By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Each Saturday we’ll recap the week that was and look ahead to the upcoming Friday of games, as well as name a Player of the Week. Please tweet (X) @ozarksozone to nominate athletes for POTW.
TOP 100 PHOTOS OF THE WEEK – CLICK HERE
PHOTOS: FANS OF WEEK 3 – CLICK HERE
Player of the Week: Dayvion Harris, Marshfield
When things get tough in a season, coaches rely on seniors to make plays and that’s exactly what Harris did on Friday, finishing the night with nearly 300 yards and five touchdowns. And it’s not just a ‘this week’ thing, he’s been on that kind of time all year. Lamar and McDonald County have two of the best defenses in the area and neither could completely bottle Harris up. He’s one of the most dynamic backs in the Ozarks.
Other Notables
- Jax Glendenning, Lebanon – The junior has opened the season exactly where he left off last year. Three games and three 100-yard performances, averaging more than 10 yards per carry and he’s totaled eight touchdowns in three games. He’s your favorite for OC Player of the Year right now.
- Joplin’s Defense – The Eagles were shorthanded offensively and in need of a spark. So the Eagles responded by shutting out Ozark and allowing less than 150 yards from scrimmage. Senior linebackers Johnathan Williams and Garren Berry continue to set the tone for a unit that has allowed just 28 points all season.
- Malachi Rider, Nixa – Coming into the season it was expected that Spencer Ward and Dylan Rebura would see a lion’s hare of the carries for Nixa, but Rider has been a pleasant surprise for the Eagles The star wrestler has totaled five touchdowns in his last two games, including the go-ahead score on Friday night against Carthage. He’s a bowling ball that runs with a ton of power but is also elusive in the open field. That combination makes him a nightmare behind Nixa’s physical line.
STATEment Games
There were several teams in the Ozarks that we thought were good going into Friday and they more than proved it by the end of the night… All the Webb City is rebuilding talk went out the window with the way they just beat Republic at Republic. The Cardinals were stifling defensively, which led to short fields that the offense took advantage of. Republic mustered just 194 yards and turned it over five times. Jace Jones is an absolute terror on the defensive line for the Cardinals right now. This team has looked noticeably better each and every week… Lebanon proved that its not just the favorite in the Ozark Conference, but right now the Jackets are playing the best football of any team in the Ozarks and junior Jax Glendenning is quickly making his case as the best two-way player locally. The Jackets shutout Kickapoo 34-0 and have allowed seven points in three games… Seneca saw undefeated Cassville and handed undefeated Cassville a 44-0 defeat behind a monster game from senior quarterback Gavyn Hoover. He finished with 225 yards through the air and another 97 on the ground. The Indians defense still hasn’t allowed a single point through three games… Don’t get it twisted, Nixa’s narrow win over Carthage is yet another quality one. Playing Webb City and Carthage in two of its first three games is not an easy task and Nixa survived it unscathed. The two biggest keys there are the emergence of Rider as a lead back for the Eagles, but also how Carthage is putting it together. On either side of a loss to Branson, Carthage went toe-to-toe with Nixa and Republic. They’re clearly putting things together. Brady Carlton had a pair of touchdown passes and another score on the ground against a loaded Nixa defense. These Tigers will be in the mix come districts.
3 and a Donut (Unbeaten Teams)
As it stands, there are just 14 undefeated teams locally in 11-man football. Many of them will play each other with the COC (Joplin & Nixa), Ozark Conference (Bolivar & Lebanon), SCA (Ava & Cabool) and a whole slew of Big 8 matchups awaiting us in the coming weeks, three of which will happen on Friday.
Class 6
Joplin
Nixa
Class 5
Lebanon
Class 4
Bolivar
Nevada
Class 3
Ava
Mount Vernon
Seneca
Class 2
Fair Grove
Forsyth
Lamar
Sarcoxie
Class 1
Cabool
Marionville
Swing and a Miss
We entered the week at 257-61 collectively in picks and for the first time this season, we went a perfect 17-0 on unanimous picks.
Week 4 Games to Watch
Seneca (3-0) at Lamar (3-0)
This matchup is the most anticipated small-school game of the season in the area. Lamar won last year’s playoff meeting in lopsided fashion. The Indians beat Lamar in Lamar during the regular season in a 36-33 barnburner. Seneca is the only Big 8 team with multiple wins against Lamar since 2019. Seneca hasn’t allowed a point all season and Lamar is averaging north of 40 per game. This will be the first and only meeting this year as Seneca is now in Class 3, but don’t be surprised to see both teams playing well into November.
Joplin (3-0) at Webb City (2-1)
It may shock you to know that Joplin has won four straight meetings with Webb City, three of which were decided by one possession. Joplin’s stout defense against Webb City’s emerging offense will be extremely intriguing as Webb has scored 40-plus in each of its last two games and Joplin has allowed just 14 points in its last eight quarters. Two of the most explosive weapons in Joplin junior Davin Thomas (coming off of yet another 100-yard receiving game) and Webb City sophomore Gabe Johnson who can be seen lining up all over the field. On Friday he completed a pass, caught two and led Webb in rushing.
Forsyth (3-0) at Fair Grove (3-0)
Forsyth made school history last year by beating Fair Grove in a 45-44 shootout. Now both teams are reloaded on both sides of the ball with dynamic offenses and stingy defenses. Fair Grove comes in averaging 53 points per game and Forsyth is at a more than respectable 46 a night. They combine to allow opponents just 14 PPG meaning something has to give this week. Potentially the first of two meetings.
Bolivar (3-0) at Lebanon (3-0)
The last two remaining unbeatens in the Ozark Conference. Lebanon out-toughed and out-physicaled Bolivar last year, but that was prior to Jamie LaSalle taking over. Generally his teams don’t play a soft brand of football. The winner of this sits in the OC driver’s seat. The loser would need some help.
McDonald County (2-1) at Nevada (3-0)
This one has instant classic written all over it. Nevada has won two of the last three meetings but the margins have been razor thin with Mac winning 14-13 in 2020 before Nevada took the last two meetings 39-34 and 27-26. This year’s matchup will be about the trenches. Nevada has been running wild on people and Mac has been winning with traditional, physical Big 8 defense. With it being homecoming in Nevada, expect an electric atmosphere.
Houston (2-1) at Cabool (3-0)
As it stands right now, Cabool feels like one of the best teams in the state in Class 1 and the best local challenger to Marionville. This game against Class 2 Houston is litmus test. Houston has won two straight, making quick work of Fayette and Salem. Seeing how the Bulldogs handle the size and physicality of Houston will be an indicator of how Cabool will handle Grove, Liberty and Ava, who they’ll see in three of the next four weeks following the Houston game.
