In the coming days perryphillipssports.com will take its next step to become your sports site for the Tri-Lakes area.  That step will be live play-by-play broadcasts.

Now, fans that listen to me on the radio, don’t worry I am not going anywhere.  Reeds Spring football, and area basketball and baseball will still have me behind the mic doing what I love for Earls Family Broadcasting (KOMC/KRZK).

However, I now plan to broadcast games on this page for sports that we don’t get to cover in a play-by-play capacity at all, or not nearly as much as I would like.  This includes Reeds Spring softball as well as additional basketball and baseball games.  Also, Branson soccer, softball, as well as additional basketball and baseball games. (Other schools will be added soon, as well)

I am looking forward to broadcasting some softball and soccer in the very near future.  I am currently looking for some marketing partners to assist me in the endeavor.  I have packages set up with extremely affordable advertising rates.

If you have any potential interest in becoming a supporter, I would love to talk with you, or at least get you the information on how you can be part of the broadcasts…. PM me on facebook or email me at perry@perryphillipsinsurance.com

The Reeds Spring Wolves got the season started off on a positive note with a 47-34 victory over Mt Vernon.  Korey Robinette led the way.  The senior speedster carried the ball 14 times for 281 yards and three touchdowns.

my story on the game can be found at http://hometowndailynews.com

The Hollister Tigers got off to a great start, drilling Pleasant Hope 52-8.  It was the most points ever scored by a Hollister Varsity Football team.  The new offense was rolling and the defense just missed a shutout.

Jacob Hamons Tigers will try to make it two in a row, next week, when that make the long trip to Cabool.

Branson fell to Neosho 42-21 on the road.  Branson led in the first half but the Wildcats were able to pull away in the second half to secure the victory.

The Pirates will have their home opener next week at Pirate Stadium.  They play host to Nixa.

Its opening night for Football season across the state of Missouri.  Branson hits the road to Neosho in a conference matchup to start the season

Hollister will host a game on its artificial turf for the first time as the Tigers host Pleasant Hope

Reeds Spring will get to show off its new turf and jumbotron scoreboard when the Wolves host Mt Vernon.

All three game can be heard on local radio… I will have the call, as usual of the Reeds Spring game.

Mt Vernon at Reeds Spring on 100.1   with myself and Gary Jones

Branson at Neosho on 106.3  with Scott McCaulley and Josh Clark

Pleasant Hope at Hollister on AM 1220  with Marty Cunningham and Tim Church

all games are streamed live on hometowndailynews.com

AND

are archived for podcast if you want to listen after the game on in the future.

The Central Ozarks Conference- Small will, no doubt, look different in years to come. (Hollister and Buffalo have already announced their intentions to leave.)  But for now, its the same teams ready to do battle.  For the past couple of seasons it has been a two horse race and most likely it may be that way for at least another season.

Any talk in this league has to start with Bolivar.  They have owned the league for over a decade.  However, things in Bolivar, they are changing.  The Liberators graduated a ton.  19 of 22 positional starters were seniors a year ago.  And as big of a loss as any, Coach Lance Roweton said “goodbye”.  But don’t feel to sorry for them, they return QB Connor Sechler, TE Brandon Emmert, and lineman Zach Howard.  That threesome is as good as it gets.

Reeds Spring has been close to getting over they hump against Bolivar.  In fact, the Wolves led late in the game last year.  The Wolves were hit hard by graduation as well.  But they have a ton of speed returning.  Keenan Haynes makes the move to fullback and looks to be in for a HUGE year.  Korey Robinette is among the best sprinters in the state and will try to use that speed to his advantage carrying the football.  The Wolves had to replace a lot on defense, but if that group can step up, this may very well be the year they dethrone the Liberators.

Hollister is looking to take steps forward before leaving the conference.  They have taken their lumps in the COC since starting their program.  But a new offense may be just the ticket to get them going.  The advantage of playing a lot of young players is that you get to have them come back the next year and Coach Jacob Hamon hopes to be able to take advantage of that.  The Tigers seem to really be ready to make some noise.  This could very well be the year they start their climb.

This will be year three for Coach Steve Hancock at Springfield Catholic. He is another coach that was forced to play a lot of youth last season.  But some of that youth is extremely talented and now they have another year in his system.  He is one of the best coaches this state has ever seen and its just a matter of time until he has the Irish rolling.

Marshfield is a school that has really spread things out in the past few seasons and happily aired it out.  Well, year two under Nate Thomas looks like it will bring change.  The spinner offense series that Lamar has had great success with looks like it will be the weapon of choice for the Blue Jays.  And it might just fit their athletes skill sets better.  Looking forward to seeing how they progress.

Buffalo has had a real tough go of it for quite a while now.  But even in a rough season last year you could see some change.  Coach Mark Jackson has brought new enthusiasm to the once proud program.  He was only able to install a portion of his offense in year one.  Season two will include the uptempo style that he prefers.  He has started getting the kids to buy in.  Now, if he can get enough of them, the Bison will start to stampede.

At Logan-Rogersville it really seems to be a numbers game as much as anything.  It was not that long ago that they were in the dome clinging to the state championship trophy.  But what a difference a few short years have made.  You cant replace talent like Dylan Cole but one of the biggest problems has simply been the number of kids coming out for football.  Sport specialization has hit Rogersville as much as any school.

The schedules have changed this year.  In the past Reeds Spring and Bolivar played the final week of the season.  This year they play Week 3 in the first conference game for both schools.  Will that be the de facto championship game once again?  Will someone step up unexpectedly like the Wolves did a few years ago?  Time will tell…. what we know is Bolivar is the king of the hill, right now, and the six other schools would like nothing better than to knock them off that mountain.  We will find out soon enough… Its time for some football

The Central Ozarks Conference-Large will look a little different with the addition of Carl Junction this season (and Joplin in two years).  But even with the additional teams its hard to believe that much will change at the top.

Webb City as been perched at the top of the league for years and in the short term, I don’t see anything changing that.  The Cards are the definition of a constant powerhouse. They graduate talent and have more lined up right behind them.  They will not only run the tougher league but will most likely do so undefeated.

Not only does CJ get to play their neighbors in a conference game now.  They get to do so to kick off the season.  It might very well be the game of the week, Week One.   The Bulldogs make quite a leap from the Big 8 into the COC but with their speed and athleticism they will be just fine in their new home.

Nixa as been knocking on the door and a couple of years ago was just short if actually slaying the giant.  While the Eagles have built a nice program it is hard to lose the kind of talent they did last season and not take, at least, a tiny step back.

Republic is a school that a generation ago was the big dog in this league.  The Tigers used to run rough shot over folks in the COC and it was every schools hope to be the one to knock them off.  Well things got a little tougher for the REPMO folks in recent years but times they are once again changing.  I really like this group and look for them to make some noise.

Really no way of sugar-coating how tough things have been at Branson  recently.  The Pirates have struggled.  But the new season gives new life.  Ryan Still throws the ball well and he has a talented group of guys to go get it when he does.  Defensively, it looks like the Pirates are ready to take a step forward as well.  Coach Henderson can flat out coach and has been able to win everywhere he has been.  Things are tough in this league, without a doubt, but its just a matter of time.  Not going to predict a win total, but the Pirates WILL be improved.

Overall Willard may not be quite as talented as they were a year ago but the Tigers have plenty to still be extremely competitive.  They will have size and will be able to run the football.  If you line up across from them expect it to be physical.

Anytime I talk with people about Carthage I talk about the pure athletes they continue to produce.  From a pure athletic standpoint they field as many as anyone in the league year after year.  They are not always the biggest but speed is something they always seem to have.  They seem to always pose match-up problems

When you talk about turnarounds look no further than Neosho.  That is a program that has really stepped up.  That has everything to do with Coach Dustin Baldwin, the dude is a flat out winner. He has QB Coleman Scott back and will present match-up nightmares for opponents again this year.  They have taken huge strides already, now, are they ready to jump even further?

And then there is Ozark. I know some fans were not happy with how last season went.  But, they have the real deal in Chad Depee.  If you have any question look at what he built at Monett.  Ozark will benefit from this being his second year and being more familiar with his system.  Burlage and Gracey will both put up numbers this year.

 

Well, the final tuneup before the high school football season was the annual Jamboree.  For Reeds Spring and Branson that took place Friday night at Pirate Stadium.

The Wolves and Pirates were joined by Springfield Kickapoo and Aurora.  If last year was any indication this was among the best Jamborees in the state.  Aurora and Reeds Spring met for a district title before the Houn Dawgs eventually fell in the state semi-finals.  Kickapoo was one of the best class 6 teams in the state.

This season’s event had some competitive football on what turned out to be a very nice night.  The rain had stopped by the time the teams took the field and the temperatures were very nice.

The Wolves-Pirates matchup did not show a lot of offense with Reeds Spring scoring the only touchdown of the scrimmage session.

The Wolves scoring wise came out on top of all three of their match-ups.  But, Jamborees are really about more than who scores more or who scores less. Close position battles were either decided or at least the coaches were given some more to think about.

Now, a few days of practice is all that separates the teams from opening night.  That opener will take place this Friday Night.

Reeds Spring will host Mt Vernon

Branson will travel to Neosho

Hollister will host Pleasant Hope

Whether you know me or you have just been following my “countdown to kickoff” you know that I love high school football.  There is nothing like a fall Friday night in small town America.

In Missouri, that countdown is down to SEVEN days.  Only one week to go.  Well, that means it is Jamboree night.  If you are not familiar with the way things are done in Missouri a Football Jamboree is pretty much a Four way scrimmage.  Four teams come together at one site to play one another.  Each team will get twelve plays on offense and twelve plays on defense against each team, then rotate to the next.

When you have been hitting only your teammates for a couple of weeks, its a nice change of pace to get to line up and smack someone else in the mouth.  Things are a little different than they were in the early days of this format.  With full-contact team camps in the late summer, most teams have had a least a little chance to see their troops against opposition.  And some say that has made the Jamboree’s a little less important.

I actually disagree.  For me, its one last chance to see where the guys are really at, a week before it counts.  It’s a chance for coaches to get one last chance to evaluate at game speed.  It’s a chance for players trying to make an impression to step up and make that impression.  It’s a chance to see, at this point, who is really ready to play under the Friday Night Lights.

Tri-Lakes area folks will have a couple of places to choose from to see football tonight without having to travel far.

Hollister is hosting a Jamboree that includes the Tigers, as well as Springfield Catholic, Diamond, and Ava.

I will get a chance to see Branson as well as my Reeds Spring Wolves.  The Pirates are hosting this year. The Jamboree includes Kickapoo and Aurora in addition to the local schools.

Play at both schools is set to start at 7.  So, gather up the family and head out to the stadium of your choice for a nice preview.

Folks, its just about here… ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

Its Jamboree time as the Fall Sports get ready to start their seasons…

Football-  Friday at 7:00

Reeds Spring, Branson, Kickapoo and Aurora at Branson

Hollister, Springfield Catholic, Ava, and Diamond at Hollister

 

Softball-

Branson, Aurora, and Bolivar at Branson (Monday at 5:00)

Reeds Spring, Hollister, Norwood, Hillcrest at Hollister (Sat at 11:00)

 

Volleyball-

Branson, Kickapoo, West Plains at Kickapoo (Tues 8/16 at 5:00)

Reeds Spring, Mountain Grove, Willard at Willard (Tues 8/16 at 5:00)

Soccer-

Branson, Carl Junction, Catholic, West Plains (Tues 8/16 at 5:00)

 

 

 

The Clock is ticking.  We are under two weeks until the official kickoff of the high school football season.  Jamborees are this Friday.

Reeds Spring had a short practice on Saturday.  Now back in full pads and able to go with Full contact, the Wolves set their sites on the upcoming Jamboree at Branson and more importantly opening night against Mt Vernon.

Still some unanswered questions, that probably wont be answered until the season is well underway.  How will the Wolves replace the production of Nick Haddock and Colton Pomeroy?  Not from just an offensive standpoint, but defensively as well.

Who will step up and lead?  And finally can they take full advantage of all their athleticism and speed?

As always, I have a lot of confidence in the Big Red.  Cant way to see them under the Friday Night Lights.

Stopped by briefly at Branson and Hollister football practices this morning. Some quick impressions

Hollister

1. Tigers don’t have large numbers but have kids that are ready to work
2. Pretty good size on the offensive line.
3. Lots of familiar faces. Playing a lot of youth in the past may pay off.
4. A couple of nice looking new faces, including basketballer Derek Morris
5. In addition to the new turf and picture on scoreboard. Hollister has installed visitor side seating.

Branson

1. Very efficiently run practice
2. Pirates have some real talent at the skill positions
3. Numbers are not huge, but not bad.
4. Staying healthy will be key
5. looking forward to seeing the Pirates at next weeks Jamboree

will have a preseason outlook for both schools next week.