Week one of the high school football season is kicking off across Greene and Christian counties, and local fans have plenty to look forward to. Below is a preview of the five most compelling matchups, each with a brief look at the teams, key players and what’s at stake.
Carthage at Nixa
The 2025 Class 6 state runner‑up Carthage travels to Nixa, the 2025 Class 5 state runner‑up, for a Central Ozark Conference showdown. Nixa hopes to extend its 28‑game conference winning streak. The Eagles lost much of their offensive line last season but return Missouri State‑bound quarterback Adam McKnight and a core of 2025 seniors. Defensively, Nixa adds several all‑conference and all‑district players, highlighted by linebackers Weston Weldon and Reed Wilson, who combined for nearly 300 tackles a season ago.
Carthage counters with a strong returning group, including all‑state running back Landon West, who rushed for 1,889 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2025, and an offensive line that brings back three starters. The two schools have split their recent meetings, with Nixa holding a 4‑1 edge. Expect a tightly contested game on the grey turf.
Republic at Lebanon
Two of southwest Missouri’s top Class 5 programs meet in a fast‑paced contest. Both squads lost senior classes, but Republic retains Mizzou‑bound safety and wide receiver Keiran Govan, while Lebanon’s quarterback Beckett York, an all‑COC selection and future Mizzou pitcher, leads the Yellowjackets.
Each team reached its district title game last season. Head coaches Ryan Cornelsen (Republic) and Will Christian (Lebanon) are known for maximizing talent, and the Tigers appear to have a slight athletic edge heading into the game.
Webb City at Glendale
Glendale, currently the most talent‑rich of the five Springfield public‑school programs, returns a cache of explosive skill players after a 6‑5 season. Third‑year head coach Frank Tristan aims to keep the Falcons on an upward trajectory.
Webb City looks to recapture former glory after a combined 13 wins over the past two seasons, well short of its historic 16 state championships. The Cardinals feature senior all‑state offensive lineman Louden Bolinger, a top shot‑put thrower and state‑medalist wrestler, and a secondary that must contend with the nation’s top receiving tandem in Class 5: Joelle Rover and Trevor Heman, who combined for 2,237 receiving yards last season. The two teams have not met since 2004, adding intrigue to the matchup.
Fair Grove at Mountain Grove
After a state title game appearance in 2024 and a semifinal run in 2023, Fair Grove fell to a 5‑5 record last fall, losing a talented 2025 class. Nevertheless, the Eagles still possess the physical talent of an eight‑win team, anchored by quarterback and Missouri State‑bound baseball player Gavin Thomason, two‑way lineman Eron Daugherty and defensive end/tight end Kolton Klindworth, all all‑state honorees.
New head coach Joshua Evans returns a seasoned group, including injured senior Wyatt Hallam and linebacker Gage Hill, both all‑league selections. Mountain Grove counters with a strong backfield duo—Wood Curtiss and Eli Golden—who together amassed nearly 2,500 rushing yards last season. The Eagles edged Mountain Grove 29‑28 last year, and a close finish is likely again.
Clever at Marionville
Eight years after launching its program, Clever’s Blue Jays posted a 9‑2 record in 2025, just shy of a Mid‑Lakes Conference title. Several all‑conference players return, including two‑way speedster Trenton Allen.
The Blue Jays travel to face Class 1 powerhouse Marionville, a program that has gone 69‑6 since 2020. Marionville adjusts after losing two of its most decorated players—cash Pomeroy, now a fullback at Missouri State, and Bryer Guerin—to graduation. The contest promises a classic small‑school battle.
Other Greene and Christian County games on Friday include Joplin at Kickapoo, Willard at Waynesville, Neosho at Ozark, Reeds Spring at Parkview, California at Logan‑Rogersville, Lighthouse Christian at Springfield Catholic, Carl Junction at Strafford, Willow Springs at Ash Grove, with Hillcrest idle.
These early‑season matchups set the stage for a competitive year across the Central Ozark Conference and surrounding leagues, giving families, coaches and community members plenty to rally around as the football season gets underway.
Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.
