An all-star QB showdown in Ashland: 3 things to watch in Week 7 of Boone County High School Football
This week is a rivalry week. Hallsville and Southern Boone square off, as do Battle and Rock Bridge.
Here are three things to watch in Week 7 of Boone County high school football:
3 things to watch in Week 7 of Boone County High School Football
All-star quarterback showdown in Ashland
Southern Boone hosts Hallsville in what should be an offensive shootout. The reason it could be a high-profile offensive showing is thanks to the two quarterbacks under center.
Hallsville's Brayden Matheney and Southern Boone's Austin Evans are two of the best quarterbacks in the county. Matheney has thrown for over 1,800 yards and 19 touchdowns. Evans has thrown for 1,442 yards and 20 scores.
These two are going to show down at Southern Boone High School.
Hallsville is looking to rebound from a tough offensive outing against Osage, but Matheney has a clear connection with Isaac Stinson and Colton Nichols while the running game with Abe El-Fenaish compliments Matheney's passing.
Southern Boone's offense is fresh off a 75-point outing against Eldon where Evans set a school record with six touchdown passes. Evans has a rapport with Chase Morris, Kellen Ash and Brady Dapkus which spreads the wealth equally.
Fireworks are bound to happen.
Can Battle upset Rock Bridge?
Battle is fresh off a win over Smith-Cotton, while Rock Bridge is back on track after defeating reigning Class 4 champion St. Mary's.
The chances of an upset exist. The Spartans have experience and talent across the board and have shown plenty of growth as the season went on. But, the Bruins have all-state talent hitting their strides.
If Battle wants to pull off a stunner at Rock Bridge High School, Alex Fernandez will have to show how far he's come since the beginning of the season. Daqual Wright and Jayden Donnelly are big-play receivers that can change a game.
That's a tall ask against a defense that feeds off momentum. Cullen Snow defended St. Mary's well with two interceptions, while the Bruins linebacker corps is one of the best statewide.
If Battle can keep up with Rock Bridge's offense there's a chance.
What are Tolton and Centralia's chances to stay undefeated?
The Trailblazers have played Hogan Prep twice and lost. The Panthers have not lost to Highland in the records available on MSHSAA.
Both Hogan Prep and Highland have a .500 winning percentage or below. There's a good chance both Centralia and Father Tolton are still undefeated after this weekend.
After that, however, there are two key games remaining:
Centralia at South Shelby on Oct. 13
Father Tolton at Faeyette on Oct. 20.
South Shelby is 6-0. Centralia and South Shelby's 6-0 showdown could be a state preview. Tolton's showdown at Fayette could be the last hurdle the 'Blazers need to clear before an undefeated regular season.
Those chances are good for both Centralia and Tolton. But that's also looking far down the line.
Boone County High School Football Week 7 predictions
Battle at Rock Bridge
This year's edition of Rock Bridge vs. Battle could be another close one. The Spartans have come a long way since the beginning of the season, and the Bruins are incredibly talented.
The Pick: Rock Bridge
Hallsville at Southern Boone
Both Hallsville and Southern Boone have high-scoring offenses. This is a Tri-County Conference game. Hallsville has won the last three games in a row. Whichever offense makes fewer mistakes will come out on top.
The Pick: Southern Boone
Hickman vs. Grain Valley
Hickman has two games left in its regular season to earn an elusive win, and Grain Valley presents a tough challenge with a high-scoring offense. The Kewpies' defensive stars can make a statement with a stout performance.
The Pick: Grain Valley
Centralia at Highland
The Panthers put their undefeated record on the line on the road. With a 6-0 South Shelby team on deck next week for Centralia, it could be an undefeated game next up.
The Pick: Centralia
Harrisburg at Westran
Westran's stout defense allows 16 points per game. If Harrisburg's offense can find a way to crack that defense, the Bulldogs could pull off the upset.
The Pick: Westran
Father Tolton vs. Hogan Prep(1 p.m. on Saturday)
Tolton is on a roll. The Trailblazers get a Saturday afternoon game against Hogan Prep and with their first home game in two weeks. A win keeps Tolton undefeated.
The Pick: Father Tolton
Tribune Week 6 Player of the Week: Southern Boone has a repeat winner
In Southern Boone's 75-point explosion in a win over Eldon, there was a new school record. That belongs to our Week 6 Player of the Week.
Southern Boone quarterback Austin Evans earned our Week 6 Player of the Week honors after his six-touchdown night.
The most impressive part of Evans' night isn't that he tossed six touchdowns. It isn't that he threw 331 yards, either. The most impressive part is how Evans completed nine passes. His final stat line was 9 of 15, for 331 yards for six touchdowns.
Evans earned 80 percent of the vote to claim Player of the Week honors.
Tribune's Player of the Week Winners
Week 1: Joey Scardina, Rock Bridge
Week 2: Austin Evans, Southern Boone
Week 3: Isaac Stinson, Hallsville
Week 4: Hunter Cole, Harrisburg
Week 5: Brayden Matheney, Hallsville
Week 6: Austin Evans, Southern Boone
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: 3 things to watch in Week 7 of Boone County High School Football
