Missouri Class 5 semifinals preview

We are down to the final four teams in Missouri’s Class 5 playoff tournament and we still have two undefeated teams in the mix. Here is a quick look at the Class 5 semifinals, which will feature one game on Friday and one game on Saturday... <strong>FORT OSAGE (11-1) at HOLT (12-0)</strong> 6 p.m., Friday (Nov. 26) Fort Osage has won nine straight games since losing at North Kansas City on Sept. 10 and is making its fifth appearance in the state semifinals. The Indians, who are averaging 34.8 points per game and allowing 14.2, went 3-7 a year ago and 6-5 in 2019. Five different players scored touchdowns in Fort Osage’s 35-0 quarterfinal win over Grain Valley last week, which was a scoreless game at halftime. Senior LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96258" first="David" last="Jacquez"]</strong> was named the defensive player of the year in the Suburban Middle Six Conference and leads a defense that recorded its second shutout in five games last week. Junior QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="181613" first="Greg" last="Menne"]</strong> has thrown for 1,580 yards and 13 touchdowns with just two interceptions. Junior WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101698" first="Larenzo" last="Fenner"]</strong> is a playmaker on offense and special teams. He has 46 receptions for 767 yards and seven touchdowns and also has four scores on punt returns. ... Undefeated Holt has won 20 of its last 21 games. The Indians went 8-1 a year ago before having to forfeit a playoff game due to COVID-19 concerns. Holt is averaging 45.5 points per game and allowing 13.6. Senior QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37580" first="Cooper" last="Brown"]</strong> has completed 72.4 percent of his passes for 2,907 yards, with 37 touchdowns against five interceptions, and has run for 395 yards and eight scores. Senior RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37579" first="Kyle" last="Wuebbeling"]</strong> has rushed for 1,521 yards, caught 11 passes for 125 yards and scored a team-high 21 total touchdowns. Senior WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37652" first="Jackson" last="Smith"]</strong> has caught 91 passes for 1,066 yards and has 20 total touchdowns, including two on returns. Senior LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96295" first="Zakhi" last="Johnson"]</strong> leads the defense with 121 total tackles. <strong>JACKSON (12-0) at WEBB CITY (9-3)</strong> 1 p.m., Saturday (Nov. 27) Jackson, the reigning Missouri Class 5 champions, got off to a slow start against visiting Rockwood Summit in the quarterfinals but rolled to a decisive 49-14 victory to remain undefeated and run its remarkable winning streak to 26 games. The Indians are averaging 48.8 points per game and allowing just 8.8, a number that rose after surrendering two touchdowns last week. Jackson’s big three of senior QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="174970" first="Cameron" last="Marchi"]</strong>, senior WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96164" first="Kannen" last="Turley"]</strong> and junior WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="103407" first="Isaiah" last="Davis"]</strong> all had monster performances last week. Marchi threw for 515 yards and six touchdowns and has accounted for 17 touchdowns (15 passing, two rushing) in three playoff games. Turley caught five passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns. Davis caught six passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns. ... Webb City is the only team in the final four in Class 5 that wasn’t a No. 1 seed in its district. The Cardinals won District 6 as the No. 2 seed. Senior RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="232303" first="Cade" last="Wilson"]</strong> has rushed for 1,252 yards and 21 touchdowns, while senior RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="242721" first="DuPree" last="Jackson"]</strong> has rushed for 865 yards and 16 touchdowns. Combined, that dynamic duo accounts for approximately 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns per game. Junior WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="242730" first="Dante" last="Washington"]</strong> has 25 catches for 541 yards and eight touchdowns. <em><strong>You can follow Nate Latsch on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/natelatsch">@natelatsch</a>.</strong></em> &nbsp;