Big Class:
1. Smithville (6-0)
After what happened last week in Chillicothe, how impressive does Smithville’s 35-0 win over Lafayette in week 5 look now?
The Warriors kept rolling in week 6 with a 42-7 win over LeBlond.
Now, the next two weeks will determine if Smithville ends its time in the MEC with a conference title. The Warriors host Maryville Friday and welcome the Hornets in week 8.
Will be a very interesting next two weeks, but at this point, you have to say Smithville is the best team in the Uclick TV area.
2. Lafayette
(5-1)
Wow.
We didn’t see that 54-38 win at Chillicothe coming, but the Fighting Irish do have some special athletes. Diego Bernard went wild with close to 500 yards of total offense to lead the way for Lafayette.
Lafayette hosts Cameron Friday, and barring an upset by a better-than-its-record-indicates LeBlond team in week 8, the Fighting Irish should be 7-1 heading into week 9 at Maryville.
3. Chillicothe (5-1)
Don’t overlook the fact that the Hornets just compiled nearly 500 yards of offense against a very good Lafayette team. Chillicothe gashed Lafayette on the ground but couldn’t slow down the electric Fighting Irish offense.
The Hornets look to get back on track at Savannah this week against a Savages team that has won two in a row and seems to be clicking at the right time.
4. Maryville (5-1)
Ever since it got shutout 24-0 at Chillicothe, the Spoofhounds have been rolling teams, beating their last three opponents by an average margin of 55-4.
Maryville travels to Smithville this week for what is the big class game of the week.
5. St. Joseph Central (2-4)
Central picked up its second win of the season last week when it won at Class 5 Truman, 21-14. Running back Hunter Madison rushed for 185 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns to lead the way for the Indians, who head to Liberty North this week.
Small Class:
1. East Buchanan (5-1)
Like we said last week, if you beat the No. 1 team, you become the No. 1 team.
The ‘Dawgs took care of last week’s No. 1 Lawson 26-20 to improve to 4-0 in the KCI.
East Buchanan heads to North Platte this week before ending the regular season with games against fellow power poll members Lathrop and Hamilton in games that will likely determine the conference title.
2. Lawson (3-3)
Lawson’s 7-2 win over Lathrop two weeks ago keeps it in the No. 2 spot.
The Cardinals are 3-3, but the teams they have lost to — Maryville, Higginsville, East Buchanan — are a combined 16-2.
The Cardinals face another tough test this week when they host Hamilton, with the loser of this game being eliminated from the KCI title race.
3. Lathrop (5-1)
The Mules bounced back from their loss to Lawson with a 45-0 win over North Platte.
Lathrop plays its rival from less than 10 miles down the road, Plattsburg, this week. If the Mules can take care of the Tigers it will set up a matchup between likely 6-1 teams in week 7 at East Buchanan.
4. Hamilton (5-1)
In an odd game that was tied 7-7 at halftime, the Hornets beat West Platte 42-7 to improve to 5-1.
They’ll need four solid quarters this week for a win at Lawson in what is the best game in the small-class area this week.
5. Marceline (6-0)
Marceline recorded its fourth shutout of the season with a 43-0 win at Schuyler County.
The Tigers should improve to 7-0 with a home game against Salisbury this week before a big matchup with Westran looms in week 8.
8-man
1. Worth County (with Northeast Nodaway) (6-0)
2. Stanberry (6-0)
3. Mound City (with Craig) (6-0)
4. Rock Port (6-0)
5. Norborne/Hardin-Central (5-1)