Southwest Missouri high school football predictions: What to expect in Week 9
The final week of the 2023 high school football season is here. Barring an epic collapse, I will finish with my best season of picks since I started writing these columns midway through the 2021 regular season.
After a 23-4 record last week, I am now 189-29 (86.7%) when my previous best was in 2021 when I got 81.8% of the picks correct. Yipee. Here are my final picks of the year.
Mount Vernon @ Reeds Spring
Reeds Spring will end its Big 8 East era by hosting a conference championship game with Mount Vernon. The two have played Week 9 for the title two years in a row.
The Wolves, who are headed to the Mid-Lakes, have played a similar regular season as they did a year ago when they wound up in the Class 3 state championship. The Mountaineers were touted as a team ready to make a jump and they've done so this year.
More: Here are your Southwest Missouri high school football power rankings after Week 8
Reeds Spring has continued its success behind Blandy Burall's connection with wide receiver James Dowdy. The emergence of tailback Chris Daniels has been a welcomed one to complement Jace Bolin. This offense can be deadly if everything starts to click heading into the postseason.
Outside of a loss to Nevada, the Mountaineers have been consistent. Big numbers are put up weekly offensively behind Gavin Johnston's big arm and one of the best two-way players in the Ozarks in Braden Dodson. Outside of the Nevada loss, the Mountaineers have only allowed more than 14 points in a game once which came last week in a 56-21 victory over Marshfield.
It wouldn't be a surprise to anyone if this game went either way. Last season, it came down to a two-point conversion try in overtime as Mount Vernon went for the win and came up short. A similar type of game would be welcomed by all. Mount Vernon 24, Reeds Spring 22
Central Ozark Conference
Webb City @ Branson — The Cardinals probably have their one-seed in their district secured but a win would seal the deal. Webb City 31, Branson 21
Republic @ Carl Junction — The Tigers are locked into a two-seed behind Lebanon in district play. They'll feel the need to have some momentum going into districts. Republic 38, Carl Junction 21
Willard @ Carthage — The winner will finish in the top half of the COC standings. Carthage had a tough week last week but it's been a lot better in the second half of the season. Carthage 27, Willard 21
More: Week 8 Southwest Missouri high school football takeaways and scores
Ozark @ Nixa — The Eagles have the COC wrapped up but they will stay motivated when their cross-county rival comes to town. An undefeated regular season for Nixa should be headed its way. Nixa 37, Ozark 13
Joplin @ Neosho — Quin Renfro looks healthy and he's running all over everyone now. Joplin is getting better heading into a district with Nixa and Kickapoo. Joplin 34, Neosho 24
Ozark Conference
Camdenton @ Glendale — The Lakers gave Lebanon all it could handle last week while the Falcons have struggled during the second half of the season. Camdenton 42, Glendale 24
Bolivar @ Kickapoo — If the Chiefs win, they lock up the second spot in the Ozark Conference while a Bolivar win would likely force a three-way tie for second. The Chiefs have been playing extremely well and have been overshadowed all year by Lebanon's greatness and Camdenton's improvement. Kickapoo 20, Bolivar 17
Lebanon @ Rolla — The Yellowjackets should win the Ozark Conference outright and finish the regular season undefeated. Lebanon 42, Rolla 17
More: 'We were the bigger dogs': Kickapoo cruises past rival Glendale, distractions
West Plains @ Waynesville — The Zizzers should jump up into the top half of the Ozark Conference with a win. West Plains 33, Waynesville 14
Parkview @ Hillcrest — One of these two SPS teams will get its first win of the year. The Vikings have been better offensively while both have nearly equally struggled defensively. It can go either way. Parkview 28, Hillcrest 24
Big 8 East
Logan-Rogersville @ Aurora — The Wildcats are right there with the better teams in the Big 8 East. That defense is legit. Logan-Rogersville 27, Aurora 12
Catholic @ Marshfield — The Blue Jays are on a four-game losing streak while the Fightin' Irish found themselves in the winning column for the first time in a while last week. This could be a good game but the Blue Jays have been more consistent putting points on the board. Marshfield 21, Catholic 14
Mount Vernon @ Reeds Spring — See above.
Big 8 West
Monett @ Cassville — Cassville's four losses have been to Seneca, Lamar, Nevada and McDonald County. It plays one of the toughest schedules but is deserving of finishing the regular season with a winning record. Cassville 31, Monett 10
East Newton @ McDonald County — The Mustangs are very good but not elite enough to knock out the three state contenders that are in their conference. They'll win here to finish with a winning record. McDonald County 28, East Newton 13
More: Southwest Missouri's top high school football performers of Week 8
Seneca @ Nevada — There are some pretty big stakes here with Lamar pulling for a Nevada win to force a three-way tie atop the Big 8 West standings. But Seneca is the most dominant team in the Ozarks and it should finish the job this week. Seneca 34, Nevada 27
Big 8 crossover
Hollister @ Lamar — Lamar isn't going into the postseason on a loss. It's gearing up for another deep postseason run. Lamar 54, Hollister 20
Mid-Lakes Conference
Skyline @ Strafford — Strafford is fighting for district seeding positioning and would like another crack at Forsyth in the postseason. It should be fine here behind another big game from Silas Morton. Strafford 34, Skyline 14
South Central Association
Salem @ Cabool — The Bulldogs won their first three games and have lost every game since. They should finish the regular season with one here. Cabool 24, Salem 17
Houston @ Mountain View — The Eagles are playing their best ball in the second half of the season. A win here and their lone SCA loss was to Ava. Mountain View 27, Houston 21
Ava @ Willow Springs — Ava should wrap up an undefeated regular season win this week and win the SCA outright. Ava 52, Willow Springs 14
Thayer @ Mountain Grove — The winner likely takes sole possession of third place in the SCA. Both have come a long way since their non-conference games to start the year. Thayer 27, Mountain Grove 24
Southwest Conference
Sarcoxie @ Ash Grove — The Bears are destined to finish with their best season since going 9-2 in 2017. A second-place finish in the Southwest Conference is something to celebrate. Sarcoxie 34, Ash Grove 28
Miller @ Marionville — The Comets have allowed 36 points this season. They've scored more than 36 points in five of their games. Marionville 42, Miller 8
Pierce City @ Stockton — The Tigers fell off a bit after a hot start to the season but have kept most of their games relatively close. They should end the regular season on a high note. Stockton 24, Pierce City 18
Others
Forsyth @ Central — A 7-2 season for Forsyth is incredibly impressive and can be argued as the best season in the program's history — despite not winning the Mid-Lakes after it did last year. I think they get there. Forsyth 42, Central 34
Diamond @ Clever — The Wildcats started out hot but struggled against the tougher teams on their schedule. They've looked like an above-.500 team this season and should secure it on Friday night. Diamond 31, Clever 20
El Dorado Springs @ Fair Grove — The Eagles have yet to allow more than 14 points in a game and are averaging more points per game than the Kody Stacye-led 11-1 team from two years ago. This looks like the year that Fair Grove will win a district title. Fair Grove 45, El Dorado Springs 13
Buffalo @ Warsaw — The Bison looked like they had some things figured out during a three-game winnings streak but then played the toughest part of their schedule. A trip to Warsaw could be tough. 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 9
