball. The Eagles face winless Pleasant Hope this weekend. They are locked in the top spot of the district standings with a six-point lead on three-loss Thayer in second place.
7. Ava (7-1 – LW: 9)
Ava moved one step closer to another undefeated SCA title with a 58-12 win over Cabool in Week 8. Stephen Copeland was efficient by taking four carries for 80 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught one ball for 44 yards and another touchdown. The Bears rushed for 286 yards as a team. Caleb Johnson completed five of six passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns. Ava will try to complete an unbeaten SCA run at home against Willow Springs this week. The Bears will secure the No. 1 seed in the district playoffs with a win.
8. Camdenton (7-1 – LW: NR)
The offensive renaissance at Camdenton continued in a 56-13 win over Rolla where quarterback Paxton Delaurent broke the season records for passing yards and touchdowns with several more games potentially remaining. Delaurent completed 31 passes for 506 yards SEVEN touchdowns in the win. He now sits at 2,447 yards passing and 32 touchdowns on the season. When a team throws like Camdenton, the question is always about the defense since the nature of the offense puts the defense on the field more. Outside of the 41-7 loss to West Plains in a rainy Week 3 game, the Laker defense has given up just shy of 14 points per game in their seven wins while score 54.7. Camdenton will secure the No. 1 seed in its district with a win this week. The Lakers may hold onto that spot even with a loss to Kickapoo due to bonus points for playing up two classes.
9. Mt. Vernon (7-1 – LW: NR)
If Pierce City’s win was one of the most impressive of the week, Mt. Vernon’s was THE most impressive. The Mountaineers were up 20-10 at the start of the fourth quarter before Catholic scored 20 unanswered points to take a 30-20 lead. The Mt. Vernon defense would force turnovers on three consecutive possessions to give the Mountaineers a big conference and Class 3 win. Zach Jones threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns in the win. Kelly Vaughn caught seven of those passes for 122 yards and a touchdown. Will Boswell added 19 carries for 133 yards and a score.
10. Joplin (6-2 – LW: 10)
Joplin took care of business against Nixa in a 42-7 win to set up a big Week 9 game with Carl Junction. Blake Tash completed 14 of 16 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Isaiah Davis carried the ball 14 times for 101 yards and a touchdown. Zach Westmoreland continued to make great games standard operating procedure with five catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns, five carries for 19 yards and another touchdown and the an interception on defense. That brings him to 850 yards from scrimmage with seven touchdowns on offense to go with 27 tackles and three picks this week. Joplin’s Week 9 game is massive. The Eagles trail Kirkwood by just half a point for the second spot in the district rankings. Kirkwood faces undefeated Class 4 Ladue Horton Watkins. If Joplin wins and Kirkwood loses, the Eagles will get the No. 2 seed and the right to host the first two rounds of the district playoffs.
Knocking on the door: Catholic, Fair Grove, Strafford, Lincoln, Lebanon
