Week eight’s prep football lineup includes a game that could determine the COC West Champion when the Carthage Tigers (6-1, 3-0) and the Republic Tigers (also 6-1, 3-0) face off Friday night in Republic.
The matchup pits the No. 2 team in Class 5 — Carthage — against third-ranked Republic. Both teams’ only loss this season was to last year’s Class 6 state runner-up, Nixa.
In order for Carthage to be successful, it will need to limit Republic running back Nolan Lashley, who has already amassed 1,199 yards and 24 of Republic’s 37 touchdowns this season.
Carthage will counter with a run defense that has given up an average of 171 yards per game and a potent run game of its own.
Carthage’s Landon West has run for 982 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught nine passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns.
The Carthage offense is more diverse than Republic’s. Republic is run-heavy and has just five completions for 81 yards this season. On the ground, it has 2,852 yards so far.
Carthage has rushed for 1,992 yards and thrown for 679. Jett Dalton leads the Carthage receivers with eight catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Tate Nichols has seven catches for 114 yards and three scores.
Carthage is 18-1 against Republic since 2007. The only hiccup was in 2023 when Republic outlasted Carthage 20-14 at RHS.
CHS eliminated Republic in the Class 5 state tournament last season by a 31-14 score.
I’m sure that is in the forefront of the minds of this year’s Republic squad.
This one is surely worth the road trip to Republic to watch.
Webb City vs. Neosho
The Neosho Wildcats (6-1, 2-1) invade Webb City (5-2, 2-1) as both teams look to improve their seedings for district play in two weeks.
Neosho, ranked 12 in Class 5, boasts both strong quarterback play by Blayne Patterson and a wicked run game led by Lincoln Howard.
Patterson has thrown for 1,125 yards and 13 touchdowns and has completed more than 60% of his passes. He also has rushed for 616 yards and 12 touchdowns.
On the ground, Howard has 957 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has added three more scores on catches.
Patterson’s leading target this season has been Westen Richardson, who has 31 catches for 483 yards and five touchdowns. Haven Plummer isn’t far behind, with 27 catches for 365 yards and two scores. Mason Spiva leads the team in touchdown receptions with six.
Webb City, ranked eighth, is another run-heavy COC West team. They are led by Drake Claborn, who is averaging 109.3 ypg; Abel Getz, with 81.3 ypg; and quarterback Mason Young, who is averaging 77.3 ypg.
The Cardinals average just 52.8 ypg through the air, with three touchdown passes this season.
Webb City is 18-0 against Neosho since 2007, but its margin of victory over the Wildcats has waned in the past couple of years. In 2024, the Cardinals won 34-28 and last season outlasted Neosho 46-43.
I expect another high scoring affair on Friday night.
Joplin vs. Willard
Joplin (2-5, 0-3) will be looking for its first conference win when the Eagles travel to Willard (1-6, 0-3) Friday.
I don’t expect the Eagles to have much of a problem pulling out the win in this matchup.
The Tigers are scoring just 12.6 ppg while giving up 45.3. Joplin is averaging 22.4 ppg and allowing 29.6.
Joplin senior quarterback Trenton McCadney has 938 yards rushing the ball and has scored 14 of the Eagles' 21 touchdowns on the ground. Junior Elijah Hurrell is averaging 90.9 ypg with five scores.
McCadney is 46 of 102 passing with 552 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Since 2018, Joplin is 7-1 against the Tigers. The Eagles' lone loss was in 2020 by a 32-20 score.
Lamar vs. Nevada
In one other game of note, the second-ranked team in Class 2, the Lamar Tigers (7-0, 6-0) can wrap up a Big 8 title with a win over Nevada (5-2,4-2) in the annual Silver Tiger Game Friday at LHS.
Expect both teams to be energized in this annual bragging rights game.