Southwest Missouri high school football predictions: Wyatt picks loaded Week 8 slate
The eighth week of the 2023 high school football season looks like it will be the best one of the regular season. Last week, I went 22-5 to improve to 166-25 (86.9%) this season. Here are my Week 8 picks.
Nixa @ Republic
We had a feeling going into the year that this could be the area's biggest game of the season and it's come to be. We have a Central Ozark Conference championship game going on in Week 8. Nixa can take the league outright with a win. Republic can set itself up to claim a share with a win this week and next.
On the field, everything with Nixa has been consistent. The ground game featuring Malachi Rider and Dylan Rebura has been fantastic. The offensive line is as good as advertised. The defense is holding teams to 13.7 points per game — the best mark Nixa's had since 2013.
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Republic is starting to play its best ball. Quarterback Wyatt Woods has been going off in recent weeks and the Tigers are taking care of the ball much better than it had been. The ball-control offense will be critical, as it was last year if the Tigers are going to come out on top.
This is one where it wouldn't be a surprise if the game goes one way or another. If Republic makes Nixa play its game, the Tigers can force a thriller much like it did a year ago. I think Nixa has been waiting for the opportunity to avenge last year's overtime loss and win it this year. Nixa 35, Republic 31
Glendale @ Kickapoo
This will just be another Glendale and Kickapoo rivalry game, right? If that's what you think, then you haven't been paying attention.
The highly-anticipated matchup between the Falcons and Chiefs arrives and there appear to be some question marks going into it, as far as the eligibility of Glendale quarterback Kylan Mabins who had started the previous two seasons behind center for the Chiefs. We're not going to get into all that here.
On the field, I don't think it will matter who lines up behind center for the Falcons. Outside of its loss to Lebanon, Kickapoo has been great all season long on both sides of the ball. An argument could be made that this overall team is better than the one that broke out a year ago. The Chiefs have been awesome while the Falcons have had some inconsistencies here and there. They can't afford to turn the ball over.
Hopefully, it's another great game and chapter added to this great rivalry. Keep it respectful on Friday night, everyone. Kickapoo 42, Glendale 31
Camdenton @ Lebanon
The Lakers are seemingly the last hope to knock the Yellowjackets off in Ozark Conference play. They might have to play a perfect game to do it.
Lebanon is still running the ball at will seven weeks into the season. For as amazing as the offense has been averaging nearly 50 points per game, the defense is allowing just 8.7. This is an all-around juggernaut this season.
More: Week 7 Southwest Missouri high school football takeaways and scores
Camdenton has the pieces with one of the best quarterbacks in the Ozarks, a great group of receivers and a defense that hasn't allowed more than 15 points in a game since Week 3. It's gotten better as the year's gone on.
I can't go against Lebanon here. Camdenton has been a bit too turnover-prone at times this season and can't afford to do any of that against the Yellowjackets. They've just been that good. Lebanon 37, Camdenton 27
Central Ozark Conference
Nixa @ Republic — See above.
Branson @ Ozark — The Pirates' win over Carthage is looking better and better each week. A four-win season would be their first since 2020. Branson 27, Ozark 24
Carl Junction @ Willard — The Tigers hit the toughest part of their schedule and went 0-3. There's still been so much growth in this program and it should get a win here. Willard 34, Carl Junction 21
Carthage @ Joplin — This looks like a toss-up at this point in the season. Quin Renfro is running well for the Eagles while the Tigers have bounced back to win four straight and have been playing good defense while doing it. Joplin 24, Carthage 21
Neosho @ Webb City — The Cardinals know they're better than what they showed a week ago. They'll bounce back. Webb City 35, Neosho 24
Ozark Conference
Glendale @ Kickapoo — See above.
Bolivar @ Hillcrest — The Liberators can clinch their first six-win season since 2020 this week. The Jamie LaSalle hiring has been a great one. Bolivar 42, Hillcrest 22
Parkview @ West Plains — The Zizzers went 0-3 in their toughest stretch of the season and did the same last year before going on a run to the state semifinals. That might not happen this year but a solid end to the regular season appears likely. West Plains 42, Parkview 17
Camdenton @ Lebanon — See above.
Waynesville @ Rolla — The winner likely finishes seventh in the Ozark Conference this season. It wouldn't be a surprise if this game goes one way or the other. Waynesville 24, Rolla 18
Big 8 East
Hollister @ Catholic — One team will earn its first win of the season. Hollister has been a bit better offensively that we're rolling with the Tigers here. Hollister 27, Catholic 21
Reeds Spring @ Logan-Rogersville — This is sneakily one of the best games of a loaded week. The Wildcats have been playing awesome defense and need the win to stay alive in the Big 8 East race when Reeds Spring and Mount Vernon play next week. The Wolves just have too much offensively when the Wildcats are a bit more limited. Reeds Spring 24, Logan-Rogersville 17
Marshfield @ Mount Vernon — The Mountaineers should set up a chance to win the Big 8 East outright next week. The resurgence of Mount Vernon has been a great story this year. Mount Vernon 34, Marshfield 17
Big 8 West
McDonald County @ Seneca — Seneca can win a share of the Big 8 West with a win. No one has come close to slowing it down so far. Seneca 47, McDonald County 21
Cassville @ Lamar — I broke my biggest rule last week and bet against Lamar. Never again, I promise. Lamar 45, Cassville 24
Nevada @ Monett — The Tigers still have something to play for with the possibility of still claiming a share of the Big 8 West next week against Seneca. Nevada 51, Monett 24
Big 8 crossover
Aurora @ East Newton — The Houn Dawgs are one of the better 3-4 teams in the area. There has been obvious growth in this program from a year ago. Aurora 27, East Newton 21
Mid-Lakes Conference
Clever @ Fair Grove — The Eagles should soar to an outright claim of the Mid-Lakes Conference title this week. Fair Grove 45, Clever 17
Southwest Conference
Ash Grove @ Marionville — Is there a chance this Marionville team is better than the great ones of previous years? Defensively, the Comets are playing like it and the offense has a rising star in sophomore Cash Pomeroy. Marionville 22, Ash Grove 8
Sarcoxie @ Diamond — The Bears are better than they have been in years past and showed a lot of fight (oftentimes too much fight) in a loss to Marionville. It wouldn't be a surprise to see them finish the year 8-1. Sarcoxie 34, Diamond 28
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Pierce City @ Miller — The Cardinals have been better offensively this season and should avoid the bottom of the Southwest Conference. Miller 27, Pierce City 20
South Central Association
Cabool @ Ava — An argument could easily be made that Ava is the best team in the Ozarks this season. That's quite the turnaround from 6-4 a year ago, no matter the circumstances. Ava 37, Cabool 17
Mountain Grove @ Houston — These teams have been evenly matched for most of the season, including in their common opponent results. This can go either way. Mountain Grove 24, Houston 21
Salem @ Mountain View — The Eagles have won four of its last five with its lone loss against Ava. They could end up 6-3 going into a tough district with Fair Grove. Mountain View 38, Salem 14
Willow Springs @ Thayer — The Bobcats gave Ava a pretty good scare for a half. This team has gotten better after starting the year 1-2. Thayer 37, Willow Springs 14
Others
Central @ Boonville — The Bulldogs finally got back in the winning column by beating Skyline last week. The momentum could continue this week at 1-6 Boonville. We don't pick games with teams from way out of the area.
Lighthouse @ Strafford — It's been a tough couple of weeks for Strafford. I think Silas Morton is in for another big game and will pick up a win. Strafford 27, Lighthouse 17
Butler @ Forsyth — We don't pick games with teams from way out of the area.
Stockton @ El Dorado Springs — Stockton's two-score loss at Diamond last week was a bit surprising. The Tigers should be able to bounce back. Stockton 17, El Dorado Springs 14
Buffalo @ Versailles — We don't pick games with teams from way out of the area.
Warsaw @ Skyline — We don't pick games with teams from way out of the area.
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: Southwest Missouri high school football predictions for Week 8
