Scouting Ozark’s Thursday Week Two home-opener versus Republic:
This is a Thursday game due to SWMO having 50 games and only 47 officiating crews. MSHSAA announced in May the three SWMO games each week that would be moved from Friday to either Thursday or Saturday. ...
Willard’s contest at Joplin is also being played Thursday. ...
This will be the lone Thursday game for both Ozark and Republic this season. As Ozark AD Yancey Little points out, with it being Labor Day weekend, perhaps it’s not a bad thing to have a Friday night off. ...
The spotlight will certainly be on Ozark and Republic. Expect more coaches than usual from around the COC to be in attendance, as well as media from Ozark, Republic and Springfield. …
Congrats to coach Jeremy Cordell on winning his Ozark debut. He led the Tigers to a Week One 42-22 whipping of Carl Junction. …
Operating out of Ozark’s newly-installed gun rocket offense, quarterback Peyton Russell’s varsity debut was exceptionally efficient. The sophomore completed 16-of-21 passes for 157 yards with one touchdown and without an interception. …
Ozark’s Jack Bowers, Kyle Fitzpatrick and Sam Clark all averaged 10-plus yards a carry against Carl Junction. Bowers needed just a dozen carries to reach 131 yards, Fitzpatrick had four carries for 41 yards and Clark two carries for 21 yards. …
Clark’s contributions also included two receptions for 42 yards and a pick-six. ...
Bowers and tight end Jace Whatley each had six catches. Fitzpatrick and Nick Guse each had their first varsity reception. …
Ozark linebacker Parker Elliott collected five solo stops, assisted on nine tackles and forced a fumble to begin his junior season. ...
Ozark’s last three wins have all been road games. …
Republic has won its last two games against Ozark and owns a 6-4 edge in the programs’ last 10 matchups. …
Rapidly rising Republic’s last four games dating back to last season include wins against COC powers Carthage, Webb City and Nixa and a loss to Carthage. …
Republic was 0-15 all-time against Carthage, before pulling out a 20-14 home victory against the visiting Tigers last week. ...
Republic fullback Kanon Krol carried the ball 15 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Republic was scoreless in the first half and trailed 7-0 at halftime, before going to Krol for five rushes in seven plays on its opening possession of the second half. He responded with 61 yards in a 63-yard scoring drive. …
Republic quarterback Wyatt Woods was an All-COC First-Team choice as an “athlete” a year ago. He had 11 carries for 79 yards last week. …
Carthage fell behind 20-7, but threatened for a comeback win and drove inside Republic’s 10-yard line, before two incomplete passes ended the game. …
Republic prevailed, despite passing for just 10 yards and giving up 200 yards passing. …
Republic offensive lineman Carter Nation is a three-year starter and was an All-COC First-Teamer last season. He's only 5-foot-9 and 210 pounds, but is quick enough that he doubles as a defensive end. …
Republic 6-foot-4 receiver James Rexroat wasn’t a big factor against Carthage, catching one pass for 10 yards. But he committed to play college ball at Memphis over the summer, after having 25 receptions for 604 yards last season. He also had an offer from Missouri State. …
Don’t be fooled by Republic linebacker Kendall Curbow due to his 6-0, 170-pound frame. He had 101 tackles last season while being named to the All-COC Second Team. …
Republic coach Ryan Cornelson has done as good a job the last two years as any of colleagues around the COC while resurrecting the Tigers’ program, but is still awaiting his first COC Coach Of The Year award. …
Cordell and Cornelson are part of the undeniable trend around the COC that involves league coaches being hired from out of state. Cordell had been in New Lenox, Illinois and Cornelson at Gardner, Kansas.
It all started with Nixa luring John Perry from Pearl, Mississippi. Obviously, ADs around the COC took note of Perry’s immediate success with the Eagles.
Willard hired Frank Tristan after he had been at Western New Mexico, Branson hired Aaron Hafner after he had been in Olathe, Kansas, and Carl Junction hired Aaron’s brother, Todd Hafner, after he had been at William Penn (Iowa).
