Eisenhower's best chance for a W, U High looking to go 4-4 with Lanphier on deck in Week 9, Jacksonville's playoff hopes hanging by a thread on the road against MacArthur, Rochester prepares for Air Springfield, SHG and Chatham see if they can top last year's OT thriller, and QND has to wait for Saturday and possible rain to go 6-2.
Friday's high projected to be 84 and it should still be very nice during the games. Saturday's QND vs Lincoln contest will see an estimated high of only 71 with a good chance of rain.
Friday
Lanphier (1-6) at Eisenhower (0-7)
After beating Lincoln in Week 1, the Lions have lost six straight. Their Week 7 loss to Southeast was a heart breaker as they fell behind the Spartans 19-0 before rallying only to come up just short and lost 19-18. Eisenhower has not been shut by anybody this season but is also surrendering 49 points per game. While Lanphier has one win and almost won last week, they've only scored 54 points on the season. I'm taking Eisenhower at home in a close one. Eisenhower 26 Lanphier 20. Massey: Eisenhower 35-21.
U High (3-4) at Southeast (2-5)
Both teams have beat Lincoln, but U High won 47-0 in Week 4 while the Spartans margin was only 14-6 in Week 2. U High needs to win here and next week against Lanphier to go 5-4 and make the playoffs. U High 41 Southeast 14. Massey: U High 47-7.
Jacksonville (3-4) at MacArthur (5-2)
Two run heavy teams face each other, which could result in one of the quicker games of the weekend. Neither team likely to pass more than 5 times. Against Rochester last week, MacArthur was also very deliberate when they had the ball, with their QB often coming to the sidelines between plays and not snapping the ball until the play clock was near 5. The Crimsons desperately need this game to stay in the playoff hunt after hard fought but tough losses to Springfield and QND. A MacArthur win would get them to 6-2 with QND on tap Week 9. With 6 wins, you have an outside shot at a home playoff game and at a minimum probably won't have to face a 9-0 team on the road. Mac had some success at times running the ball against Rochester and have the home field advantage. MacArthur 28 Jacksonville 20. Massey: MacArthur 34-27.
Springfield (5-2) at Rochester (6-1)
The '24 game saw 72 points scored and that total is likely to be higher this year as both offenses are scoring at high levels, Rochester is averaging 48 points per game; Springfield 43. Rochester has faced excellent QB's this year several times already in the Gibson Southern, Mt Zion, and Chatham games and now get another gun slinger in Brody Scheffler. After Week 6, Scheffler had already passed for 1,500 yards and 20 TD's. The Solons defense has struggled at times, giving up more than 40 points three times so far this season. Rochester's defense will be tested by a big play offense. After a great showing against U High in Week 5, the defense has been up and down against both Eisenhower and MacArthur. By Week 8, consistency becomes critical to success. The Rockets also need to avoid a slow start on offense, as they had back-to-back turnovers to begin the MacArthur game. Expect both defenses to be on their heels most of the night. Rochester 54 Springfield 28. Massey: Rochester 52-20.
SHG (6-1) at Chatham (7-0)
Chatham's 34-31 OT win last season was arguably the CS8 game of the year. Both teams have outstanding QB's, a top RB, and a group of excellent Receivers. Chatham's Colten Knoedler had passed for nearly 1,400 yards through Week 6 and accounted for a total of 25 TD's, while SHG's Cam Brinkman had passed for over 1,100 yards and had a total of 22 TD's. Both teams also have dangerous featured RB's in the Titans Grady Mueller and the Cyclones Mikey Groesch. Each team is averaging 49 points per game. After two difficult games against Edwardsville and Rochester in the first 4 weeks, Chatham has three straight shutout victories. After losing to the top-rated team in Missouri Week 1, SHG has won the next six games handily with the closest margin being 16 points. Expect a huge crowd on both sides. Both offenses have great balance, which makes it very hard for the defenses to key on everything. I thought at the beginning of the season that Chatham would most likely go 9-0 if they could win on the road Week 1 at Edwardsville. Colten Knoedler's experience and the home field advantage should be just enough for the Titans in a thriller. Chatham 45 SHG 37. Massey: Chatham 42-28.
Saturday
QND (5-2) at Lincoln (1-6) 1 PM
QND should have no problem going to 6-2 in a Saturday contest. Lincoln has been shut out three times already and got their one victory against winless Decatur Eisenhower. A good opportunity to get the starters some rest and the reserves some playing time for the Raiders. QND 44 Lincoln 0. Massey: QND 46-6.
Friday's high projected to be 84 and it should still be very nice during the games. Saturday's QND vs Lincoln contest will see an estimated high of only 71 with a good chance of rain.
Friday
Lanphier (1-6) at Eisenhower (0-7)
After beating Lincoln in Week 1, the Lions have lost six straight. Their Week 7 loss to Southeast was a heart breaker as they fell behind the Spartans 19-0 before rallying only to come up just short and lost 19-18. Eisenhower has not been shut by anybody this season but is also surrendering 49 points per game. While Lanphier has one win and almost won last week, they've only scored 54 points on the season. I'm taking Eisenhower at home in a close one. Eisenhower 26 Lanphier 20. Massey: Eisenhower 35-21.
U High (3-4) at Southeast (2-5)
Both teams have beat Lincoln, but U High won 47-0 in Week 4 while the Spartans margin was only 14-6 in Week 2. U High needs to win here and next week against Lanphier to go 5-4 and make the playoffs. U High 41 Southeast 14. Massey: U High 47-7.
Jacksonville (3-4) at MacArthur (5-2)
Two run heavy teams face each other, which could result in one of the quicker games of the weekend. Neither team likely to pass more than 5 times. Against Rochester last week, MacArthur was also very deliberate when they had the ball, with their QB often coming to the sidelines between plays and not snapping the ball until the play clock was near 5. The Crimsons desperately need this game to stay in the playoff hunt after hard fought but tough losses to Springfield and QND. A MacArthur win would get them to 6-2 with QND on tap Week 9. With 6 wins, you have an outside shot at a home playoff game and at a minimum probably won't have to face a 9-0 team on the road. Mac had some success at times running the ball against Rochester and have the home field advantage. MacArthur 28 Jacksonville 20. Massey: MacArthur 34-27.
Springfield (5-2) at Rochester (6-1)
The '24 game saw 72 points scored and that total is likely to be higher this year as both offenses are scoring at high levels, Rochester is averaging 48 points per game; Springfield 43. Rochester has faced excellent QB's this year several times already in the Gibson Southern, Mt Zion, and Chatham games and now get another gun slinger in Brody Scheffler. After Week 6, Scheffler had already passed for 1,500 yards and 20 TD's. The Solons defense has struggled at times, giving up more than 40 points three times so far this season. Rochester's defense will be tested by a big play offense. After a great showing against U High in Week 5, the defense has been up and down against both Eisenhower and MacArthur. By Week 8, consistency becomes critical to success. The Rockets also need to avoid a slow start on offense, as they had back-to-back turnovers to begin the MacArthur game. Expect both defenses to be on their heels most of the night. Rochester 54 Springfield 28. Massey: Rochester 52-20.
SHG (6-1) at Chatham (7-0)
Chatham's 34-31 OT win last season was arguably the CS8 game of the year. Both teams have outstanding QB's, a top RB, and a group of excellent Receivers. Chatham's Colten Knoedler had passed for nearly 1,400 yards through Week 6 and accounted for a total of 25 TD's, while SHG's Cam Brinkman had passed for over 1,100 yards and had a total of 22 TD's. Both teams also have dangerous featured RB's in the Titans Grady Mueller and the Cyclones Mikey Groesch. Each team is averaging 49 points per game. After two difficult games against Edwardsville and Rochester in the first 4 weeks, Chatham has three straight shutout victories. After losing to the top-rated team in Missouri Week 1, SHG has won the next six games handily with the closest margin being 16 points. Expect a huge crowd on both sides. Both offenses have great balance, which makes it very hard for the defenses to key on everything. I thought at the beginning of the season that Chatham would most likely go 9-0 if they could win on the road Week 1 at Edwardsville. Colten Knoedler's experience and the home field advantage should be just enough for the Titans in a thriller. Chatham 45 SHG 37. Massey: Chatham 42-28.
Saturday
QND (5-2) at Lincoln (1-6) 1 PM
QND should have no problem going to 6-2 in a Saturday contest. Lincoln has been shut out three times already and got their one victory against winless Decatur Eisenhower. A good opportunity to get the starters some rest and the reserves some playing time for the Raiders. QND 44 Lincoln 0. Massey: QND 46-6.
Last edited:
