RE/MAX Big 3 Games of the Week

By Dion Clisso PrepsKC Managing Editor
Posted: September 17, 2012 - 10:33 PM



Liberty North at Raytown South
7 p.m. Friday at Ted Chitwood Stadium
In what is turning out to be one of the most competitive conferences in the Metro, Liberty North and Raytown South find themselves in need of a win to stay alive in the Suburban Small Six race.
 
The Eagles were on a roll to start the season, but a tough loss to a very good Fort Osage in Week No. 3 followed by a heartbreaking late loss to Kearney last week have North at 2-2 and looking for momentum.
 
The schedule saw North open with four straight Class 5 games before playing its first Class 4 opponent in Raytown South. The Eagles offense has been dynamic at times, but the defense has been torched for 77 points the last two weeks after giving up just 19 the first two weeks.
 
The Cardinals are also facing their first Class 4 team and stand at just 1-3. Raytown South has yet to find any momentum after tough losses to Park Hill, Winnetonka and St. Joseph Central. The Cardinals were in all three games only to come out with losses.
 
These teams are both in need of a win, and a loss here would most likely end any chance of a conference title.
 
Park Hill South at Grandview
7 p.m. Friday at Grandview Stadium
Both teams come in at 2-2 but each look to be going in different directions. The Bulldogs got big wins over Oak Park and Ruskin in the first two weeks but have fell short to Winnetonka and Platte County the last two weeks.
 
Park Hill South opened with blowout losses to Fort Osage and Blue Springs before rebounding with a close win over Truman and a 70-6 blowout of Ruskin.
 
Each team is talented but they find themselves in a spot where a loss here could easily turn into more. Grandview plays a good Raytown South team in Week 6 while Park Hill South matches up with Lee’s Summit West
 
This should be a matchup of very good offenses that will be able to move the ball but the team that can convert the most should get the win.
 
Smithville at St. Joseph Lafayette
7 p.m. Friday at Lafayette Stadium
The Warriors travel to take on the Fighting Irish looking to stay in the Midland Empire race. Each team is 3-1 with only a close loss to Savannah as a blemish on its resume.
 
This is a great matchup of styles on offense with Smithville’s more multiple passing attack looking to match scores with Lafayette’s grind it out running game.
 
The winner will still be a player in the Midland Empire race while the loser will probably be on the outside looking in. As the season crosses the midway point this is an important head to head game for district seeding as both are in Class 4 district 8 and they could see each other in the post season.
 
Olathe South at Shawnee Mission East
7 p.m. Thursday at SM North District Stadium
The road to the Sunflower League title will go through the winner of this game. Olathe South comes off of a wild 38-35 win over Lawrence Free State and looks a lot like the team that won a state title a year ago.
 
The Falcons are off to a 3-0 start and have won a close low-scoring game, a blowout and a shootout. South has proven it can win any kind of game, and this week could be its biggest test of the regular season.
 
The Lancers also enter with a 3-0 record and haven’t really been tested with easy wins over Shawnee Mission South, Olathe North and Olathe Northwest.
 
This could be a high- scoring affair featuring two of the top quarterbacks in the Metro. Jordan Darling leads East and Frankie Seurer Jr. leads Olathe South and each could have a big game Thursday night.
 
Bonner Springs at Piper
7 p.m. Friday at Piper Stadium
This Kaw Valley League showdown could eliminate one of these teams from title contention. Bonner Springs is a perfect 3-0 while Piper’s only loss was a non-conference game at Eudora in the first week of the season.
 
The Braves have been solid in three wins over Turner, Lansing and Bishop Ward. This game the Braves defense will again need to be stellar. Bonner Springs has allowed only one touchdown in each game this season and this should be the biggest test of the year.
 
Piper comes in riding two straight wins over Basehor-Linwood and Tonganoxie. The Pirates have scored 96 points in their two victories including 61 against Tonganoxie. The battle in this game should come down to the Pirates’ ability to move the ball against the stingy Braves defenders.
 
St. Thomas Aquinas at Blue Valley West
7 p.m. Friday at the Blue Valley D.A.C.
This EKL showdown pits two of the hottest teams in the league. Both teams are 3-0 and have been the most impressive teams in the league so far.
 
Aquinas comes in with a good win over Salina Central while West rolled past Blue Valley North. The Saints have earned two close wins over Blue Valley Southwest and Blue Valley Northwest and appear to be a team that is rounding into a league title contender.
 
West opened with three impressive wins over Washburn Rural and Blue Valley Northwest and followed it up with the win over Blue Valley North last week. The Jaguars seem to have rebounded after a few down years and could be in the mix for the postseason and an EKL title.