We didn't see that one coming...
What a wild and weird week of football we went through last weekend. Huge performances, huge scores, huge games. And maybe a message sent by the Blair Oaks Falcons.
Blair Oaks 46 Oak Grove 7
As the title of the article suggests...we didn't see a rout of that magnitude coming when the Falcons lined up with the Oak Grove Panthers. Oak Grove is a highly regarded program, just coming off an impressive win in its opener. But right from the first defensive snap, the Panthers were in trouble. After passing the ball all of four times in its opening game...it figures that Oak Grove would go to the air right off the bat. But tall, lanky senior quarterback found a nightmare scenario as he rolled out...four Blair Oaks linemen that did't bite on his play fake...chasing him through the backfield. Ten yards lost later, Althaus was eating turf. That was the theme of the night for the Panthers. Everything they tried backfired. 220 pound running back Kenton Wilhoit had nowhere to go all night long. Other battering rams tried, but failed to get things going for the offense. 86 yards and one first down? For the game? With 74 yards coming on one play? Was this Oak Grove or an oak tree? Frankly, if not for a few missed opportunities by the Blair Oaks offense...this game wasn't even as close as the score would indicate.
Not sure if it was the youth on the other side of the ball...a great game plan by the coaches...a supreme effort by the Falcons...probably all three. But this game was never close and the score likely sent some shockwaves through the Class 3 ranks. And the thing is, there is still a lot of room for improvement, especially on the offensive side of the ball. But again, the receivers made defenders look foolish...they also proved they could throw some mean blocks. Look at Nolan making like Brad Smith running all around and through the defense. And Riley Lentz is coming along nicely. I wonder what this team will look like when it all comes together?
By the way...sorry Riley! We thought it was Braden Pritchett who caught the fake punt pass. But it was Lentz who made the catch and run...tip toeing down the sideline for 75 yards or so. And this week the play was crowned the play of the week by KRCG TV. Let's hope it's the first of many for the talented sophomore. But what about that play? I don't care if your key tells you the play will be there. Throwing out of your end zone in the first half of a 6-0 game? Like coach Walker says...Nolan's got some gunslinger to him. And the guts of a burglar.
Friday night, it's off to Versailles. I think the Tigers have beaten the Falcons exactly once this century. Time was, Versailles was one of the bigger schools in the conference, and always had a tough, hard nosed, blue collar football team. But population in the district has shrunk due to some local businesses going out. Versailles is now a Class 2 team, and just last winter almost left the Tri County Conference. It looks like the football program may be rallying somewhat, and it looks like coach Silvers will be around for a while, which is a good thing. The Tigers hung with Fulton for a half last weekend...and could do the same with the Falcons. Just look out for the beginning of the second half and the famous Blair Oaks adjustments. We'll see you from the Lake starting at 6-30...hopefully. Internet reliability in some places down there is not the best, although I don't think we've ever had trouble in Versailles.
Here are the other scores from the weekend and some random thoughts.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25
Kirkwood 35, Jefferson City 7
The Jays moved the ball well, but turnovers and bad execution at inopportune times let the defending Class 6 state champs off the hook. This Jeff. City team could surprise some people.
Helias 62 KC Southeast 0
No surprise here, as the Crusaders get all three prongs of their running attack going for the first time this season. Now...about that passing game...
Rock Bridge 45, DeSmet 24
Running back Nathaniel Peat runs for 314 yards and four touchdowns for the Bruins. He'll look good in Black and Gold next season.
Battle 54, Holt 26
Defense? Bah! Battle just outscores everybody.
Webster Groves 32, Hickman 21
Good news for Hickman is that they're scoring some points against good competition. Still maybe a couple of years away from being truly competitive again.
Eldon 72, Owensville 69
What the ???? Speaking of things we didn't see coming. The real news out of this one was how resilient the Mustangs were. They were down big time at halftime...and still down three touchdowns late in the third quarter. Wyatt Ellis scored 8 touchdowns for the Dutchmen...Isaiah Merida 7 for the Ponies...then there's what Billy Maples of Park Hill did last Friday night.
Fulton 47, Versailles 23
As I said, the Tigers hung with the Hornets for a half, but Cameron Vaughn is a handful at quarterback for Fulton.
Centralia 42, Clark County 14
Southern Boone 31, Wright City 28
Trent Tracy warned me about this Wright City team. I think WC scored late to make this game a little closer than it actually was, but the Eagles had their hands full for a while. Do not sleep on Wright City come district time.
Mexico 28, California 14
Mexico didn't turn the ball over 10 times this week, but California didn't fold either. It's going to be a tough year for the Pintos without their starting quarterback, but they seem to be playing hard.
Seneca 27, Osage 7
Ooofff...that one's going to leave a mark. Don't know much about Seneca...apparently neither did Osage.
Hallsville 41, Mark Twain 6
Hallsville's 2 and 0 for the first time in a while. Good win over a Class 2 program that's been solid for a while.
Warsaw 28 Cole Camp 22
Speaking of 2 and 0 for the first time in a while...is Warsaw coming back to respectability just in time to leave the Tri County Conference? We'll find out more about them Friday night when they face California.
South Callaway 55, Milan 7
The Bulldogs win for fun. Zack Hess opens up the play book and gets the wide receivers involved.
North Callaway 47, Tipton 0
Lutheran St. Charles 22, Tolton 2
West Plains 25, Camdenton 24
Pleasant Hill 17, Moberly 14
Boonville 23, Holden 19
Winfield 28, Montgomery County 16
Hermann 42, Cuba 28
Rolla 36, Kickapoo 29
Smith-Cotton 62, Marshall 28
Lebanon 35, Waynesville 28
Mark my words, the Fighting Drehle's will break their losing streak soon!