SPRINGFIELD — It was one of the wildest high school football weeks to date. There were overtime games, comeback victories and explosive scoring outputs in the district semifinals on Friday, Nov. 6.
There is nothing better than playoff high school football. The Springfield area delivered with some entertaining games.
Here’s everything that happened in Springfield-area high school football this week.
Springfield Catholic uses monumental comeback to keep season alive
Springfield Catholic (10-0) continues its undefeated season after an incredible battle with Liberty (Mountain View) in the Class 2 District Semifinals.
The Irish defeated the Eagles 29-28 thanks to a game-winning two-point conversion. Catholic erased a 14-point deficit to earn the playoff win.
Catholic had its backs against the wall all evening. Liberty scored via a 10-yard rushing touchdown from Wyatt Cox with 1:54 left in the game. The Eagles led 28-21 as the clock ticked down.
The Irish marched the ball all the way into the red zone. Quarterback Jett Lewis threw a perfect pass to Jack Belz in the back of the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown. Instead of tying the game and going to overtime, Catholic’s gamble paid off.
Lewis threw a perfect pitch to star running back Sam Boster. The speedster sprinted towards the pylon and was the first player there for the two-point conversion, giving Catholic its 29-29 lead with less than 30 seconds left on the clock.
Catholic’s defense stood tall, never allowing Liberty any chunk plays on the final drive. Catholic’s win was built on fortitude and resilience.
Liberty opened the game with a 50-yard touchdown from quarterback Graham Tune to Roger Haeffner on the opening possession. Later in the first quarter, Lewis would throw an interception to Carter Ellett, who waltzed into the end zone for a 20-yard pick-six.
Catholic put its first points on the board thanks to a Boston Hartman 8-yard rushing touchdown. Before halftime, Cox scored his first touchdown of the game, giving the visitors a commanding 20-7 halftime lead.
The Irish cut into Liberty’s lead on another Hartman 8-yard rushing touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff, Catholic played a perfect on-side kick by James Corbett. The Irish jumped on the ball first and used the drive to add another score. Boster found the end zone from 29 yards away.
With Catholic ahead 21-20, Liberty took the lead thanks to Cox, but the Eagles’ lead wasn’t enough after the Irish’s two-point conversion.
Catholic will host Fair Grove (10-1) for the Class 2 District Championship next week. Fair Grove defeated Ava 53-21 in the district semifinals. This game will be a rematch of a spectacular regular-season matchup in which Catholic edged the Eagles 27-22 on Sept. 25.
Logan-Rogersville can’t stop scoring against Monett
Logan-Rogersville (9-1) needed a spark. The offense had only scored 21 points in each of its last two games. Well, the offense never slowed down against Monett in the Class 4 district semifinals.
Logan-Rogersville ran roughshod over the Cubs 85-26. The performance has placed the Wildcats’ offense throughout MSHSAA’s record books.
The team’s 85 points rank No. 17 in Missouri high school football history. Rogersville’s 11 rushing touchdowns tied for the most rushing touchdowns in state history. The Wildcats tied Washington’s 2015 mark of 11 rushing touchdowns.
Rogersville put up 49 points in the second quarter, ranking No. 6 all time for most points in a single quarter. The team’s 71 first-half points ranked No. 12 all time for most points in a half.
Joe Roche was untouchable in the win. The running back scored eight touchdowns, seven of them in the first half. He rushed for 282 yards to lead the offense.
Roche tied for the seventh-most points in a single half in MSHSAA history. It’s the third-highest mark for 11-man football. Roche’s 42 points in the first half were the most scored since Bowling Green’s Kaeden Jenkins scored 48 points in 2015.
Roche is also the first player to score eight touchdowns in a single game since 2022.
Quarterback Kasimir Manczuk also rushed for 116 yards and scored two touchdowns. Gage Hale caught a touchdown from fellow wide receiver Skye Vaughn, while Ryland Mayfield scored the final touchdown of the game.
Logan-Rogersville will host Bolivar (7-4) for the district championship next week. The Wildcats defeated Bolivar 42-13 on Sept. 25.
Republic outlasts Carthage in triple overtime
Republic and Carthage went toe-to-toe in a highly competitive Class 5 District Semifinal. Republic outlasted Carthage 32-30 in triple overtime.
Republic used a Nolan Lashley 25-yard touchdown run to take the lead in the third overtime. Lashley scored on the exact same play for the two-point conversion.
Carthage would respond with a touchdown thanks to Karter Manzer. But Carthage’s season was cut short by stellar Republic defense. Carthage tried a passing play, but Republic’s secondary was ready, thwarting the attempt and earning the victory.
It was a physical game where neither team could move the ball in chunk plays. The game was really played between the two 20-yard lines. Field position and short fourth-down conversions were the name of the game.
Cooper Cornelsen and Nolan Lashley scored touchdowns for Republic in regulation. Carthage’s Clade Stiffler also scored two touchdowns. The game was tied 14-14 entering overtime.
Republic’s Baelor Cutbirth scored a 25-yard rushing touchdown in the first overtime. Manzer answered with a touchdown of his own. In the second overtime, both teams settled for field goals before the decisive third overtime ended the game.
Republic will have to face another strong Central Ozark Conference rival in the district championship game next week. The Tigers will face Neosho, which defeated Branson 34-31 in the semifinals. Republic defeated Neosho 47-35 earlier in the season.
Southwest Missouri district semifinal results
Class 6
District 5
- No. 1 Nixa 49, No. 5 Waynesville 0
- No. 2 Ozark 49, No. 3 Joplin 28
Class 5
District 5
- No. 1 Helias Catholic 52, No. 4 Glendale 13
- No. 2 Camdenton 57, No. 6 Jefferson City 14
District 6
- No. 1 Republic 32, No. 4 Carthage 30 (3OT)
- No. 2 Neosho 34, No. 3 Branson 31
Class 4
District 6
- No. 1 Logan-Rogersville 85, No. 4 Monett 26
- No. 3 Bolivar 14, No. 2 Carl Junction 10
Class 3
District 5
- No. 1 Mountain Grove 56, No. 5 Buffalo 10
- No. 2 Strafford 45, No. 6 Salem 7
District 6
- No. 1 Cassville 62, No. 4 Mt. Vernon 0
- No. 2 Seneca 44, No. 3 Nevada 12
Class 2
District 3
- No. 1 Springfield Catholic 29, No. 4 Liberty, Mountain View 28
- No. 2 Fair Grove 53, No. 3 Ava 21
District 4
- No. 1 Lamar 55, No. 5 Sarcoxie 0
- No. 3 East Newton 35, No. 1 Clever 26
Class 1
District 3
- No. 1 Marionville 30, No. 4 Pierce City 27 (3OT)
- No. 2 Miller 34, No. 3 Ash Grove 0
Liam Keating covers high school sports and Missouri State athletics for The Springfield News-Leader. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Breaking down Springfield area high school football district semifinal action
