5 big things we're looking for in Week 7 of the 2023 Ozarks high school football season
We have a potential conference championship game between two undefeated teams and a matchup between two of the area's powerhouses in Week 7. Here's what we're watching in those two games and the rest of the southwest Missouri football schedule this week.
Can Sarcoxie knock off Marionville in the Southwest Conference race?
Two teams enter undefeated and only one team will walk out unblemished.
We've seen this story before when Marionville and Sarcoxie met late in the season, only to see the Comets pull away in dominant fashion. The Comets have been a special program in the area over the last few seasons and it hasn't slowed down this year despite the graduations of many great players.
But Sarcoxie has been playing for this moment. The Bears have gotten better on both sides of the ball and they have a star ball carrier in Noah Garrison who has helped this team get to this position.
More: Southwest Missouri high school football predictions: Wyatt takes hot streak into Week 7
Will it be enough against a Comets defense that's allowing five points per game through six weeks? There's a reason Marionville is regarded as one of the top Class 1 teams in the state and it has a chance to do something special this year — even when many counted the Comets out heading into the season.
Do Nixa, Republic set up a Week 8 COC title showdown?
Republic is a win away from setting up one of the biggest games in the history of its program. A win at Branson and the Tigers will host Nixa for a chance to set themselves up for a share of the Central Ozark Conference title.
Nixa hosted Willard on Thursday night in a game that was too late for print. Whether the Eagles won or lost, they'll still be in a position to claim a share of the league come its trip to Republic. Nixa is still unbeaten and will conclude its season with the Backyard Brawl against Ozark.
Republic is coming off its best win of the season with a 38-15 win over Joplin. The Tigers' offense was rolling and it cleaned up some of its turnover problems. The defense created takeaways and had its best game of the season. Branson has improved this year and shouldn't be taken lightly.
More: Here are your Southwest Missouri high school football power rankings after Week 6
Will Nevada have enough to knock off Lamar?
Nevada's had chances this late in the season before, but it's never had enough to knock off Lamar. Maybe now is its best chance yet.
Nevada needs a win to set up a Week 9 Big 8 East title game against Seneca. Lamar needs a win to stay alive in the conference race and would need Nevada to beat Seneca later on to secure a share.
Despite Lamar's loss to Seneca, the Tigers' defense is still an elite unit. It doesn't allow much on the ground and it's as disciplined of a unit as there is in the Ozarks.
That run defense will be put to the test against an offense averaging about 400 yards on the ground per game. The offensive line is among the best in the Ozarks and Jack Cheaney is taking advantage of it as the area's leading rusher.
More: 2023 Southwest Missouri high school football conference standings
How will Glendale handle its quarterback situation?
One week before the highly-anticipated Glendale vs. Kickapoo game, it will be worth watching what the Falcons do at quarterback when they play at Parkview on Friday night.
Sophomore quarterback Cash Newberry is exactly who you'd want behind center in the Mike Mauk offense that the Falcons have continued to run even following the Mauk family's departure. He plays the style of all the great Glendale quarterbacks before him who know how to run the offense and throw it deep with great accuracy.
For how good he is, it will be worth watching how much time senior Kylan Mabins gets this week. He was inserted for the last part of the Falcons' loss to Lebanon last week and immediately threw a deep touchdown pass. It's difficult to ignore what one of the better quarterbacks in the area can do when the drama's calmed down and he is eligible to play.
The reason to watch this? The Falcons play at Kickapoo next week and that's a game that will bring plenty of intrigue, especially if Mabins is starting to get more time behind center.
How will Lebanon's pass defense look against West Plains before playing Camdenton?
The Yellowjackets saw the pass-heavy Glendale offense last week and held it to 225 yards through the air in their win. They'll get a West Plains team coming off one of its best passing performances in school history before playing a red-hot Camdenton squad next week.
West Plains quarterback Isaiah Jones completed 24 of 38 passes for 344 yards and four touchdowns last week — which broke the school's record for passing yards. Most of his damage through the air was by going to big receiver Briggs Hughston who caught 11 passes for 257 yards and four scores.
Lebanon's defense against that attack is another great test when the Camdenton game next week appears to be the Ozark Conference title game.
Week 7 schedule
Rolla @ Kickapoo
Glendale @ Parkview
Hillcrest @ Camdenton
Catholic @ Cassville
Skyline @ Central
Willard @ Nixa
Fair Grove @ Buffalo
Republic @ Branson
West Plains @ Lebanon
Bolivar @ Waynesville
Joplin @ Carl Junction
Webb City @ Carthage
Lamar @ Nevada
Forsyth @ Strafford
Aurora @ Reeds Spring
Logan-Rogersville @ Marshfield
Monett @ McDonald County
Mount Vernon @ Hollister
Seneca @ East Newton
Marionville @ Sarcoxie
Houston @ Willow Springs
Ash Grove @ Clever
Stockton @ Diamond
Mountain View @ Cabool
Mountain Grove @ Salem
El Dorado Springs @ Sherwood
Principia @ Miller
Thayer @ Ava
Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or X at @WyattWheeler_NL. He's also the host of the weekly "Wyatt's World Podcast" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcasting platforms
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield area high school football Week 7 preview
