5 things we're looking for in state semifinal week of Ozarks high school football season
Trips to the Show Me Bowl next week in Columbia are on the line with six teams from southwest Missouri competing in five state semifinal games on Saturday across the state.
The region will have at least one representative in a championship next week with the possibility of five. All games will kickoff at 1 p.m. on Saturday with four of them taking place in the region.
Here are the storylines heading into Saturday's semifinal contests.
Will Republic avenge early-season loss vs. Webb City for trip to Class 5 championship?
Class 5 on Saturday at 1 p.m. — Webb City @ Republic
Winner plays Central (Cape Girardeau) or Cardinal Ritter on Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. in Columbia
The postseason history between these two programs dates back many, many years. Webb City typically has Republic's number but the Tigers' win over the Cardinals a year ago in the postseason snapped what was a 21-game losing streak.
Webb City got its revenge in Week 3 but the two will meet on Saturday afternoon when it matters the most.
Republic and Webb City's Central Ozark Conference rematch is as big as it gets this week for Ozarks athletics. The two have met eight times in the postseason since 1988 with Webb City winning the first seven — including meetings in the 1991 and 1992 state quarterfinals.
More: Republic beats Helias Catholic in thriller for first state semifinal appearance since 1986
Saturday's edition is between two of the best-rushing teams in the Ozarks. Whoever tackles the best and limits big plays will come out on top, assuming the Tigers have fixed their turnover problems from when they gave the ball up five times in the Week 3 matchup between the two.
Republic rushed for 265 yards and ran 62 total plays compared to Helias Catholic's 39 in the quarterfinal matchup. The ball-control offense that the Tigers ran to perfection helped them hold on while recovering a pair of onside kicks and turning them into touchdowns. Keeping Helias Catholic to 71 rushing yards — a season-low when the Crusaders had been averaging about 164 per game — didn't hurt either.
Webb City is known for its ability to run the ball while averaging 308.2 yards per outing. Sophomore Gabe Johnson averages 12.1 yards per carry and has over 1,200 yards this season. Others have had to step up following the injury to standout back Breckin Galardo early in the year. The job first-year head coach Andy McFarland has put together is one that surely has made former legendary coach John Roderique proud.
When the two played on Sept. 8, the Cardinals rushed for 287 yards and two touchdowns.
Can Marionville make its first state title appearance since 2006?
Class 1 on Saturday at 1 p.m. — St. Vincent @ Marionville
Winner plays North Platte or Milan on Dec. 1 at 3 p.m. in Columbia
Comets head coach Paden Grubbs has his team two wins away from securing a state championship that he helped bring Marionville as a player back in 2003. The glory days of Marionville football from 2003 to 2006 which included a state title and a pair of runner-up finishes may have returned.
Marionville will host St. Vincent for its first state title appearance since 2006. This comes amid a sensational run for the Comets over the last four seasons where they've been unbeaten in each regular season. A win on Saturday and Marionville will have gone as far as its gone in well over a decade.
The Comets earned their spot in the game by beating Portageville with a goal-line stand. The battle between the two top-ranked teams in the state should give the Comets plenty of confidence heading into this weekend and potentially next.
More: How an epic defensive stand lifted Marionville to the Class 1 state semifinals
Marionville has leaned on its incredible defense all season long. It allowed more than eight points for the first time all season this past week while containing one of the best small-school running backs in the state. It's a unit still allowing just 4.7 points per game.
Marionville will continue to be led by one of the best duos in the state in Cash Pomeroy and Hugh Eaton. They've been great on the defensive side of the ball as well as being partners-in-crime at running back. Bryer Guerin has been great as a sophomore quarterback and seemingly the entire defense is capable of creating turnovers, both forcing fumbles and having over 15 interceptions this season.
Will a Fair Grove program secure another state championship appearance?
Class 2 on Saturday at 1 p.m. — Fair Grove @ Valle Catholic
Winner plays Lamar or Bowling Green on Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. in Columbia
After eight consecutive losses in district championship games, Fair Grove is one game away from a state championship appearance — continuing the surge of state championship appearances to come out of Eagles athletics programs.
The amazing year can continue for Fair Grove which won state championships in girls' volleyball and basketball this calendar year. You can even throw in a Class 4 scholar bowl title if you'd like. It would be football's first state championship appearance.
More: How Fair Grove outlasted Tolton in an even game between two history-making programs
The Eagles have been as good as they've ever been on both sides of the ball. At 12-0, coming off a 7-5 year, the Eagles are averaging 48.7 points while allowing 8.6 — better than the marks when they've had undefeated regular seasons in recent years. Running back Kellen Lair has been phenomenal for the Eagles and we've seen great contributions on both sides of the ball from the likes of Spensar Seiger, Bryden Baxter and many others.
Valle Catholic will be Fair Grove's biggest challenge yet. Its lone loss came in Week 1 against Class 6 Seckman. None of its games have been particularly close since Week 6 when it knocked off Class 3 Central (Park Hills) which plays in a Class 3 semifinal on Saturday against Blair Oaks.
Will Lamar make its fourth title game appearance in a row?
Class 2 on Saturday at 1 p.m. — Bowling Green @ Lamar
Winner plays Valle Catholic or Fair Grove on Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. in Columbia
Southwest Missouri's best program of the last decade will attempt to qualify for its fourth straight state championship game and its 11th since 2011. Along the way, the Tigers have picked up eight state championships with seven straight from 2011-17 with their most recent coming in 2020.
Jared Beshore, in his fourth year as head coach, will lead the Tigers against undefeated Bowling Green which is averaging slightly under 60 points per game.
More: What to know about the Springfield area high school football state semifinal matchups
Lamar's defense will be tested but it's been among the best units in the Ozarks all season. It has yet to allow more than 28 points in a game which came in its lone loss of the year, a 28-21 defeat to Seneca. Since then, the Tigers have won each game by 14 points or more.
The Tigers are coming off their best offensive performance of the postseason by gaining 336 yards on the ground and holding Lafayette County to 142 total yards. Alex Wilkerson, Chase Querry, Logan Kish and Cooper Haun lead the way for Lamar.
Will Seneca continue its dominance en route to first title game since 2013?
Class 3 on Saturday at 1 p.m. — St. Pius X (Kansas City) @ Seneca
Winner plays Central (Park Hills) or Blair Oaks on Dec. 1 at 11 a.m. in Columbia
Undefeated Seneca finds itself back in the state semifinals for the second year in a row. This time, it won't have to go up against Lamar but it will be matched up with one of the best out of Kansas City.
Seneca's coming off a 56-8 win over previously unbeaten Ava. It had one of its most balanced attacks all season with 250 yards on the ground and 239 through the air. Gavyn Hoover completed 7 of 10 passes for 239 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 92 yards and another score.
Seneca has only allowed more than 21 points in one game this season which came in a 40-36 comeback victory over Nevada. The defense held an explosive Ava offense to just 173 total yards. It will now play an offense that's averaging 52.3 points over its current seven-game winning streak.
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 state semifinals preview
