RE/MAX Big 3 Games of the Week

By Dion Clisso PrepsKC Managing Editor
Posted: September 25, 2012 - 9:16 AM



St. James Academy at Louisburg
7 p.m. Friday at Louisburg Stadium
St. James continues its march to a mythical Frontier League title with a game at Louisburg. The Thunder aren’t members of the Frontier though they play every team in the conference.
 
So far this season St. James has beaten Paola, Baldwin and Ottawa and this week looks to improve their record to a perfect 5-0 with a win at Louisburg. The Thunder were only tested by Baldwin in a 42-31 come from behind win but Louisburg will provide another hurdle.
 
The Wildcats have only a one-point loss to Eudora as a blemish on their record and have been playing very solid football all season. Louisburg’s offense has yet to break out but its defense has kept every team except Eudora to under 20 points.
 
This should be a great matchup between two teams who have aspirations for deep playoff runs. They may see each other down the line and a mid-season win would give a lot of confidence later in the season.
 
Olathe South at Lawrence
7 p.m. Friday at Lawrence Stadium
Olathe South heads to Lawrence for the second time in three games this time taking on the Lions in yet another Sunflower League showdown.
 
The Falcons potent offense will look to get going again after suffering a power failure in a 3-0 loss to Shawnee Mission East last week. South now finds itself looking up at a few teams in the Sunflower league and beating Lawrence is almost a must if the Falcons want to have a chance to win an outright league title.
 
Lawrence has quietly put together three straight strong performances after opening the season with a loss to Shawnee Mission West. The Lions standout quarterback Brad Strauss had a big game in a win over Shawnee Mission North last week with three TD passes and two scoring runs. Strauss is one of the most dangerous players in the Sunflower and Olathe South’s defense will have to find a way to stop him.
 
Mill Valley at Bonner Springs
7 p.m. Friday at Bonner Springs Stadium
Mill Valley’s journey to a Kaw Valley League title brings them face to face with Bonner Springs. The Jaguars are a perfect 3-0 in league play, and a win this week over the Braves coupled with a next week over Piper would lock up at least a tie for the league title.
 
The Jaguars face a Bonner Springs team that just suffered its first loss of the season in a wild 29-23 overtime game at Piper. The Braves have been playing very well to start the season and even with the loss to Piper Bonner Springs is a very confident team.
 
Mill Valley has rolled through its last three games after opening the season with a loss at Manhattan. The Jaguars have allowed only 13 points in its three wins while scoring 162.
 
Staley at Fort Osage
7 p.m. Friday at Fort Osage Stadium
One of the top offensive teams in the Metro travels to meet one of the best defensive teams in a battle of Class 5 powers.
 
Staley has proven it can put up big numbers almost every week since being shutout in the opening week of the season by Lee’s Summit West. The Falcons are averaging just a hair over 46 points a game including 33 in a loss to Blue Springs South. Staley is led by standout quarterback Trent Hosick who has more than 1,200 yards combined rushing and passing this season.
 
Fort Osage counters with a defense that has pitched four shutouts and allowed only 17 points in its five games. The Indians have put up big numbers on offense as well scoring 33 points a game behind their standout quarterback Steven McBee.
 
The winner of this game will also have the inside track on the Suburban Small Seven conference title along with North Kansas City, which is also still undefeated in conference play.
 
The Indians and Falcons played a classic game in last year’s playoff with Staley earning a 7-6 victory. Fort Osage came within a failed two-point conversion in the final minute of the game of ending what would be Staley’s undefeated state championship season.
 
Lafayette County at Holden
7 p.m. Friday at Holden Stadium
This Missouri River Valley Conference East matchup could decide the conference title, the No. 1 seed in the Class 2 District 7 bracket and be a playoff preview.
 
Both teams have been impressive this season. Lafayette County has picked right up where it left off from a state title game run in 2011. The Huskers defense has been outstanding all season allowing just 36 points in its five wins.
 
Holden answers with one of the top offenses in Class 2 led by senior running back Max Mickey. Mickey is the leading rusher in Class 2 and only a 12-6 defeat at the hands of Class 3 Oak Grove is the only thing keeping Mickey and the Eagles from being undefeated this season.
 
No matter who wins this game this could just be a preview of the Class 2 quarterfinal in November between two teams that have the ability to go all the way and play for a state title.
 
Platte County at North Kansas City
7 p.m. Friday at North Kansas City Stadium
North Kansas City is one of the surprise teams so far this season. The Hornets are off to a 4-1 start with only a loss to Kearney to open on the season as a blemish on their record.
 
Platte County enters on the heels of one of its biggest regular season wins in the last few years. The Pirates beat Kearney 28-27 rallying for 21 straight points to close out the game. The win moved Platte County to 4-1. The Pirates only loss came to St. Joseph Central in the second week of the season.
 
North Kansas City had to put on a comeback of its own to beat William Chrisman last week. The Hornets had to score in the final minute of the game to earn a 21-18 win. North Kansas City is riding a four game winning streak and is looking to get its fifth win which would be the most in a season since 2006. The fifth win would also guarantee the Hornets a winning regular season in more than a decade.