JOPLIN AT OZARK
Records: Joplin 2-0, Ozark 0-2
Last week: Joplin defeated Nixa 28-25; Ozark lost to Branson 23-21
Last year’s meeting: Ozark def. Joplin 51-43
OUTLOOK: Joplin heads into Week 3 with an unblemished 2-0 record after earning wins against state-ranked Webb City and Nixa in the first two weeks. Joplin is currently ranked fourth in Class 6 and will be looking to move to 3-0 to start the season for the first time since 2019.
Against Nixa, Joplin QB Always Wright completed 14-of-23 passes for 195 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He added nine rushes for 52 yards. Running back Quin Renfro rushed 23 times for 84 yards and a score, while RB Drew VanGilder picked up 74 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, losing one fumble. WR Hudson Moore led Joplin in receiving with five catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.
HOW TO WATCH: https://foxsportsjoplin.com/
REPUBLIC AT WEBB CITY
Records: Republic 2-0, Webb City 1-1
Last week: Republic def. Willard 45-21; Webb City def. Neosho 49-20
Last year’s meeting: Webb City def. Republic 49-28
OUTLOOK: Republic is undefeated under new head coach Ryan Cornelsen. In Week’s 2 win over Willard, Republic recorded nearly 600 yards of offense, with 470 on the ground. Avery Moody and Ezekiel Meads are Republic’s leading rushers, both went over 100 yards in Week 2. Moody scored three touchdowns last week, while Meads scored twice.
Senior running backs Dupree Jackson and Cade Wilson lead Webb City’s ground attack. Jackson has compiled 301 rushing yards and four touchdowns in two games, while Wilson has recorded 177 yards and four scores.
Senior QB Cohl Vaden has passed for 148 yards and rushed for 112.
Webb City’s defense is led by Cooper Crouch (23 tackles), Kaylor Darnell (21 tackles), Lucas Ott (19 tackles) and Gavin Stowell (17 tackles).
Republic entered last year’s matchup 2-0, as well. The Cardinals scored all 49 of their points in a big first half en route to a lopsided victory.
HOW TO WATCH: https://www.kneo.org/sports.html
CARTHAGE AT NEOSHO
Records: Carthage 2-0, Neosho 0-2
Last week: Carthage def. Carl Junction 28-0; Neosho lost to Webb City 49-20
Last year’s meeting: Carthage def. Neosho 42-7
OUTLOOK: Carthage’s Luke Gall scored all four of his team’s touchdowns in last week’s win over Carl Junction. A junior running back and linebacker, Gall ran for 282 yards on 22 carries, including a highlight-reel 77-yard TD run.
The Carthage defense limited Carl Junction to negative rushing yards last week. The Tigers are currently ranked sixth in Class 5 by the Missouri Media.
Neosho recorded 331 yards last week, 184 passing and 147 rushing. QB Evan Haskins completed 21 of 31 passes, with Brock Franklin and Isaiah Green his main targets. Jared Siler, who ran for 128 yards last Friday, is Neosho’s top running threat.
HOW TO WATCH: https://www.kneo.org/sports.html or https://boxcast.tv/channel/j3s1xvixjxtgxliszrlf
BRANSON AT CARL JUNCTION
Records: Branson 1-1, Carl Junction 1-1
Last week: Branson def. Ozark 23-21; Carl Junction lost to Carthage 28-0
Last year’s meeting: Branson def. Carl Junction 21-20
OUTLOOK: Both teams will look to get above .500 in the Central Ozark Conference.
In last week’s loss at Carthage, Carl Junction QB Kyler Perry completed 15 of 25 passes for 75 yards.
The Bulldogs will look to avenge last year’s one-point loss at Branson.
The Pirates are coming off a last-second win over Ozark. Branson’s Dane Efird kicked a go-ahead 22-yard field goal with six seconds left.
HOW TO WATCH: http://www.citylinktv.com/channel/carl-junction-tv/
