Scouting Ozark’s Week Three trip to Joplin on Friday:
The Tigers may be catching Joplin at a good time, what with the Eagles expected to be without running back Quin Renfro for a second straight game. An All-COC Second-Team choice who had 1,514 yards rushing as a junior last season, Renfro suffered a back injury in Week One. …
Renfro has given South Dakota State a verbal commitment. …
With or without Renfro, Joplin has elite talent. Tight end Whit Hafer is a Mizzou commit and defensive lineman Dontrell Holt is an Iowa State commit. …
The 6-foot-7 Hafer had a 32-yard touchdown catch in the Eagles’ 28-14 win versus Willard last week. He’s the son of former Joplin basketball coach and former Mizzou hoopster Jeff Hafer. …
The 6-foot-5, 295-pound Holt is a four year starter. …
Last year, Joplin beat Ozark 29-22. …
The last time Ozark visited Joplin the Tigers collected a 51-43 triumph in 2020. It’s the lone Ozark win against the Eagles since Joplin joined the COC in 2018. …
The Eagles are 2-0, but have had slow starts. They held only a 14-7 halftime lead at Branson, before winning 35-14 and they held only a 14-6 lead through three quarters against Willard. …
Joplin’s skill positions players also include two-year starters in quarterback Hobbs Gooch and wide receiver Davin Thomas. As a sophomore last season, Thomas had 38 catches for 739 yards. He was the lone sophomore named to the All-COC First-Team. …
Joplin running back Tonyn Jones had three rushing touchdowns against Willard in his first varsity start. …
Eagles linebacker Jonathan Williams was an All-COC First-Team pick last year.
