Legendary Nebraska Football Coach Tom Osborne was in town last night to speak at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Home Team Dessert Event.

Coach Osborne talked about “Mentoring Matters”.  He spoke about leadership and having and impact on those around you.  He took time before speaking to great every single person in attendance.   He signed a copy of his book for each person and took pictures with all that wanted.

He was the head coach at the University of Nebraska from 1973 until 1997.  He won 255 games as the Head Husker.  While at Nebraska he lead them to 3 National Titles, 12 Big 8 Championships, and a Big 12 Title.  He served three terms in the US House of Representatives.

It was another first class event  put on by Brian Mitchell and the board of South Central MO FCA.  If you would like more information about FCA or how you can get involved please contact them at 593-6474.

 

Another week of games are in the books and time for my worthless weekly District Projections….  They will look amazingly similar to the other ones you have seen this year, as , for the most part not a whole lot of surprises have happened from when I started… with that said, here we go…

Class 3

1. Reeds Spring.. no need to change… Wolves take care of business they are #1
2.  Monett… Cubs are loaded, was a little surprised they were close for a while this week.  Cassville  will be toughest test left.
3.   Cassville.. this week will tell… win they will be #1.. lose they are #3
4. Mt Vernon.  The ‘Neers will get that final first rd home game
5. Hollister… the Buffalo win helps keep them here… they may need one more to stay.
6. Aurora…. really tough schedule early… have some wins coming
7. East Newton.. may finish in eight spot but will jump here if they do
8. Seneca… because of loss to EN see note above

Class 5

1. Glendale… win over Kickapoo proves they belong at the top
2. Lebanon… schedule works to keep Lebanon ahead of Ozark
3. Ozark…  Tigers will have trouble moving up with bonus coming to Lebanon
4. Branson…  Pirates belong here… will need to beat Marshfield to get here
5. Central… probably will not win but may stay ahead of Waynesville
6. Waynesville..  Bonus points best hope to move up to 5.

The latest district standings after this weeks games….

Class 3

1. Reeds Spring  4-1  46.95
2. Cassville 4-1  41.86
3. Monett 4-1  41.59
4. Mt Vernon  3-2  34.4
5. Hollister 3-2  33.75
6. Seneca  2-3  27.7
7. Aurora  1-4  22.09
8. East Newton 1-4  19.46

These are becoming closer and closer to the projections that I have been making the past couple of weeks.  A couple of things to take note of.  If the standings stay like this Cassville would actually jump to the top seed over Reeds Spring because they beat them head to head.  But, for that to happen they would have to beat Monett this coming week.  And keep an eye to the bottom of the standings as well.  East Newton will still likely finish in the eight spot.  But should Seneca fall to number seven, the Patriots would jump them because of the result Friday Night.

Class 5

1. Glendale  5-0  54
2. Lebanon  4-1  40
3. Ozark  3-2  35.71
4. Central 0-5  16.62
5. Branson  0-5  14.54
6. Waynesville  0-5  9.54

Top three clearly separated from the bottom three here.  This is a big week for Branson, A win for the Pirates will move them up to the four spot and that would mean a home game in the first round of districts.

My projections to come soon…..  Spoiler:  Not much movement from last weeks projections.

 

Its hard to believe, but after Friday night, half of the highschool football teams in Missouri will be halfway through their season.  That is right, we are already at Week 5.

Reeds Spring and Branson hit the road and Hollister continues their long homestand.

Harrison Stadium in Springfield will be the destination for the Wolves.  They step up two classes this week to take on Class 5 Springfield Central.  The Wolves have had their way with the Bulldogs of late but the last trip to Harrison was anything but an easy night.  Two years ago was a nasty rainy night.  The game was delayed with just over two minutes to play because of lightning.  After the long wait Reeds Spring ran out the clock and came home with a 13-6 win.

The Bulldogs have struggled mightily thus far this season but would like nothing more than to upset the Wolves.  On paper its a game that Reeds Spring should roll in.  But, if they take that attitude and don’t show up ready to play they will find themselves in trouble.

Branson makes another long trip west.  This time they will take on the newest member of the Central Ozarks Conference- Carl Junction.  This is the same CJ team that brought down Webb City in week one.  The Pirates have shown the ability to play with everyone they have had on their schedule.  They just have to stay the course and get over the hump.  That win many dont expect is coming, the question is: Is this the week?

Hollister is home for the third straight week.  This week its the Bison from Buffalo.  Coach Mark Jackson will bring his team into Tiger Stadium in a very similar situation to Hollister.  Both want to show they are the team that is on the rise in the Small COC.  Both Teams are 2-2.  And, a third win would mean a lot to whoever gets it.  The Tigers have a great chance in this one.  But they have to bring that same fire and intensity that they displayed the first two weeks of the season.  Anything short and it will be the Bison that are celebrating.  However, if they can get this conference win they will gain a little momentum back heading into the Backyard Battle with the Wolves next week.

All three games can be heard on the Earls Family Broadcasting Network of stations.  Reeds Spring on 100.1. Branson on 106.3, and Hollister on AM1220.  Streaming for all three can be found at hometowndailynews.com  Kickoffs are at 7.

by Dori Rapinchuk, CofO SID

College of the Ozarks has once again been named as a Five-Star Institution by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Every year, each NAIA institution and conference demonstrates their progress in pursuing character-driven athletics. The Champions of Character Scorecard measures growth in training, promotion, conduct in competition and commitment in five key areas.

The coaching staff at College of the Ozarks is committed to promoting the NAIA’s core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership with each of their student athletes.  Both on and off the court, field, track and/or course, the College’s student athletes are held accountable to high standards.  They are expected to attend classes and stay abreast of required coursework in the midst of practices, competition, and travel schedules.  Every student athlete is responsible for working at his or her assigned College work station 15 hours per week.

In addition, the coaches provide their teams with opportunities for community service and spiritual growth.  Last season, student athletes participated in team Bible studies as well as numerous outreach programs, which included a basketball clinic hosting Champion Athletes of the Ozarks, sponsorship of a Compassion International child through personal player donations, all teams filling Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, sponsoring summer camps, reading to children in the local elementary schools, and similar activities.

“Our institution in committed to promoting Christ-like character in all aspects of college life,” stated Mark Rapinchuk, the College’s NAIA Champions of Character liaison.  “It is obvious that our coaching staff does not recruit on performance alone, but on the character of the individual as well.  I am continually impressed by our coaches’ commitment to the success of their team members–within their sport, studies, day-to-day life, and faith—as well as our athletes who choose to embrace these core values in all aspects of their lives.”

College of the Ozarks is proud to be one of the 171 NAIA institutions to earn the Five-Star Institution Award.

The battery of Hannah Erickson and Karri Dale Johnson led Reeds Spring to an 8-0 non-conference victory, over Aurora, in high school softball action heard on perryphillipssports.com Tuesday afternoon.

Johnson got things started for the Lady Wolves, in the top of the first,  as she took an Allison Marcum pitch and drove it over the centerfield fence for an early 2-0 lead. She was far from done.  She came up again the the third inning with two on.   And, once again she absolutely hammered the offering from Marcum.  This time it was way out of the park in right field.  Reeds Spring would add a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth.

While Johnson was playing homerun derby, Erickson was shutting down the Lady Houns offense.  The senior hurler had  Aurora under control the whole night.  She ended the evening with the complete game shutout.  She allowed three hits, no walks, and struck out five.  And, never faced more than four hitters in an inning.

Johnson’s final game stats showed she went 2-3 reaching base all four times she came up.  She homered twice, drove in five, walked once, scored three times, and reached on an error.  McKenzie Duvall had two hits and scored three times.  And, Jessica Scobee had two doubles for the Lady Wolves.  In all the Lady Wolves scored 8 runs on 9 hits.

The Lady Wolves improve to 7-4 on the season.  They will be back in action on Thursday when they host Hollister.

 

 

 

 

There were some real changes in the updated District Standings, but very little movement in the way I see things finishing up…  Remember I am not ranking in order of who I think is better or worse, just where I think they will finish in district standings using MSHSAA guidelines..

Class 3

1. Reeds Spring- had them here last week and now standings agree.
2. Monett- Cubs are loaded. Wont lose again in regular season
3. Cassville-Top three are close
4. Mt Vernon- the best of the rest… but 4-7 are close
5. Hollister- Tigers probably need to win two more games
6. Aurora- Assuming they beat Seneca
7. Seneca- Seneca has started well… but schedule picks up
8. East Newton- Lasalle will improve them but its year one.

Class 5

1. Glendale- Win over Lebanon give me my first change
2. Ozark- May be better than Glendale but will have trouble jumping
3. Lebanon- no doubt about the top three…
4. Branson- Pirates will need to win at least one.. possibly two
5. Central- Lighthouse game could make a difference for them
6. Waynesville- if they jump it will be for bonus points.

The District Football Standings have been updated to reflect the games that had to be played on Saturday because of weather…  As I predicted last week Reeds Spring has moved to the top spot of their Class 3 district but its close 1.33 points separate first from third.

Class 3

1.  Reeds Spring 3-1  42
2. Cassville  3-1  41
3. Monett  3-1  40.67
4. Seneca 2-2 32.67
5. Mt Vernon 2-2  30.17
6. Hollister 2-2  29.25
7. Aurora  1-3  23.5
8. East Newton  0-4  12

Class 5

1. Glendale   4-0  52.17
2. Ozark  3-1  39.92
3. Lebanon  3-1  37.17
4. Spfld Central 0-4  16.17
5. Branson  0-4  15
6. Waynesville  0-4  10.33

I will post my updated projections tomorrow…

Reeds Spring playing shorthanded had little trouble with Logan-Rogersville.  The Wolves handled the Wildcats 45-18 Friday night at Rogersville.

The Reeds Spring offense would punt only once on the night in a game that was delayed about an hour and a half because of lightning in the area. Seth Stamps, Austin Staugaard, and Korey Robinette scored two touchdowns apiece as the Wolves moved to 3-1 on the season and 2-0 in COC play.

Branson played host to Ozark looking to beat the Tigers for the second year in a row.  It was not to be.  Ozark jumped out to a 21-3 lead.  Branson  would get back within 28-16 but could get not closer and fell to 0-4 on the season.

Hollister was hoping to make it two in a row for tri-lakes teams over Bolivar.  But the Liberators would have no part of that.  Bolivar was way too much as they defeated the Tigers 55-13 to pick up their first victory of the season.  It marked the first time the Tigers have scored on the Liberators since 2010.

We move to Week Four of the High School Football Season.  And, all three local teams with important match-ups this week.

Reeds Spring fresh off its victory over Bolivar hits the road to take on Logan-Rogersville.  On paper, its a game the the Wolves should handle.  But they must be ready to play.  If they are caught still celebrating their win over the Liberators, Rogersville could play a real spoiler.

Speaking of Bolivar, they will be in the tri-lakes for the second week in a row.  This time they visit Tiger Stadium to take on Hollister.  Coach Jacob Hamon’s squad is coming off their first loss of the season and now turn their attention to a ticked off Liberator squad that not only saw their 13 year winning streak snapped; but are 0-3 on the year.  There is no doubt Hollister is the underdog here.  But if they could pull off the upset it would really shake things up in the Small COC.

Branson will be at home taking on a hot Ozark team.  This is the team that Branson rolled 41-7 a year ago for their lone victory of the season.  But this season has been a different story for the Tigers.  Not only did they beat Carthage Week One, but they took care of Carl Junction a week ago.  Pirate defense will have to be on top of its game to deal with the flex-bone look the Tiger offense shows.  But if they can slow them down, put a couple of scores on the board and make Coach Depee’s club play from behind, it could make for a happy night at Pirate Stadium.

It could possibly be a little wet in the Ozarks tomorrow night but dont let that stop you from getting out and supporting the area kids.

You can hear all three games on the Earl’s Family Broadcasting’s Network of stations.  Reeds Spring on 100.1, Hollister on AM1220, and Branson on 106.3.  And, you can always listen to the live stream at hometowndailynews.com

All three games kickoff at 7.