<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Heading into the third round of the playoffs, I think it's only fitting that we hand out some well-deserved awards for the 2025 football season.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The defense in the Southwest region of the Show Me State took a huge step forward in 2025. It's tough to deal with these highly explosive offenses every week, but these players were up to the task. These players wouldn't have received these awards without hard work and dedication, and I'm honored to be the one to give these awards to young men with bright futures. </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Linebackers</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2043627,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jett Dalton","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"195","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Carthage High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69115a3259d93"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Jett Dalton and the Carthage Tigers are still currently in the hunt for a 5A state title in 2025. A big reason why they're in the hunt is because of the play of Jett Dalton.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1900975"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69115a3259e9b"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1900975' first='Max' last='Nicoll'] has put up 104 tackles in 2025. Even more impressive is the fact that this is his first year playing linebacker. Nixa is favored to win the Class 6A state title. Nicoll is a big reason why this defense is humming.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
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<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2043636,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jordan Brunnert","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"210","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Carthage High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69115a325a066"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Every year Brunnert is as consistent as you could ask for in a linebacker. In 2025 he was definitely one of the leaders in that Tiger defense. Easy nod to you here, young man. </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
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<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">The main man in the middle of that formidable Republic Tigers defense. Kaleb Norman has what it takes to play on Saturdays. </p>
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<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Defensive Lineman</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
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<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Flood is no doubt one of the hardest-working defensive linemen in SWMO. I'm going to happily reward him with 2nd-team All defensive team 2025. </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
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<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Smith was a force all of 2025 for the Vikings. He was a constant problem for opposing offensive lineman. Easy nod here for this young man.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
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<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">The Waynesville Tigers had a year to forget, but Martin really had a great 2025 season. He earned this award despite his team's struggles. </p>
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<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Defensive Backs</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
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<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Parks seems to be overlooked because of [player_tooltip player_id='1129733' first='Randy' last='Flint'] on the other side. Parks is a very good football player in his own right. I'm happily giving him this award.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2043709,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"JoJo Dickerson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"140","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Parkview High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-691162506fcc9"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">I love my underdog stories. Dickerson fits that mold, he has grinded and worked his rear end off his entire football career. I'm happily handing this award to this young man.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Kicker</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2043718,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Elijah Phiri","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"175","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2441","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Republic High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-691162506fd57"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Phiri is definitely a D1 caliber kicker. He's proved that in 2025, nailing kick after kick. I love that I'm able to give him this award.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
Heading into the third round of the playoffs, I think it's only fitting that we hand out some well-deserved awards for the 2025 football season.
HEIGHT
6'1"
WEIGHT
195
POS
LB
CLASS
2027
School:
Carthage High School
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HEIGHT
5'11"
WEIGHT
185
POS
LB/RB
CLASS
2026
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HEIGHT
6'1"
WEIGHT
210
POS
LB
CLASS
2026
School:
Carthage High School
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HEIGHT
5'10"
WEIGHT
215
POS
LB
CLASS
2026
School:
Republic High School
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HEIGHT
6'2"
WEIGHT
230
POS
DL
CLASS
2026
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HEIGHT
5'11"
WEIGHT
220
POS
DL
CLASS
2026
School:
Parkview High School
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HEIGHT
6'5"
WEIGHT
250
POS
DL
CLASS
2026
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HEIGHT
6'0"
WEIGHT
170
POS
DB
CLASS
2026
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HEIGHT
5'8"
WEIGHT
140
POS
DB
CLASS
2026
School:
Parkview High School
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HEIGHT
6'4"
WEIGHT
175
POS
K
CLASS
2026
School:
Republic High School
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