http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/index.php http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/interface/feed.png http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/index.php Copyright 2008, Joplin Globe webadmin@joplinglobe.com (Joplin Globe) en-US SPHPBLOG 0.4.5 http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/index.php?entry=entry081026-221129 http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/?entry=entry081026-221129 webadmin@joplinglobe.com Mon, 27 Oct 2008 04:11:29 GMT http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/comments.php?y=08&m=10&entry=entry081026-221129 http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/index.php?entry=entry081017-124601 This week’s games, obviously, are worth a little more with the start of district play in Missouri and Kansas.
Things should be pretty interesting on the Missouri side of the border this year, with the Show-Me State taking two teams from each district into the postseason ... like Kansas has done for a while now.
Like most things, there is an up side and a down side to this system. Many districts will produce two excellent playoff candidates ... while others may not have one postseason-worthy team to begin with.
Enough with the chatter, on to the picks:

Joplin at Lee’s Summit North
I’m headed to the great suburbia of KC for this one and I’m having a heck of a time imagining what this game will be like. Is Joplin explosive enough to hang with its district foes? Or do the Broncos play in such a tough conference that they will defy their 2-5 record and traipse past the Eagles.
I really don’t know. I’d like to think that Joplin can knock off at least one of the LS teams (Lee’s Summit High School comes to Junge next week) and challenge for that second playoff ticket.
I gonna take a shot and pick Joplin in a somewhat high-scoring affair ... maybe 38-34?????

Webb City at Carthage
This is pretty clearly the biggest game on the local slate. The winner gets the district driver’s seat and a whole-lotta braggin’ rights. Webb City will look to get ride of the bitter taste left from Carthage’s thrilling playoff win from 2007. Carthage will try to rebound from a rather out-of-sync couple of weeks.
I say Webb takes this one by one score.


Neosho at Branson
This has the potential to be an excellent game. Branson is coming off its first loss of the season (at Webb City last Friday) while Neosho is looking to prove that its solid pre-district showing is for real.
I still think home-field advantage means a little something, so I’ll go with Branson.

Cassville at Monett
This game has decided a playoff berth the last couple of years. Let’s just be glad that both of these teams still have a shot at the postseason, even with a loss tonight.
Of course, I think it will be Cassville that will be in that position. Monett is too strong.

Galena at Riverton
Should be a stellar atmosphere tonight out by Spring River. The Rams are undefeated and rolling along. Galena has just one setback (to Colgan) and should bring a strong contingent of fans from their home base just five or so miles away.
Galena will hang with Riverton for a while, but I think the Rams win by two scores.]]> http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/?entry=entry081017-124601 webadmin@joplinglobe.com Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:46:01 GMT http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/comments.php?y=08&m=10&entry=entry081017-124601 http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/index.php?entry=entry081010-113044 I left off on Saturday as Northwest Missouri was just finishing its afternoon of domination against Pittsburg State.
It almost seems like I drove home from KC, went to bed and woke up on Thursday evening ... it’s been busy.
Anyway ...
We’ve got another interesting batch of games tonight, so let's take a gander.

Lebanon at Joplin
On one hand, I’m looking forward to watching this showdown at Junge. I’m guessing I’ll see more passing in one night than I sometimes see in a whole season.
On the other hand, this thing might not end until Saturday morning ... making it a bit tough to make deadline.
Bottom line: Joplin likes to throw the ball, but it can run, too. Lebanon REALLY likes to throw the ball, but that’s about all it can do.
Joplin takes this one by at least two scores.

Branson at Webb City
Branson is probably riding high after last week’s big win over Carthage. The Pirates proved that they are, in fact, an entirely different team than they were last year.
Unfortunately for the Pirates, the game is in Webb City ... and I don¹t see the Cardinals losing at home.
Branson has a bit of a letdown and the Cards win by 10.

Cassville at Carl Junction
This may be the most even matchup in the area. Both teams are 5-1 with the one loss coming to a very good team (Cassville lost to Branson, Carl Junction lost to Monett).
Carl Junction is at home, so I’ll take the Bulldogs by two points.

Republic at Carthage
Carthage will be looking to bounce back from its first loss of the season and it will do so against a Republic team that is probably better than its 2-4 record indicates.
Nevertheless, look for Carthage to score early and often tonight and win this one by 17.

Neosho at Willard
These two squads will be looking to take out some frustration on one another.
Neosho started the season 3-0 before running into Nixa, Carthage and Webb City. The loss to Nixa came by one point and the Wildcats were tied with Webb City in the fourth before the Cards scored two unanswered touchdowns.
Willard, meanwhile, is winless after running the gauntlet of Rolla, Ozark, Webb City, Carthage, Branson and Republic.
Willard has to win one sometime, right?
Not tonight. Neosho by 7.

Southeast at Galena
Galena is the better team, but this is a dangerous game. Southeast is a solid squad and Galena has that monumental showdown with rival Riverton looming one week away.
The Bulldogs can’t afford to look past the Lancers.
I don’t think that will happen. Not with former Fightin’ Titan Beau Sarwinski at the helm.
Galena by 14.

We’ll have updated scores from those six games at
joplinglobe.com and check out the Globe tomorrow morning for much more.]]> http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/?entry=entry081010-113044 webadmin@joplinglobe.com Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:30:44 GMT http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/comments.php?y=08&m=10&entry=entry081010-113044 http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/index.php?entry=entry081004-192830 Pittsburg State, simply, was outplayed today. Northwest was by far the better team.]]> http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/?entry=entry081004-192830 webadmin@joplinglobe.com Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:28:30 GMT http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/comments.php?y=08&m=10&entry=entry081004-192830 http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/index.php?entry=entry081004-191049 Pittsburg State’s pass defense has essentially been nonexistent, despite two interceptions. The Bearcats have thrown for more than 250 yards while the Gorillas have racked up just 156 yards of total offense.]]> http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/?entry=entry081004-191049 webadmin@joplinglobe.com Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:10:49 GMT http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/znewsblog/behindlights/comments.php?y=08&m=10&entry=entry081004-191049