If you’re listening to The High Road with Allen Vaughan, you’re catching what everyone is talking about. If not, you can relive the history here through our podcast. Either way, you can catch TAGsgf.com’s sports editor do his thing from 2-3 p.m. Monday-Friday on Jock 98.7 FM and Jock987.com.

If you’re looking for information on previous shows, click here.

John Vuch

Episode: Wednesday 9/8/2010

Original Gangster Wednesday

• Guest: St. Louis Cardinals MiLB director John Vuch
• Boss of the Week
• SGFers in the Bigs
  
• And more!
  

Listen to The High Road on Jock 98.7 FM Monday–Friday from 2-3 pm.

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But there's more! Check out these related posts on TAGsgf.com:

1. The High Road with Allen Vaughan — Wednesday, Sept. 1

   OG Wednesday: Kansas City Royals 1B Kila Ka'aihue is interviewed, while we reveal the Boss of the Week, SGFers in the Bigs and much more!...

2. The High Road with Allen Vaughan — Thursday, Sept. 2 preview

   Ozark native and current Chicago White Sox pitcher Lucas Harrell joins Allen and on the program from Boston, plus takes your phone calls. Also, it's 09/02/10!...

3. The High Road with Allen Vaughan — Wednesday, August 18

   Original Gangster Wednesday — No guests, but Allen talks about Get Money and Mizzou, Ryan Howard's girlfriend and makes Brett Favre the Boss of the Week....

If you’re listening to The High Road with Allen Vaughan, you’re catching what everyone is talking about. If not, you can relive the history here through our podcast. Either way, you can catch TAGsgf.com’s sports editor do his thing from 2-3 p.m. Monday-Friday on Jock 98.7 FM and Jock987.com.

If you’re looking for information on previous shows, click here.

Episode: Tuesday 9/7/2010

That’s Just Like Your Opinion Man Tuesday

• Pep talk
• Tag 5
• Cheat Sheet
• And more!
  

Listen to The High Road on Jock 98.7 FM Monday–Friday from 2-3 pm.

Stream Live:
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But there's more! Check out these related posts on TAGsgf.com:

1. The High Road with Allen Vaughan — Tuesday, Aug. 24

   That's Just Like Your Opinion Man Tuesday: St. Louis Cardinals OF Jon Jay is coming on the show, plus a Texas League report and more Brett tooth reaction....

2. The High Road with Allen Vaughan — Tuesday, August 31

   That's Just Like Your Opinion Man Tuesday: No guests, but Allen talks about the Indiana State football coach's rage, Brett Anderson's Twitter picture, and more....

3. The High Road with Allen Vaughan — Tuesday, July 27

   On That's Just Like Your Opinion Man Tuesday, Baseball America writer Jim Callis, Two-minute tightrope and a Texas League/SGF Cardinals update....

Another Friday night is in the books and it didn’t lack for drama. Thanks to a collection of all of the media outlets, here is the complete high school football scoreboard.

Check back in the morning and we will have game story links, as well. Have a great Labor Day weekend.

Week 2 scoreboard

Rolla 22, Kickapoo 20

Camdenton 30, Parkview 0

Waynesville 35, Glendale 7

Lebanon 17, Hillcrest 6

Warsaw 13, Central 12

Catholic 28, Marshfield 20

Nixa 27, Republic 13

Carthage 39, Ozark 0

Webb City 66, Willard 0

Rogersville 26, Monett 18

Bolivar 62, Reeds Spring 0

Hollister 44, Buffalo 6

Cassville 14, Branson 7

Joplin 42, West Plains 6

Neosho 32, Rogers (Ark.) 0

Skyline 26, Fair Grove 20

Strafford 36, East Newton 8

Stockton 46, Ash Grove 0

Marionville 14, Pleasant Hope 6

Mount Vernon 47, Carl Junction 28

Aurora 12, Lamar 9

Seneca 42, Nevada 8

Miller 40, Diamond 0

Mountain Grove 14, Cabool 0

MV-BT Liberty 46, Thayer 6

Willow Springs 10, Ava 8

Pierce City 43, Liberal 0

Sarcoxie 27, Jasper 6

TAGsgf.com HS football rankings

Class 4-6

1. Rolla 1-0 — Beat Kickapoo 22-20
2. Webb City 1-0 – Beat Willard 66-0
3. Nixa 1-0 — Beat Republic 27-13
4. Joplin 1-0 — Beat West Plains 42-6
5. Lebanon 1-0 — Beat No. 8 Hillcrest 17-6
6. Carthage 1-0 — Beat Ozark 39-0
7. Bolivar 1-0 – Beat Reeds Spring 62-0
8. Hillcrest 1-0 – Lost to No. 5 Lebanon 17-6
9. Parkview 0-1 – Lost to Camdenton 30-0
10. Neosho 0-1 — Beat Rogers (Ark.) 32-0

Class 1-3

1. Cassville 1-0 — Beat Branson 14-7
2. Lamar 1-0 – Lost to Aurora 12-9
3. Rogersville 1-0 — Beat No. 5 Monett 26-18
4. Fair Grove 1-0 — Lost to Skyline 16-16
5. Monett 1-0 – Lost to No. 3 Rogersville 26-18
6. Seneca 0-1 — Beat Nevada 42-8
7. Miller 1-0 – Beat Diamond 40-0
8. Thayer 1-0 — Lost to No. 9 MV-BT Liberty 46-6
9. MV-BT Liberty 0-1 — Beat No. 8 Thayer 46-6
10. Mountain Grove 0-1 – Beat Cabool 14-6

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2. High school football rankings – Sept. 3

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3. Your High School football primer

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Camdenton's defensive front had little trouble getting into the Parkview backfield and shutting the Vikings down.

Coming into tonight Camdenton – Parkview looked like a decent matchup. The Vikings’ quirky, deception-based, score a ton offense against a supposedly “down” Lakers squad. It had the makings of a good finish before a a down had been played, but then sometime on Friday we must have time warped. It played out like a game from two or three years ago. Camdenton tossed a doughnut on the Vikings big offense. Parkview managed just one redzone trip, while Camdenton scored on its first three possessions en route to a 30-0 blowout.

Camdenton quarterback Spencer Carlock, senior, said last week’s 21-7 loss to Nixa was a “warm up” for the season. The Lakers (1-1, 1-0 OC) looked pretty loose. The Vikings (0-2, 0-1 OC) scored 35 points against Rolla last week, so where was their offense? That’s the first of just a few things to pull from an otherwise drowsy game of football.

Yes, that yellow blur is really all 11 of Parkview's offensive players. And no, they weren't taking a knee.

* The News-Leader’s Kary Booher and I couldn’t figure out what the appropriate term was for Parkview’s offensive set before the game, before guru Art Hains told me the Vikings run the “Double Wingback“. For a few downs, it’s kind of fun to watch, a visual puzzle of “who really has the ball”. Too bad for them, it wasn’t too successful. They never went away from it until late in the fourth quarter. Everybody is packed into an area the size of a picnic table, with PHS quarterback Cory Faz surrounded by running backs. There’s not a soul spread wide. Faz will fake a couple times to the backs, then either handoff, pitch or keep it himself. It’s designed to fool you. Camdenton, however, was not fooled. Even if the linebackers were confused, the Lakers front four got so much penetration Viking rushers had no room to navigate. The Vikings actually used play-action a couple times late with some success (Surprise! That can happen if you balance things a bit).

* Camdenton was downright dominant in the trenches. The offensive line got the early push on nearly every snap, and as previously mentioned the defensive front was nasty on Friday. Those guys deserve a pizza and a 2-liter of soda each. Just watch the Camdenton touchdown highlight package below – the hole on sophomore Murphy Ward‘s 50-yard touchdown is massive. Needless to say, Carlock sounded pleased when talking about his protection.

* Speaking of Carlock … while the Lakers were picking and choosing when to pass, he’s got a strong arm and makes good reads. He had tons of time in the pocket, but delivered the ball accurately. I was impressed with his longer throws, as well. He only chalked up 77 yards by air – on efficient 9-of-12 passing, but the coaches took their foot off the gas pretty early in this one. Carlock, 6-foot-3, is poised and gives Camdenton quick strike capability, especially with junior Jon Manning (listed as a quarterback) on the outside. Manning made a ridiculous catch on the sideline to convert a 3rd and 18 – the play that I think ultimately slayed the already bumbling Vikings.

* Speaking of quick strike capability … Parkview solidified that it’s something they have not. Touched on this already, but generally when a team trails by multiple touchdowns it will spread things out and try to find a way to get back in the ballgame. Not the case with the Vikings. Instead they crawled into the Double Wingback shell and proved they will live and die by the long drive.

* Going into the game, Darin Francis was the name on my mind. He had 1,800+ yards a year ago and 20+ TDs. He never emerged during the game and finished with 32 yards on the ground.

Notable Stat Geekage

Camdenton, 30

Total Yards: 331
Passing Yards: 77
Rushing Yards: 254
Rough Time of Possession: 30:00

Spencer Carlock, senior, QB:
Passing: 9-for-12, 77 yards, 2 TD
Rushing: 11 carries, 63 yards

Murphy Ward, sophomore, RB:
Rushing: 11 carries, 78 yards, TD

Jon Manning, junior, WR:
Receiving: 4 catches, 50 yards, TD

Parkview, 0

Total Yards: 152
Passing Yards: 32
Rushing Yards: 120
Time of Possession: 18:00

Cory Faz, senior, QB:
Passing: 3-for-6, 32 yards, INT

Blake Williams, senior, RB:
Rushing: 9 carries for 51 yards

Darin Francis, senior, RB:
Rushing: 12 carries, 32 yards

[View with PicLens]

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A fan proudly shows off her Jonny Canhos shirt

Jonny Canhos doesn’t really even remember what happened, except for the run that personified his night.

Canhos took one of his 41 carries up the middle, bounced off the pile when everyone thought he was down and burst up the field for 35 yards, extending the drive and adding fuel his burgeoning reputation.

“I know we needed yards and I know we needed to keep that clock running,” Canhos said. “I had to keep moving my dead legs and get what I could get.”

And it’s hard to blame Canhos for having anything short of a photographic memory Friday night in Rolla’s 22-20 Ozark Conference victory over Kickapoo. The Rolla senior tailback finished the game with 41 carries for 203 yards and a touchdown.

Work. Horse.

Actually, Canhos showed exactly why Rolla (2-0, 2-0 OC) might be the best team in the Ozarks. Not only did he carry the ball 41 times, he said he was “sick,” throwing up after every one of the Bulldogs’ series. With toughness and resiliency like that, it’s going to be tough for the other teams in the Ozarks not to take notice.

“I came off after ever series puking,” Canhos said with a smile on his face. “I don’t know what happened.”

And to think, Kickapoo (1-1, 1-1 OC) nearly gave Canhos and the Bulldogs something they could never forget.

Rolla took a 22-13 lead with 26.9 second left in the third quarter on a 2-yard run from quarterback Jake Morris. But Kickapoo answered on the arm of senior quarterback Brett Diers. The righthanded dual-threat QB who also had a 23-yard TD run on the night, was 9-of-16 passing for 130 yards while also rushing six times for 52 yards . He orchestrated a drive, which included a 33-yard pass to Cody Anderson on a third-and-26 deep in Chief territory. When Coleton Cloud punched in a TD from two yards out with 4:19 left in the game, a Chief comeback still looked bleak.

But the Chiefs forced Rolla to its only three-and-out of the night and it looked like the scrappy Chiefs might pull off the comeback. Kickapoo had a third-and-inches on their own 49, when they were called for a false start. After Diers scrambled for a yard on third-and-6, his next pass fell incomplete and Rolla ran out the clock.

In all, the Bulldogs used a little luck and created the rest. After Kickapoo took the lead early in the first quarter on Diers’ TD run, Rolla answered on Canhos’ 1-yard TD plunge. The two-point conversion pass failed.

With 1:19 left in the first half and trailing 7-6, Morris dropped back to pass. His throw down the field was into double coverage, but somehow Michael Pickrell came up with the ball after it was tipped by both Kickapoo defenders. After gaining control, he ended up with a 43-yard gain. After a Rolla false start, Morris found a leaping Clayton Parker, who actually tipped the too-tall pass to himself and landed on the 1-yard line. Morris scored on a QB sneak with 22.9 seconds left.

Lessons learned

Rolla is a physical football team. In all, the Bulldogs (2-0) ran the ball 58 times for 281 yards. Morris looked good enough as a passer to take him seriously in the pocket, but it’s clearly not what the Bulldogs want to do. Defensively, the Bulldogs didn’t look comfortable defending the pass, but did a reasonable job on the Chiefs’ running game. Still, it’s hard not to gush about their power running game.

Kickapoo seems to always find a way to play a close ballgame — which is both good and bad. Once Diers was given the reins of the offense when the Chiefs fell behind, he looked like a guy who could win some games. He proved he can run and pass, but has an inconsistent group of receivers. Defensively, it’s hard to not feel good, despite giving up three TDs. Remember, one of them wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the double-tip pass near the end of the first half. Kickapoo will find a way to make things tough on opposing Ozark Conference teams.

Stat geekage

Rolla

• Jonny Canhos, RB: 41 carries, 203 yards, TD
• Jake Morris, QB: 2-of-3, 58 yards; 12 carries, 56 yards, 2 TDs
• Team rushing: 58 carries, 281 yards

Kickapoo

• Brett Diers, QB: 9-of-16, 130 yards; 6 carries, 52 yards, 2 TDs
• Coleton Cloud, RB: 16 carries, 67 yards, TD
• Cody Anderson, WR: 3 catches, 58 yards

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DGB and the Hillcrest Hornets climb into our rankings

No, the Internet can’t hold us back. After technical difficulties on the sports side of things, the magic of the Internet returns and with that, behold the latest TAGsgf.com high school football rankings.

We obviously recommend going to a game, but if you can’t, be sure to check back here tonight and in the morning for scores from the entire Ozarks HS football scene.

Class 4-6

1. Rolla 1-0
2. Webb City 1-0
3. Nixa 1-0
4. Joplin 1-0
5. Lebanon 1-0
6. Carthage 1-0
7. Bolivar 1-0
8. Hillcrest 1-0
9. Parkview 0-1
10. Neosho 0-1

Class 1-3

1. Cassville 1-0
2. Lamar 1-0
3. Rogersville 1-0
4. Fair Grove 1-0
5. Monett 1-0
6. Seneca 0-1
7. Miller 1-0
8. Thayer 1-0
9. MV-BT Liberty 0-1
10. Mountain Grove 0-1

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Picking football games correctly is the ultimate display of sports knowledge (or at least can be spun that way). And with football season upon us, Allen tapped Uncle Rob, the shrewdest Vegas man he knows, to break down some college football games on the opening weekend.

Welcome back to Spring Vegas.

See, picking winners is fun, but picking against the spread of the toughest test. And that’s what Allen and Uncle Rob are doing, trying to sharpen their skills for that next trip to Las Vegas.

We have listed our picks below, and also recorded our usual weekly podcast, which you can stream or download.

Allen’s picks
Missouri (-12) vs. Illinois
Va. Tech (+2) vs. Boise State
Oregon State (+12) at TCU

Uncle Rob’s picks
Tulsa (-8) at East Carolina
Western Kentucky at Nebraska (-37 1/2)
Washington (+2) at BYU

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2. Spring Vegas podcast — The bounce back edition

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3. Spring Vegas: Sweet 16 picks

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If you’re listening to The High Road with Allen Vaughan, you’re catching what everyone is talking about. If not, you can relive the history here through our podcast. Either way, you can catch TAGsgf.com’s sports editor do his thing from 2-3 p.m. Monday-Friday on Jock 98.7 FM and Jock987.com.

If you’re looking for information on previous shows, click here.

Dave Matter

Episode: Friday 9/3/2010

What Did the Five Fingers Say to the Face Friday

• Guest: Columbia Tribune Mizzou football writer Dave Matter
  
• MSU football lightning delay recap
• Spring Vegas football picks
  
• And more!
  

Listen to The High Road on Jock 98.7 FM Monday–Friday from 2-3 pm.

Stream Live:
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Socialize:
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Empty stands host a downpour as the Bears opener is postponed for Friday afternoon (1 p.m.).

9:09: Game has been officially postponed for tomorrow at 1 p.m. Free admission and parking for everybody.

9:07: Don’t you love when anything dealing with kickers is the indicator? Speaking of I took a kicker in my first fantasy draft in the 12th round (of 15). Yeah. I’m that guy.

9:05: 25 minutes until a decision. God I hope they kickoff sometime around midnight. There is a half joke in the pressbox about the game starting late. That is getting curbed, the kicker nets are getting packed up.

9:04: I went to college with a guy we called Ride the Lightning. He got struck by lightning twice. Good dude, too. Ben Dryer, if you’re reading this, how’ve you been?

9:02: Totally playing. This is how I feel:

8:58: Do you feel as good as I do right now? Actually, this is how I feel:

Missouri State players made it to the tunnel, but were promptly turned away.

8:52: Eastern Kentucky press is shutting it down. I won’t shut down. Not now. Not ever.

8:49: People are running around on the field, not players, but people. Let’s get this thing going. Here comes the rain.

8:44: Final decision pushed back to 9:30. Stay tuned.

8:26: Tornado drill is over.Everybody at the stadium was packed into the racquetball courts hallway at ground level. Two people had guns (cops). And two people had beer (not including the cops or myself – sadly for the latter). It was steamy. We still have a half hour until officials determine whether we have a late start or will play tomorrow. I climbed a lot of stairs to keep this coming, so I hope you stick around.

7:49: Tornado Siren, getting booted from press box. Be back sometime.

7:44: There’s 50 minutes on the clock, officials will wait until 9 p.m. to make a decision. It could still be played then, but could also get postponed for tomorrow.

7:37: The clock was reset to an hour. As an Eastern Kentucky SID just said, “I wish they’d just make a decision so we can watch football somewhere.” It just pisses me of. We’re at a football stadium. The worst part is the student section actually turned out. It was starting to fill and now there are five students bravely waiting. They don’t even fit under their one shared umbrella. In other news – Leonard Pope makes a redzone catch to put the Chiefs on top of the Rams, 7-0.

7:26: Live blog is going to be put on pause. Check back for more news. The quickest we’ll have game action is 45 minutes (8:13 p.m.). I’ll continue to update weather delays. Thanks for reading and staying patient.

7:22: The team came to the tunnel with less than 10 minutes on the lightning clock. As the Bears made it about 20 yards out of the tunnel, they were sent back. The clock has been reset to 30 minutes.

7:19: I think Chiefs fans are going to enjoy the running back duo. Who cares about the depth chart? They compliment each other well. Jones looks good tonight, he’s so patient behind his blockers – something that eluded Larry Johnson in late 2008.

7:17: Some sort of decision was just made on the field. Terry Allen returned to the giant inflated helmet on the North end of the field.

7:15: 16:04 on the lightning clock – no recent flashes (no jinx, no jinx, no jinx)

7:10: Chiefs and Rams preseason games under way … updates could spread out until there’s action at Plaster. I’ll try not to let that happen, but can’t promise anything.

7:08: Got to think this game can’t be rescheduled too easily. They’ve got to get it in any way possible. I’m prepared for a late night. Hope you are too.

7:07: In my eyes, this game should’ve started at 7 anyway, so we’re just a little behind. 25:00 on the lightning clock.

7:03: The lightning clock was reset again. Here’s more video of Nathan Scheer, this time against CBC. Bear Nation on the footage, @DBear5 on the link. Already a little amped for basketball season and football season is yet to begin. Damn you Mother Nature.

The South endzone at Plaster Field is a little more visible with the shiny new light.

7:01: Press box invaded by a random man in a Michigan shirt claiming allegiances to Art Hains. He stole our chips. It’s OK he probably needed them more than us. Don’t worry. He received the boot.

6:56: The first song News-Leader sports editor Pam Clark thinks of about the rain? “Rainy Days and Mondays by the Carpenters.
What’s that? You want video of it? Of course.

6:49: Media member states the obvious – Missouri State would be making a killing right now if they could sell beer. Obvious, but could you imagine the revenue? Damn. The lightning clock froze at 6:00, now it resets again. I’m getting settled in. The fans who just came back in promptly head to the exits.

6:45: @DBear5 tweeted a link to this highlight reel of Missouri State basketball newbie Nathan Scheer (Boriga) vs. DeSmet. Enjoy! – 9:13 on the lightning clock.

6:42: The view here at the top of Plaster is pretty sweet, Plaza Tower(s) stands above the trees. (Desperately seeking content)

6:39: EKU and MSU have never played before, and the way the lightning clock continues to reset, they may not. The Pride band has officially lost its section as the crowd refilters to its seats. Another big strike, hoping it doesn’t reset again (14:31 left on lightning clock – word is they will get a 20-minute warmup if we get there).

6:34: As per suggestion of the News-Leader’s Erin Bolen – former Branson and global country icon Eddie Rabbitt’s “I Love a Rainy Night”. She also points out the faint rainbow to the south east.

Coaches and officials (and News-Leader photographer Jerome Nakagawa) huddle to discuss weather issues.

6:31: Terry Allen walked away from coaches meeting with the officials scratching his head – 23:47 until lightning clock ends.

6:26: Lightning clock reset again – 30 more minutes. MSU student worker quips “why can’t we play in a dome?” while remaining dry in a press box.

6:23: Eastern Kentucky notes – This is the fifth straight year the Colonels have opened on the road. Sophomore quarterback T.J. Pryor was the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference freshman of the year (I’m checking to see if he’s of relation to Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor). EKU’s defense returns all 11 defensive starters.

6:20: News-Leader sports writer Erin Bolen reports that there’s a severe weather warning until midnight. She adds torrential downpours expected throughout the night. Oy.

6:16: After one reset of the lightning clock, we have 17:12 until kickoff.

6:14:  We will keep you entertained. Jon Poorman, sports editor of the Missouri State Standard, suggested some Lil Wayne. So, here you go.
Lil Wayne and Eminem, “Drop the World”

6:06: Speaking of TAGsgf.com sports editor Allen Vaughan, read his five storylines for the Bears this year.

6:04: Weather Delay Entertainment – Al Pacino’s inspirational speech from Any Given Sunday (marginal compared to Allen Vaughan’s version on The High Road.

Missouri State opens tonight against Eastern Kentucky.

6:01: The lightly peppered crowd clears out as a downpour arrives. Expect a longer delay. Don’t worry, though. The MSU Pride Band is playing on.

5:59: Lightning delay … 30 minutes. Prepare for 30 minutes of nonsense.

5:55: Notable scratches for the Bears from tonight’s game are running backs Drew Temple and Mikael Cooper-Falls. Needless to say Stephen Johnston (no relation) will see a load of carries.

5:52: Without specifics, our scout friend is here for Missouri State linebackers and offensive linemen (cough: David Arkin, LT, and Antoine Wilkinson, LB).

5:48: Happy 90210 Day and welcome to Plaster Stadium where Missouri State opens its season against Eastern Kentucky with massive expectations that start and end with the word “playoffs.” The new lights at Plaster are warming up and according to the press massager, the lights are lightning proof. Tonight I am parked next to a scout from the Tennessee Titans. We’ll try to get more from him as the night goes on.

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If you’re listening to The High Road with Allen Vaughan, you’re catching what everyone is talking about. If not, you can relive the history here through our podcast. Either way, you can catch TAGsgf.com’s sports editor do his thing from 2-3 p.m. Monday-Friday on Jock 98.7 FM and Jock987.com.

If you’re looking for information on previous shows, click here.

Lucas Harrell

Episode: Thursday 9/2/2010

I Don’t Believe what I Just Saw Thursday

• Guest: Ozark native and Chicago White Sox pitcher Lucas Harrell — and he takes your phone call.
  
• 9/02/10 day
  
• And more!
  

Listen to The High Road on Jock 98.7 FM Monday–Friday from 2-3 pm.

Stream Live:
» Stream online at Jock987.com

Socialize:
» “Like” The High Road with Allen Vaughan on Facebook
» Follow Allen Vaughan on Twitter

Join the Conversation:
» Call (417)868.6100 between 2-3 M–F
» E-mail TheHighRoadShow@gmail.com

But there's more! Check out these related posts on TAGsgf.com:

1. The High Road with Allen Vaughan — Wednesday, Sept. 8 preview

   OG Wednesday: STL Cards minor league director John Vuch talks about the team's minor league success, plus we unveil a Boss of the Week and SGFers in the bigs....

2. The High Road with Allen Vaughan — Friday, Sept. 3 preview

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3. The High Road with Allen Vaughan — Tuesday, Sept. 7

   Opinion Tuesday — No guest, but we meld Monday's show into Tuesday's with the pep talk and the Tag 5, plus offers some strong sports (and non-sports) opinions....

Make the playoffs.

Sounds simple enough, right? Win a bunch of games and re-energize the fan base. No problem.

You have to admit, there is more buzz about this Missouri State football season than ever before. And there should be. Not only do the Bears bring back 17 starters and 41 lettermen from last year’s team, the team is talking about their aspirations. Publicly.

MSU coach Terry Allen said the P word. The players are openly pining for it. Of course, when you realize MSU hasn’t played in a playoff game since 1990, it might be a daunting task. But that’s not the feeling I gather from the community. And why should they have reservations or trepidation?

Playoffs are (good) music to everyone’s ears. It’s the first-class airplane seat to everyone else’s coach seat. It’s comfort food. It’s a smile and a phone number from the opposite sex on the first try. Everyone loves success, and even more importantly, revels in the pursuit of success. Sometimes the journey is better than the destination. And in some way, that’s truly what the 2010 season is about.

With the Bears opening their season at 6 p.m. tonight at Plaster Sports Complex against Eastern Kentucky (which we will be Live Blogging, by the way)I’ve identified five storylines for this defining season of Missouri State football and the tenure of Coach Allen.

1. Can Cody Kirby elevate to legendary status?

Cody Kirby

Overlooked and deemed as not big enough to handle Division I football, the 5-foot-11, 202-pound Kirby has become a household name in Springfield. Would he have been able to succeed at a FBS (Division I, rather than FCS or Division I-AA) school? We’ll never know, but his sheer numbers are captivating.

Entering his senior season, he ranks No. 1 in MSU history in touchdown passes (37), No. 2 in passing yards (5,876), completions (511), attempts (859), and plays (1,136), third in total offense (6,309) and 4th in completion percentage (59.5 percent). He begins this seaason with 30 consecutive starts (14-16 record).

His personality has been compared to Tim Tebow. Kirby is devout in his faith and has cemented his role on the team as a leader. But, will he be able to lead an experienced team to places MSU hasn’t been in nearly his lifetime?

If he does, he’ll turn into an instant legend, and have his number retired one day. But to do it, he’s going to have to rely on an unproven group of receivers.

Gone is Clay Harbor, the All-American tight end who was selected in the fourth round on the NFL Draft to the Philadelphia Eagles. In his place is an inexperience group. Junior Jermaine Saffold (6-1, 205) out of Grandview might be his No. 1 target. He was second behind Harbor last season on the statsheet, grabbing 25 passes for 439 yards and three TDs.

While there is said to be depth at receiver for the Bears, few of them have much experience. Fifth-year senior Justin Fuselier had 20 catches and three TDs in 2008, but underwent ACL surgery afterward and struggled last season. Instead, it’s a crop of Georgia Tech transfer Willie White (6-4, 205, jr.), Adrian Taylor (6-3, 190, jr.), QB-in-waiting Trevor Wooden (6-2, 227, R-Fr.) and Glendale’s Ian Starnes (6-5, 217, jr.). Former Tournament of Champions basketballer Julian Burton (5-10, 185, fr.) could also factor in.

Can Kirby find harmony with the receivers? If so, the Bears will be hard to stop on offense. And Kirby will become a true Springfield football legend.

2. Can an offensive lineman become a household name?

David Arkin

Offensive linemen are probably the most undervalued commodity in all of sports, at least, by the general public. Quarterbacks, running backs and linebackers get most of the glory. Heck, even safeties are generally more popular than the offensive linemen. At least they can score touchdowns.

But with that said, it’s time to see if an offensive lineman can land on the same public radar that the aforementioned Kirby dominates. Everyone, it’s time to fall in love with — or at least really like — David Arkin.

The 6-5, 302-pound senior left tackle has not only been named a preseason All-American and made 33 starts to begin his career, but Coach Allen has said that he’s drawing more attention from NFL scouts than Clay Harbor ever did. And since he’ll be Kirby’s No. 1 bodyguard, doesn’t that make him just as valuable, if not more?

And Arkin has personality for days. I’ve linked my preseason Q&A with him, but if he’s a future pro and he’ll start every game of his college career, isn’t it time for us to try and give him the respect he deserves? Yes.

3. Is the defense actually better than the offense?

The offense gets all of the attention, but the defense has the ability to be the team’s true catalyst. After switching to a 3-4 front last season, the Bears finished 51st in the FBS in scoring defense (22.4).

The Bears have two returning All-MVC picks. First is linebacker Antoine Wilkinson (6-2, 227, sr.) who finished 20th in the FCS in tackles per game last season and earned MVFC Newcomer of the Year honors after notching 113 total tackles in his MSU debut. Next is defensive end Waylon Richardet (6-3, 270, sr.), who had 43 total tackles, including six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Second teamers include linebacker Adam Beauchamp (6-0, 255, sr.), free safety Derek Miller (6-3, 196, sr.) and junior Michael Keck. Keck won’t play in the season opener because of precautionary reasons stemming from a preseason head injury.

It’s not really a turnover-forcing defense, but it has the ability to stir up problems and is a sure-handed tackling group. This defense’s reputation is more annoying to the opposition than frightening, but if it continues to allow the offense to have good field position and causes the occasional turnover, maybe that reputation will change.

4. What if they underachieve?

Terry Allen

So, let’s embrace the other side of this season. With all of the hype, all of the happy feelings, what will happen if the Bears finish fifth in the league — like they were picked in the preseason — and don’t make the playoffs?

Will you pout? Will you be sad? Will you ever be emotionally invested? And what will it mean for MSU going forward? We all understand that the Missouri Valley Conference is one of the toughest conferences in the country, but at the same time, Coach Allen has said it, as has Kirby:

This is the year.

How big of a disappointment will that be for you? I guess it depends on your prior fanhood. Surely it won’t be anything like the last two weeks the St. Louis Cardinals have endured, or the fact Law and Order was canceled, but will a playoff-less season change your perception? If you’re a bandwagon fan looking for a fun, free ride and the team fails, will you jump on that bandwagon again, or will you wait to see the highlights on the TV news?

Think about it, because the answer to the question will go a long way as to the future of the program and Coach Allen.

5. Will you care either way?

These MSU fans care, but do you?

There’s a likelihood the general public doesn’t care about Missouri State football, and never will. We’ve talked about the issue at length on my radio show — The High Road with Allen Vaughan — and there is definitely a mixed bag. Some will be behind Missouri State no matter what, whether they’re an alum, a Springfield native, or someone who enjoys seeing college football in person.

But then, there is the crowd that will never truly invest in FCS (or I-AA) football. “It’s not Division I,” they’ll say. “I’d rather stay at home and watch national games on TV,” they’ll also say. Some wish that MSU was a Division I program that played the low level schools. Even if they’re getting pummeled by other low-level D-I schools, there’s eventually a chance to play on a bowl game on TV somewhere.

But no matter what side you are on, if they start winning, what will you do?

———————

The 90s

And for fun, here’s a list of things that happened in 1990 — the last time Missouri State’s football team made the playoffs.

• Feb. 11 — James “Buster” Douglas knocks out Mike Tyson to win the World Heavyweight Boxing title.
• Feb. 27 — The Exxon Valdez spill happens. Its shipping company are indicted on 5 criminal counts.
• March 15 — Mikhail Gorbachev is elected as the first executive president of the Soviet Union.
• Aug. 2 — Gulf War: Iraq invades Kuwait, eventually leading to the Gulf War.
• Oct. 17 — The Internet Movie Database is launched by American Col Needham, giving internet users the opportunity to search for film information online.
• Nov. 29 — Gulf War: The United Nations Security Council passes UN Security Council Resolution 678, authorizing military intervention in Iraq if that nation does not withdraw its forces from Kuwait and free all foreign hostages by Tuesday, January 15, 1991.
• Dec. 9 — Slobodan Milošević becomes President of Serbia.
• Dec. 25 — The first successful trial run of the system that would become the World Wide Web is carried out.

Notable people born in 1990:

• Feb. 3 — Sean Kingston, American singer
• April 9 – Kristen Stewart, Actress best known for Twilight series
• May 24 — Joey Logano, American race car driver
• July 27 — Nick Hogan, Hulk’s son
• July 28 — Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em, American rapper
• Aug. 6 — JonBenét Ramsey, American beauty queen and murder victim (d. 1996)
• Sep. 8 — Matt Barkley, USC quarterback
• Oct. 21 – Ricky Rubio, Spanish basketball player
• Dec. 28 — David Archuleta, American Idol runner up

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Branson's Avery Dingman

According to his Facebook page, Branson senior forward Avery Dingman has chosen to play his college basketball at Creighton University.

The 6-foot-6 senior had been mulling offers from Missouri State, Northern Colorado, the Citadel, Central Michigan and TCU, according to KSPR.com, who first unearthed the Facebook post.

Dingman burst on the scene last season as a junior after seeing no time during Branson’s Class 5 quarterfinal run in 2008. But he emerged after a great summer with his Mo-Kan AAU team and showed off a blend of athleticism and skills with his high-flying dunks and 3-point precision. As a senior, he averaged 21.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Dingman and his Branson teammates are also in this year’s Bass Pro Tournament of Champions field.

Dingman was poised to be the first local recruit of the Cuonzo Martin era after he was first offered a scholarship in June. His choice of Creighton over Missouri State raises many questions, which we will be sure to address in the near future.

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3. Trey Starks chooses Indian Hills C.C.

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If you’re listening to The High Road with Allen Vaughan, you’re catching what everyone is talking about. If not, you can relive the history here through our podcast. Either way, you can catch TAGsgf.com’s sports editor do his thing from 2-3 p.m. Monday-Friday on Jock 98.7 FM and Jock987.com.

If you’re looking for information on previous shows, click here.

Episode: Tuesday 8/31/2010

That’s Just Like Your Opinion Man Tuesday

• Indiana State football goes Stone Cold Steve Austin
  
• What are athlete’s social limitations?
  
• Question of the Day
  
• And more!
  

Listen to The High Road on Jock 98.7 FM Monday–Friday from 2-3 pm.

Stream Live:
» Stream online at Jock987.com

Socialize:
» “Like” The High Road with Allen Vaughan on Facebook
» Follow Allen Vaughan on Twitter

Join the Conversation:
» Call (417)868.6100 between 2-3 M–F
» E-mail TheHighRoadShow@gmail.com

But there's more! Check out these related posts on TAGsgf.com:

1. The High Road with Allen Vaughan — Tuesday, August 17

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2. The High Road with Allen Vaughan — Tuesday, August 3

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3. The High Road with Allen Vaughan — Tuesday, Sept. 7

   Opinion Tuesday — No guest, but we meld Monday's show into Tuesday's with the pep talk and the Tag 5, plus offers some strong sports (and non-sports) opinions....

If you’re listening to The High Road with Allen Vaughan, you’re catching what everyone is talking about. If not, you can relive the history here through our podcast. Either way, you can catch TAGsgf.com’s sports editor do his thing from 2-3 p.m. Monday-Friday on Jock 98.7 FM and Jock987.com.

If you’re looking for information on previous shows, click here.

Episode: Monday 8/30/2010

No Shortcuts Monday

• Guests: The Scoreboard Guy — Guy Newcomb
  
• TAG 5
• Cheat Sheet
• Question of the Day
  
• And more!
  

Listen to The High Road on Jock 98.7 FM Monday–Friday from 2-3 pm.

Stream Live:
» Stream online at Jock987.com

Socialize:
» “Like” The High Road with Allen Vaughan on Facebook
» Follow Allen Vaughan on Twitter

Join the Conversation:
» Call (417)868.6100 between 2-3 M–F
» E-mail TheHighRoadShow@gmail.com

But there's more! Check out these related posts on TAGsgf.com:

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2. The High Road with Allen Vaughan — Monday, August 2

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3. The High Road with Allen Vaughan — August 9

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The first high school football Friday is in the books and it was as exciting as many anticipated. And to fill your desire, we have all of the local scores, and as many game-story links from the season-opening night.

Enjoy.

Friday’s scores

Hillcrest 20, Seneca 15 (Click for video highlights)

Joplin 17, Glendale 14

Kickapoo 22, Waynesville 21

Parkview 42, Rolla 35

Catholic 42, East Newton 20

Central  45, St. Louis Lift for Life 16

Nixa 21, Camdenton 14

Webb City 35, Ozark 7

Ash Grove 42, Liberal 8

Ava 35, Strafford 28, OT

Fair Grove 66, Buffalo 0

Rogersville 39, Mount Vernon 21

Republic 32, Willard 7

Aurora 34, Warsaw 0

Bolivar 26, Neosho 19

Carthage 60, Branson 22

Cabool 34, Houston 13

Miller 49, Greenfield 7

Lockwood 49, Diamond 14

Marshfield 51, Hollister 12

Pleasant Hope 41, McAuley 12

Monett 10, McDonald County 0

Cassville 40, Mountain Grove 7

Thayer 20, Salem 14

Pierce City 48, Sarcoxie 7

Adrian 41, El Dorado Springs 6

Lebanon 49, West Plains 6

Willow Springs 22, Reeds Spring 12

Lamar 38, Carl Junction 7

Osceola 21, Marionville 14

Stockton 29, Butler 14

Warrensburg 26, Nevada 9

Cole Camp 27, Skyline 26

Hogan Prep at MV-BT Liberty

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3. Your High School football primer

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Michael McShane, Dorial Green-Beckham and Donovan Mathis take a moment before Hillcrest's season opener with Seneca.

It didn’t take long to get broken into the 2010 football campaign. It was a crazy fourth quarter on the Hill to get things started. That’s for sure. Much of the talk from Hillcrest‘s wild win over Seneca, 20-15, will be about Dorial Green-Beckham’s 66-yard game-winning catch-and-run. And rightfully so. It’s a big moment at home on opening night against a tough Indians club. There’s quite a bit to take from the contest other than excitement though, so the Hornets should celebrate lightly. If it weren’t for Green-Beckham’s big run and a 90-yard haul by Jeremy Coleman, Hillcrest wouldn’t have been celebrating at all. But the big plays were made, and in the end it’s all about the final score. Heck, DGB’s best play was ruled incomplete (he made a catch and touched endzone dirt with both tiptoes – I wouldn’t bring it up if I didn’t catch the play on video, check out his interview with highlights below to see for yourself). With that said, here’s some food for thought, bullet-point style:

* A lot of the talk heading into the season was the play of Hillcrest’s junior quarterback Matt Futrell. Futrell was admittedly shaky throughout, he missed several reads and had some trouble delivering the ball on target at times. His long ball wasn’t accurate, but the his short-to-intermediate throws were on point. At one point in the game, it felt like a bad sequence in Madden when you keep trying to force the ball to a certain target (DGB was thrown at 17 times) – two seemingly forced throws resulted in interceptions. In time, Futrell will start to figure out those reads. Certainly, this won’t be the same air attack you saw from the Hornets last year, with Green-Beckham coasting under long balls, but a lot more hitch routes and letting his weapons make plays with their feet. While he ended up with nearly 300 yards passing, if you remove the two big gains, his numbers look a little different (With: 12-for-32, 281 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT; Without: 10-for-30, 125 yards, 2 INT). As the game wore on, Futrell began to look more comfortable in the pocket.

* Jeremy Coleman could become a quiet star. Well, maybe not silently, if he keeps putting up numbers like he did on Friday. A lot of defensive backs got a lot of playing time for Seneca, as the Indians put five and six DBs on the field at a time. And most of them were on Green-Beckham’s side of the field. This should make Coleman one of the most dangerous weapons in the area. He pulled in five catches and racked up 166 yards, including the 90-yard haul. His loud numbers were softened by the big game-winner from DGB, but keep an eye out for this speedy receiver. Junior running back  Donovan Mathis has quite a bit of shake out of the backfield as well and is a big gain threat.

* Hillcrest wasn’t able to sustain many drives. The Hornets had three drives of more than 30 yards that lasted longer than a single play – Coleman’s scamper was also on the first play of the drive.
Hillcrest drives:

In short, Seneca’s few defensive mistakes were costly, but the Indians generally kept the Hornets in check.

* The answer could be both, but it seems that either Seneca senior Allen Frost is primed for a monster season or Hillcrest’s run defense is in big, big trouble. Frost is a burly back with a little bit of shiftiness, but doesn’t have scary breakaway speed. Still, he burned the Hornets for 213 yards on 34 carries. Seneca’s offensive line was the best unit in the trenches and Frost had seams for days. Until the Indians were desperate, late in the fourth quarter, they didn’t run a single play in a formation other than the Power-I. Hillcrest’s run blitz wasn’t effective, either, as Frost broke three long gains – including a 38-yard touchdown rumble – on counter plays against it. The Indians dominance in the rushing attack gave them about a 13-minute advantage in time of possession – yes, that’s more than an entire quarter.

* Seneca could be a team on the rise, though very one-sided. Trailing 14-7 with 7:25 to play, the Indians forced a turnover and trudged down field on a masterful 12-play, 6 and-a-half minute drive, with just a single pass play (again, all in the same formation – only varying between twin and split receivers). Quarterback Jacob Rhoades sneaked in from a yard out to pull to 14-13, before Frost dove between his left guard and tackle to convert a 2-point try. The Indians were sound defensively (you can’t blame them too much for misses on Green-Beckham and Coleman), especially considering they probably won’t play too much 3-2-6 the rest of the year.

* Reportedly scouts from the University of Miami, and a few other schools were on hand to check out Green-Beckham.

Notable Stat Geekage

Hillcrest

Total Yards: 340
Passing Yards: 281
Rushing Yards: 59
Rough Time of Possession: 17:30

Matt Futrell, junior, QB:
Passing: 12-for-32, 281 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT

Donovan Mathis, junior, RB:
Rushing: 11 carries, 52 yards, TD

Jeremy Coleman, senior, WR:
Receiving: 5 catches, 166 yards, TD

Dorial Green-Beckham, junior, WR:
Receiving: 5 catches, 125 yards, TD
Green-Beckham was targeted 17 times

Seneca

Total Yards: 296
Passing Yards: 21
Rushing Yards: 275
Time of Possession: 30:30

Jacob Rhoades, senior, QB:
Passing: 2-for-7, 21 yards, INT;
Rushing: 13 carries for 32 yards, TD;

Allen Frost, senior, RB:
Rushing: 34 carries for 213 yards, TD

[View with PicLens]

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While Friday’s 21-14 season-opening victory over Camdenton High School shouldn’t have been as close as it was, there’s a ton for Nixa’s football to be excited about and just as much to be nervous about.

The good news? The identity of the running game. (330 yards rushing)

The bad news? The turnovers. (Five of them, four on lost fumbles)

Coming into the season, little was known about the Eagles’ stable of running backs. Graduating most of its depth, a ton of preseason emphasis was put on returning senior quarterback Ben Fisher and senior wide receivers Eric Cristophel and Brandon Cobb. And while they might be utilized on day, it was the running backs that made the statements.

The Eagles ended up running 33 times for 330 yards and no one was more important than Josh Liles. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior rushed 15 times for 105 yards in his first start, and conducted his first interviews — as you’ll see at the bottom of this file. Junior Kevin Shrauger scored two TDs on four carries, and fullback Sam Rehagen has a sizzling 62-yard run for a TD that got Nixa on the scoreboard to start the game.

“We just had to make our own statements,” Liles said after the game.

And while the five turnovers are all correctable — careless ballhandling and misfired passes — they know they have to get it fixed.

Another bright spot was the defense. Despite the turnovers on offense, Nixa held Camdenton to limited offense the entire night and never broke, allowing Camdenton just two plays of 20 yards or more. Also, after senior quarterback Spencer Carlock started out 7-for-7, he threw an interception at the Nixa goal line and then another before the half. Rehagen and Cristophel made the picks.

The moral of the story? If Nixa can beat Camdenton with five turnovers, what can they do if they don’t turn it over.

Noteworthy:

Nixa

Liles: 15 carries, 105 yards

Rehagen: 5 carries, 124 yards

Schwauger: 4 carries, 37 yards, 2 TDs

Camdenton

Spencer Carlock: 9-for-13, 97 yards, TD, Int

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If you’re listening to The High Road with Allen Vaughan, you’re catching what everyone is talking about. If not, you can relive the history here through our podcast. Either way, you can catch TAGsgf.com’s sports editor do his thing from 2-3 p.m. Monday-Friday on Jock 98.7 FM and Jock987.com.

If you’re looking for information on previous shows, click here.

Kyle Moats

Episode: Friday 8/27/2010

What Did the Five Fingers Say to the Face Friday

• Guests: MSU AD Kyle Moats and Springfield Cardinals pitcher Ryan Kulik
  
• Slaps!
  
• And more!
  

Listen to The High Road on Jock 98.7 FM Monday–Friday from 2-3 pm.

Stream Live:
» Stream online at Jock987.com

Socialize:
» “Like” The High Road with Allen Vaughan on Facebook
» Follow Allen Vaughan on Twitter

Join the Conversation:
» Call (417)868.6100 between 2-3 M–F
» E-mail TheHighRoadShow@gmail.com

But there's more! Check out these related posts on TAGsgf.com:

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3. The High Road with Allen Vaughan — Friday, July 23

   On this What Did the Five Fingers Say to the Face Friday, Missouri State basketball junior Kyle Weems will stop by, as will Spring Vegas' Uncle Rob and more!...

A view from inside the helmet of a high school football player.

When it comes to high school football, there are so many things to keep track of. The coaching changes. the personnel changes. Who’s gone? Who’s back? What district changes helped what school and made it a San Francisco uphill climb for another?

That’s exactly what TAGsgf.com is for. We fill in the blanks. And before you leave the house Friday to either tailgate, go sit in some fancy high school stands, or grab a lawn chair and honk your airhorn, devour our HS football primer. Print it out or keep it on your mobile web browser. You can thank us later.

TAGsgf.com Top 10 rankings

Rolla

Class 4-6

1. Rolla
2. Webb City
3. Joplin
4. Nixa
5. Lebanon
6. Camdenton
7. Bolivar
8. Branson
9. Carthage
10. Parkview

Cassville

Class 1-3

1. Cassville
2. Lamar
3. Rogersville
4. Fair Grove
5. MV-BT Liberty
6. Miller
7. Ava
8. Thayer
9. Monett
10. Mountain Grove

For the preseason state rankings, click here.

Fair Grove

Conference winners

• Ozark Conference — Rolla
• COC Large — Webb City
• COC Small — Bolivar
• Mid-Lakes — Fair Grove
• Big 8 — Cassville
• South Central Association — MV-BT Liberty
• Spring River Valley — Miller

Five players you should know

• 

  DGB

  Dorial Green-Beckham, Hillcrest, WR, jr. — Folks, I don’t know how I can explain this any clearer. He’s going to be the most decorated and sought-after athlete in Ozarks history. Bigger than the Beatles. Don’t you want to go and watch someone who will play on national television, and one day might get paid to play?

• Kolton Peavey, Bolivar, QB, sr. — All I know is that when I watched Rogersville at Bolivar last season, the Liberators were dead in the water. Needing a touchdown to win, Peavey orchestrated a 75-plus yard drive to hook up with Alex Tally last year fora TD to win the game. Clutch. The strong-armed southpaw QB has been tapped by soon-to-be D-I South Alabama to begin their program. That’s clutch, too.
• 

  Bolivar QB Kolton Peavey

  Darin Francis, Parkview, RB, sr. — Behind coach Wes Beachler’s relentless run offense, Francis gets plenty of carries. But it’s what he does with it that is so impressive. He scores TDs. In 10 games, Francis reached paydirt 26 times. He’s not exactly the make-you-miss type, but sometimes that’s more intimidating for opposing defenses.

• Dylan Cole, Rogersville, RB, jr. — If you want to sound like a genius, just go ahead and put stock in the future of Rogersville running back, Dylan Cole. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder might be the best pure athlete in the Ozarks (except for DGB, of course). He has everything you want in a tailback – speed, quickness, moves. He’s the total package. And I wouldn’t go out on a limb to praise someone who’s never been THE guy before if he wasn’t ready.
• Tanner Kroutil, Nixa, DB, sr. — As exciting as throwing the ball is for the fans, and as effective as it can be for offenses, few can take the momentum and swing it completely around like Kroutil. A big guy for a defensive back, Kroutil had seven interceptions last season for the Eagles. He’s moving to free safety now, but when playing big schools with big passing attacks, ballhawks like Kroutil are as valuable as anyone, possibly more.

What about the Springfield teams?

There is a ton of intrigue within the Springfield city limits. You can make a case for each of the four Ozark Conference schools — Hillcrest, Glendale, Kickapoo and Parkview — to win a ton of games.

Please watch all of KSPR’s 5th Quarter HS football preview show, but if you want to see what I had to say about the city teams, fast forward to the last three minutes of this video, where I suit up and go into the KSPR studios with their workhorse, Mike Scott.

District jumble

While we tried to jump up and down, screaming that a five-team district was a horrible thing to put a high school football team through, especially when every other one was a four-teamer, it appears MSHSAA has listened. Sort of.

Instead of there being only one five-team district — which plays six regular season games and four playoff games, rather than 7 and 3 like everyone else. — there are now two.

Class 5 District 7 includes Central, Glendale, Lebanon, Parkview and Class 5 newbie Willard.
C5-D8 houses Branson, Kickapoo, Neosho, Nixa and Ozark. Branson is new to Class 5, as well.

Which team looks to have benefitted?

Hillcrest — After winning the first playoff game in school history last second, the Hornets no longer have to contend with Class 4 powerhouse Bolivar. Instead, the Hornets match up against Marshfield, Republic and West Plains. With two teams making the playoffs, this should a lock for the Hornets.

Which team has a tougher path?

Bolivar — Bolivar vacated its district with Hillcrest, Republic and Marshfield and now travels north to face three out-of-area teams. That’s never a pleasant thing. The unexpected is much scarier than having to face a decent local team. That is, if they’re a good team. If Helias, Warrensburg and Marshall turn out to be patsies, this could be a blessing, but it’s no guarantee, especially compared to what they left behind.

Toughest district in the state

Class 3 District 11 — As has been the course for the last few years, C3-D11 is ridiculous. Cassville is a two-time defending state champion. Monett has grown into a powerhouse. Despite its off-field troubles, Seneca is loaded with talent.

—————–

And this is just the begining. Consider TAGsgf.com your source for HS football. Check back here for all of Friday night’s scores, as well as game story links and commentary.

Enjoy your Friday night.

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KY3 and The CW will air nine men's and eight women's Missouri State games through 2014.

Missouri State announced a two-tier television rights package on Thursday, which will air 17 basketball annually by KY3, Inc., over the next four years (2010-14). Mediacom will pick up eight games in football, volleyball and baseball.

Director of Athletics Kyle Moats said the first tier is an exclusive basketball agreement with KY3, Inc. – parent company of local broadcast stations KYTV and Ozarks CW. It includes nine men’s games and eight women’s games. They will be carried live over the air, on cable and on satellite carriers (Dish Network and Direct TV). Network affiliates already secured include Metro Sports in Kansas City and Charter Communications in St. Louis. More affiliates are being negotiated around the state and region.

Production costs and commercial inventory of the basketball package will be supported by Bass Pro Shops, Chevy Dealers of the Ozarks, St. John’s Hospital, and Great Southern Bank.

Weekly coaches’ shows for football and both basketball teams will be aired on the CW. The Terry Allen Show will be air at 10:30 p.m. every Sunday of the football season.

The second tier of the agreement keeps MSU connected to Mediacom, which has served as the rights holder of basketball programming for the last six years. Four football games will air this season with live telecasts of two home and two road games. The agreement with Mediacom covers a minimum of three football, two volleyball and three baseball games per year through the spring of 2014.

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There is a lot of speculation on what’s going to happen when Missouri State announces its newest sports media contract at 11:30 a.m. And while nothing is official, I started thinking about the conversation I had with MSU Athletic Director Kyle Moats back in December.

There was a specific portion about the future of the media contract and I want to rehash that now. If you’d like to reread the entire Q&A, you can do so by clicking here.

AV: Where does the TV contract stand?

KM: TV is up this year, after basketball season. My goal with the TV is two things: 1) Maximize the exposure for our fans. 2) Help promote our sports. The money part of it is something that’s a factor, but not that big of a factor. I think we’ll be able to retain the dollars and the inventory we need to help sell. We need exposure and promotion of our product. Who can do that the best? Daily there are more and more people that have satellite. (Shrugs shoulders) It’s a factor. You have over-the-air, you have analog, you have HD. That’s a factor. You’ve got video streaming, that’s a factor. You’ve got regional cable, that’s a factor. You put all of that stuff in the pot and you’ve got to come up with what’s best for you. We’re aware of the issues and we need to satisfy the most Bears fans. And I go back to it, we’re not just southwest Missouri and that’s not just who we are trying to cater to. We’re border to border. We’re Tulsa, we’re southeast Missouri, we’re Illinois, we’re going north to Iowa. We’re trying to get to Kansas. We’re a regional school, not just a corner-of-Missouri school. We’re getting bigger and bigger and we’re getting more and more people from outside the area. That’s a good thing and we certainly want to stay true to our roots, but we want to expand for the region. It’s good for the whole university, not just athletics.

AV: When will you make an announcement?

KM: Probably not until the summer. After the first of the year, we’ll try to look at the issues. It will be a bid process. We’ll get the specs together and get into negotiation and get it wrapped up early in the summer. Late spring/early summer.

AV: Any idea who will bid?

KM: I have no idea. You’ve got Mediacom. The two groups that have both stations. I don’t know if either one will have an interest. I don’t know if regional cable will have any interest (like Fox Sports Midwest) and there’s video streaming with ESPN. We’ve got to make sure we don’t step on any toes with the conference. I want the most exposure to get for the program.

Check back here to TAGsgf.com to see immediate reaction, and tune into The High Road with Allen Vaughan on Jock 98.7 FM and Jock987.com from 2-3 p.m. for more reaction.

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If you’re listening to The High Road with Allen Vaughan, you’re catching what everyone is talking about. If not, you can relive the history here through our podcast. Either way, you can catch TAGsgf.com’s sports editor do his thing from 2-3 p.m. Monday-Friday on Jock 98.7 FM and Jock987.com.

If you’re looking for information on previous shows, click here.

Terry Allen

Episode: Thursday 8/25/2010

I Don’t Believe What I Just Saw Thursday

• Guest: MSU football coach Terry Allen
  
• MSU Media Contract breakdown
  
• Is MSU more than just SMS?
  
• And more!
  

Listen to The High Road on Jock 98.7 FM Monday–Friday from 2-3 pm.

Stream Live:
» Stream online at Jock987.com

Socialize:
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2. The High Road with Allen Vaughan — Thursday, August 5

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Former Buffalo football coach Ed Hula

Many have been waiting for the fallout of the awkward Buffalo High School football situation and it’s finally happened.

Bison head coach Ed Hula has resigned, according to a story from KSPR.com and a press release from the school.

This is from the KSPR story:

Ed Hula, head football and wrestling coach for the Dallas County School District in Buffalo officially resigned Wednesday morning.

Sources tell KSPR 14 players quit last week to support a teammate, who returned from a one-week vacation, to find his locker cleared out. They say, he was kicked off the team for not attending practice.

After getting a news release from the district announcing Hula’s resignation KSPR called to ask for more details and whether players would be returning to the team, the district official who answered hung up the phone.

The press release reads (rather boringly):

The Dallas County R-I School District received a letter of resignation from Ed Hula effective August 24, 2010. Hula’s resignation as Head Football Coach, Head Wrestling Coach and Weight Room Coach was tendered with the understanding that extra-curricular stipends remain in effect for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year.

Hula has been employed as an instructor and coach for the Dallas County School District for the past five years and will continue to be employed as a teacher for the 2010-2011 school year.

“The Dallas County R-I School District appreciates Ed Hula’s service as a coach during the past five years,” said Robin Ritchie, District Superintendent. According to Ritchie, interim coaches will be assigned to those positions vacated as result of Hula’s resignation until a job search can be conducted and permanent replacements hired by the Dallas County Board of Education.

I’m sure there will be more to the story as many rumors were flying around. Buffalo opens its football season at Friday at Fair Grove.

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Anthony Tolliver

It’s been a big summer for Springfield native Anthony Tolliver.

He has his own Fan Club on Facebook. He is scheduled to make millions of dollars. But now, the former Kickapoo and Creighton and current Minnesota Timberwolves forward may have accomplished his most impressive feat.

He opened a Twitter account. And his handle isn’t easy to remember. That’s part of the reason for this post. To follow him visit:

Twitter.com/ATizzle44_TGBTG

Tolliver, of course, gained some national notoriety by spoofing LeBron James’ “The Decision” earlier this month with his own video announcement. He created a YouTube account for the sole purpose of posting his decision and it’s received more than 269,000 views. In case you missed it, here it is.

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If you’re listening to The High Road with Allen Vaughan, you’re catching what everyone is talking about. If not, you can relive the history here through our podcast. Either way, you can catch TAGsgf.com’s sports editor do his thing from 2-3 p.m. Monday-Friday on Jock 98.7 FM and Jock987.com.

If you’re looking for information on previous shows, click here.

Jon Jay

Episode: Wednesday 8/25/2010

Original Gangster Wednesday

• Guest: St. Louis Cardinals OF Jon Jay
• Guest: KSPR 33 Sports Director Mike Scott
  
• Brett tooth update
  
• OG rundown
  
• And more!
  

Listen to The High Road on Jock 98.7 FM Monday–Friday from 2-3 pm.

Stream Live:
» Stream online at Jock987.com

Socialize:
» “Like” The High Road with Allen Vaughan on Facebook
» Follow Allen Vaughan on Twitter

Join the Conversation:
» Call (417)868.6100 between 2-3 M–F
» E-mail TheHighRoadShow@gmail.com

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