Southwest Missouri high school football predictions: Wyatt's on fire going into Week 4
My hot start to the 2023 season has continued after going 23-4 during Week 3. My overall record is now up to 69-10 (87.7%) — well ahead of my last two seasons.
Here's what I have for the fourth week.
Bolivar @ Lebanon
The Liberators take a trip over to Lebanon for what could be the deciding game in the Ozark Conference by the end of the season. Both teams enter 3-0 and look like a pair of the best teams in southwest Missouri.
Lebanon has lived up to its billing through three weeks. The Yellowjackets are coming off a 34-0 win over one of the better teams in the OC in Kickapoo. They haven't had a dropoff in their dominance in the run game and Jax Glendenning has emerged as one of the best all-around players in the Ozarks.
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Bolivar has been one of the biggest stories in the area since its Week 1 win over West Plains. The Liberators are in their first year under head coach Jamie LaSalle and have seen the likes of Drake Durham and Trenton Patke take off as one of the better backfield duos in the area.
This has the makings of a really good game. I'm going to lean on the team that has been dominant in recent years and the one that has the home-field advantage. Lebanon 35, Bolivar 31
Joplin @ Webb City
The injury bug that's bitten Joplin has me concerned while I also look at how well Webb City has been playing. The Cardinals' Week 1 14-7 loss at Nixa wasn't a bad one and they've been pretty dominant over the last two weeks which included a 42-21 thumping of Republic. However, there are injuries coming out of Webb City as well after a few of its top players came out of its previous game hurt.
I hate to bet against Webb City as much as I have early this season but I know the Joplin defense has been better this season and that the Eagles have been able to win despite being without a few of its best players. Joplin 28, Webb City 25
Seneca @ Lamar
The biggest game of the week features our top two ranked programs in the area. Seneca and Lamar are both undefeated and looking like state championship contenders.
It didn't matter how much Lamar lost from a year ago, the Tigers somehow are looking like they can be even better than before. We knew Alex Wilkerson would be a star and that's exactly what he's turned out to be.
More: Week 3 Southwest Missouri high school football takeaways and scores
Seneca is just as good as we thought. It hasn't allowed a point this season and has the best backfield duo in the area with Gavyn Hoover and Jackson Marrs. There are studs all over the field who make this team as exciting as it is.
How am I picking this game? Of course, I can see it going either way. But I have a rule that I'm never going to bet against Lamar which I think has a chip on its shoulder after Seneca beat it during the regular season last year. Lamar 34, Seneca 30
Forsyth @ Fair Grove
This Mid-Lakes Conference battle sees last year's champ taking on this year's challenger. Both are 3-0 and have put a few blowouts together.
Fair Grove has been one of the more impressive small-school programs in the area. Kellen Lair has been phenomenal on both sides of the ball and has outscored opponents 160-10.
Forsyth is off to its best start in school history and has yet to play a close game. The schedule hasn't been the most difficult but you are seeing some of the names from last year's team continuing to play well despite being without Braxton Gross for most of the first three games. It would be a surprise if he went in this one.
I've been a bit more impressed with Fair Grove to start this season. Lair will be the best player on the field and will provide a level of speed that the Panthers have yet to see this year. Fair Grove 37, Forsyth 28
Ozark Conference
Hillcrest @ Glendale — The Falcons' defense has been solid over the last two weeks while the offense has tried to find some answers amid some coaching changes throughout the season's first month. It'll find some momentum on Thursday. Glendale 31, Hillcrest 13
Kickapoo @ Waynesville — The Chiefs were shut out against Lebanon but they won't be here. They might not get back to their 50-plus per game average but this is still going to be a good offense in the OC. Kickapoo 42, Waynesville 12
More: Southwest Missouri's top high school football performers of Week 3
Camdenton @ Parkview — The Lakers will be one of the best teams in the OC unless they turn the ball over as much as they did against Kickapoo. The Durnin brothers are great and they have other top-tier weapons as well. Camdenton 45, Parkview 17
Bolivar @ Lebanon — See above.
Rolla @ West Plains — The Zizzers are getting better defensively after allowing 42 to Bolivar in their opener. You can't count West Plains out in the OC. West Plains 31, Rolla 13
Central Ozark Conference
Nixa @ Branson — According to online stats, Nixa didn't complete a pass last week while having 386 yards on the ground. The Eagles probably need to figure something out through the air soon and this might be a good game to do it in. Nixa 37, Branson 21
Willard @ Ozark — The two Tigers programs meet with both appearing to be improved from the last few years. Ozark's offense has struggled in recent weeks while Willard is playing some tough defense and scoring just enough. Willard might be in a good spot to start the year 3-1 after winning two games in the previous two years combined. Willard 24, Ozark 21
More: 2023 Southwest Missouri high school football conference standings
Republic @ Neosho — Championship teams don't turn the ball over as much as Republic did a week ago. That should be the low point for the Tigers' season and they should bounce back this week. Republic 31, Neosho 17
Carl Junction @ Carthage — There probably isn't a better 0-3 program in the state than the one in Carthage. It should get in the winning column here. Carthage 27, Carl Junction 17
Joplin @ Webb City — See above.
Big 8 East
Catholic @ Aurora — The Fightin' Irish still have yet to score this year. That should change this week but the Houn' Dawgs will have more. Aurora 24, Catholic 14
Mount Vernon @ Logan-Rogersville — The Mountaineers are putting up big offensive numbers each week and have only allowed 20 points through three games this season. Mount Vernon 34, Logan-Rogersville 21
Hollister @ Reeds Spring — The Wolves got right with their blowout win over Catholic. They'll host Hollister in the Backyard Brawl this week when the Tigers have struggled to keep teams out of the endzone. Reeds Spring 42, Hollister 20
Big 8 West
East Newton @ Cassville — The Wildcats ran into a wall that is the Seneca defense. They should bounce back in what has been a good start to the season for them. Cassville 34, East Newton 24
Seneca @ Lamar — See above.
Nevada @ McDonald County — For all the talk Seneca and Lamar get, these two are right there as a pair of the best teams in the Ozarks. It wouldn't be a surprise if either got the win but I'm going with the one that has been more consistent offensively. Nevada 34, McDonald County 28
Big 8 cross-conference
Marshfield @ Monett — The Cubs have played Reeds Spring, Mount Vernon and Lamar to start the season. It doesn't get much tougher than that. This should be the week they finally break through. Monett 28, Marshfield 24
Mid-Lakes
Forsyth @ Fair Grove — See above.
Strafford @ Clever — Strafford has had a couple of tough weeks since its surprising Week 1 win over Mountain View. It should start to get things turned around here. Strafford 37, Clever 14
South Central Association
Ava @ Mountain View — All feels right with the Bears being back to one of the area's best. For as good as its offense has been, its defense is allowing nine points per game. This is the clear SCA favorite. Ava 42, Mountain View 21
Houston @ Cabool — This is one of the more intriguing games of the week. The winner will look like the No. 2 team in the SCA behind Ava. This is a toss-up as far as the pick goes. Houston 34, Cabool 31
Mountain Grove @ Willow Springs — Both teams have had lots of struggles to open up the season. The Panthers seem to be further along. Mountain Grove 24, Willow Springs 10
Thayer @ Salem — The Bobcats should bounce back after a blowout loss to Houston. Thayer 34, Salem 14
Southwest Conference
Ash Grove @ Pierce City — The Pirates were humbled after a 36-0 loss to Stockton. They should get right this week when playing the 0-3 Eagles. Ash Grove 31, Pierce City 14
Stockton @ Sarcoxie — I believe in Stockton's start more than I believe in the schedule that's made Sarcoxie 3-0 to start the year. Stockton looks legit. Stockton 31, Sarcoxie 27
Diamond @ Miller — The Cardinals bounced back with a big win over Cuba and will take on a Diamond team that's won by two straight blowouts. Diamond 34, Miller 30
Others
Marionville @ Central — I foolishly questioned Marionville after its 12-7 win over Stockton to start the season. That was an awesome win and the Comets have gone on to win its last two games by a combined score of 120-6. Marionville 41, Central 24
Skyline @ Buffalo — The Bison have been able to put up some offensive numbers in each of the last two weeks. Skyline has scored 20 points all season. Buffalo 31, Skyline 21
El Dorado Springs @ Versailles — El Dorado Springs fell in triple-overtime to Buffalo and now goes on the road to play a Versailles squad that has lost two straight.
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 4 predictions
