Seminoles picked to top Dragons
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK No. 4 McGehee at No. 2 Rivercrest Winner advances to Class 3A state final against the Osceola/ Junction City winner.
McGehee is in its first semifinal since losing to Booneville in the 2000 3A final four.
McGehee has not played in a state final since coach Lanny Dauksch piloted the Owls to their second straight 3A title in 1999 (28-0 over Nashville).
McGehee last week jumped Atkins 52-13 after leading 26-6 at halftime.
Kaylon Handley scored three touchdowns, Cory Smart and Deonta Haynes had two touchdowns apiece and Dewayne Railey returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown.
The 52 points marked McGehee's third-best scoring night this year.
The Owls have won eight straight games by a combined 411120 (51-15 weekly).
Rivercrest is in the semifinals for the second time in three years after mauling Mayflower 41-14 last week.
The Colts' starters allowed just one touchdown to the Eagles, who entered averaging 51.2 points per game.
Rivercrest rushed for 395 yards (8.1 yards per carry) and five touchdowns at Mayflower and recorded nine tackles for loss.
Rivercrest has won five straight games, including quality wins over Osceola and Mayflower.
This is the final game at “The Cotton Patch,” Rivercrest's home field since 1970, and it could be Rivercrest's final game before moving to Class 4A next fall.
Rivercrest's defense is equipped to slow an explosive offense like McGehee's (42 points per game).
LAST WEEK Hootens.com correctly picked three of four games (75 percent) involving Class 3A teams. For the season, hootens.com has correctly predicted 264 of 324 games (82 percent).
WEEK 14 SEMIFINAL PREDICTIONS (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread)
McGehee at RIVERCREST (2): See Hootens.com Game of the Week.
OSCEOLA (7) at Junction City: Winner advances to Class 3A state final at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8. Junction City has not appeared in a state final since 2014 when it won its third straight Class 2A championship (38-6 over Hazen).
The Dragons last week stormed to a 36-13 third-quarter lead, but had to rally in the fourth frame after falling behind 43-42.
Junction City covered 65 yards in the final 2:05 for a 50-43 victory. Junction City has played its two closest games the past two weeks (31-30 over Harding Academy and 50-43 over Clinton).
Osceola has not qualified for a state final since Alma downed the Seminoles 14-12 for the 1998 Class 4A title.
Osceola was 2-8 in 2016, but the Seminoles are thriving under first-year coach Robert Hooks. Osceola last week snapped Charleston's 12-game postseason home winning streak in a 34-14 victory. The Seminoles led 17-14 at halftime, but they held the hosts to 39 yards after the break.
Junction City has not lost this year and has proven gutsy in tight, late-game situations.
Osceola is gaining confidence and momentum with each playoff win.