CITY GAME OF THE WEEK
RAYMORE-PECULIAR at CENTRAL
➤ WHEN — 7 tonight
➤ RADIO — none
➤ RECORDS — Raymore-Peculiar 5-1 (4-1 Big 7), Central 1-5 (0-5 Big 7)
■ PLAYERS TO WATCH — Raymore-Peculiar: Sophomore QB Cameron Coffman putting up all-state numbers in 1st full season as Panthers signal-caller, following in footsteps of Division I brothers Chase (Missouri) and Carson (Kansas State). Central: WR DJ Hunter 3rd on team in receptions (12), averaging more than 16 yards per catch.
■ NOTES — Cameron Coffman made varsity debut for Raymore-Peculiar last year at Noyes Field during Central’s 43-24 win. Coffman went 4-for-6 for 53 yards, 1 interception in a backup role ... Coffman leads Raymore-Peculiar back into St. Joseph as No. 1 team in Class 5, moving into that spot for 1st time this week with 8 of 12 1st-place votes ... Raymore-Peculiar’s lone loss came to Class 6 No. 1 Blue Springs, 28-21 in Week 5 ... Central riding 5-game losing streak, still searching for 1st win in Suburban Big 7 in final chance this season ... Central RB Ghaali Muhammad needs 152 yards to eclipse 1,000-yard mark for season ... Central K Austin Barnes back on target, made 46-, 47-yard FGs last week.
SMITHVILLE at BENTON
n WHEN — 7 tonight
n RADIO — none
n RECORDS — Smithville 4-2 (2-1 MEC), Benton 3-3 (2-3 MEC)
n PLAYERS TO WATCH — Smithville: TE Andrew Townsend continues to supply team’s biggest pass threat from non-WR spot, leads team with 9 catches, 161 yards, 2 TDs. Benton: WR Terrell Gray continues to provide bright spot, infusion of energy after grabbing 5 passes for 34 yards last week.
n NOTES — Benton dropped 2nd straight, 3rd in 4 games with 31-6 loss to MEC rival Savannah ... Cardinals have managed just 12 points in back-to-back losses, were shut out by Maryville in other loss during recent losing skid ... Teams have 2 common opponents. Both lost to Maryville, beat Bishop LeBlond ... 2 teams battling with each other, Lafayette to lay claim to No. 4 spot in MEC behind Savannah, Maryville, Chillicothe ... Smithville finishes with 4 straight conference games, while Benton plays Smithville followed by 2 weeks of nonconference action before finishing regular season with Lafayette ... Smithville owns 2-game win streak in series.
LAFAYETTE at CHILLICOTHE
n WHEN — 7 tonight
n RADIO — 98.5 FM (KCHI), 1010 AM (KCHI)
n RECORDS — Lafayette 2-4 (2-3 MEC), Chillicothe 6-0 (3-0 MEC)
n PLAYERS TO WATCH — Lafayette: QB Bryston Williams rolled up 395 yards from scrimmage, scoring 4 touchdowns, while leading the Fighting Irish to a comeback win last week against Cameron. Chillicothe: Senior LB Clayton Dahlberg came up with critical third-down tackle for loss to help preserve win last week.
n NOTES — Chillicothe 1 of 2 unbeatens left in Midland Empire Conference after knocking off previously unblemished Spoofhounds last week, 28-27 ... Chillicothe retained No. 2 ranking in Class 3, picked up 2nd first-place vote ... Lafayette needs 1 win in final 4 games to top last year’s win total. Irish dropped final 6 games last year ... Chillicothe held on for 7-6 victory against Lafayette last year in surprisingly close game ... Lafayette went on to win next 2 games after Chillicothe loss last year ... Lafayette has allowed 29 or more in 5 of 6 games. Chillicothe has scored at least 4 touchdowns in all 6 wins.
LEBLOND at CAMERON
n WHEN — 7 tonight
n RADIO — 1360 AM (KMRN)
n RECORDS — LeBlond 1-5 (0-5 MEC), Cameron 0-6 (0-3 MEC)
n PLAYERS TO WATCH — LeBlond: WR Pat Lawhon continues to find touches hard to come by, managed just 4 catches for 14 yards during last week’s shutout loss against Smithville. Cameron: WR Mitch Hatten continues to establish himself as go-to receiver, caught 6 passes for 72 yards, TD last week against Lafayette.
n NOTES — LeBlond, Cameron only MEC teams still yet to win conference game ... Cameron still searching for 1st win after allowing 22-point 1st half lead to slip away in loss to Lafayette ... 4 of Cameron’s 6 losses have come by 1 possession, losing by 3 to Pleasant Hill, 8 to Lawson, 8 to Benton, 4 to Lafayette ... LeBlond has dropped 5 straight in MEC, overall. Golden Eagles averaging less than 10 points per game ... LeBlond, Cameron have not met since districts in 2005. Cameron dropped to Class 2 for 2 years starting in 2004, beating LeBlond in districts 47-7, 54-0, respectively.
UNION STAR at CHRISTIAN
n WHEN — 7 tonight
n RADIO — none
n RECORDS — Union Star 0-6 (0-2 PVC), Christian 5-1 (independent)
n PLAYERS TO WATCH — Union Star: WR Dillon O’Dell, converted from QB, provides most experience on 9-man Trojans’ roster. Christian: C Zach Doyle continues to anchor strong offensive line, helping resurgent Lions’ running game to well over 1,000 yards already this season.
n NOTES — Union Star has managed only 12 points in 6 games, scoring all 12 in 70-12 loss to PVC foe South Nodaway in Week 2 ... Trojans’ winless ledger includes forfeit to Craig in Week 4 ... Christian still on 5-game winning streak, averaging more than 36 point margin of victory during that span ... Lions have not been tested since Week 3 overtime victory against South Holt in Oregon, Mo. ... Christian’s 54-6 win last week against Stewartsville started 8-man District 2 play for both teams. Tonight marks district opener for Union Star, chance for Christian to go 2-0 ... Christian gets district break next week at Nodaway-Holt.