Class 5A Division Championship “Difference Makers”

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Friday night Carthage High School hosted the well-touted Republic Tigers in a dog-fight, Class 5A divisional championship game. I would like to thank head coach Jon Guidie for allowing me to witness such a great high school football game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This Tiger vs Tiger affair was nothing short of spectacular; both teams really showed a lot of grit and determination. Carthage ended up grinding out a 31-14 victory, but the score doesn't tell the whole story. It was a very close game up until the final whistle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's hop into some of the real difference makers of this divisional championship game.</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":2059309,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Landon West ","_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":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"165","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_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-691ea556bb848"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Everytime I watch a Carthage high school game, West has a great game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West had an awe-inspiring game, totaling 22 carries, 177 rushing yards and three touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Landon West has been a runningback who needs more recognition. He has turned out to be a very underrated running back in SWMO, and I must apologize for not giving him his flowers much earlier in the year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this game against the Republic Tigers, West really put his team on his back with his slashing running style. West is only a Junior, so he has another year to duplicate his great 2025 year. </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":2059315,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"MJ Martsolf","_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":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"350","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2405","_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-691ea556bb90b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Martsolf really caught my eye with his impressive size and power. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martsolf was a total anchor on this Carthage offensive line. He regularly opened up huge holes for his running back Landon West. He was a big reason why they were able to capture the 5A divisional Championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MJ plays with a lot of power and savvy blocking. He moves his feet pretty well, and he can get to the second level with ease. </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":2059320,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Zane Browning","_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":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"190","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_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-691ea556bb9aa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Browning is so poised, he had complete control of the offense all of 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the game last Friday, Browning just seemed like he was never rattled. Republic's defense has been very good all year long and could easily make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable. Browning really was the rock that kept this offense running. He played mistake-free football and always knew where to go with the football and when it was time to use his legs and take what the defense gives him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>College programs could really use a signal caller like Zane Browning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20485727/68e1d53d3202a0629507a4ef' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-691ea556bbbc7"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1667939"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2059325,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-691ea556bbc2e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1667939' first='Trenten' last='Coleman'] is an athlete in every sense of the word.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coleman has been the ultimate chess piece for the Republic Tigers. In 2025 he has played DB, OLB, PR/KR, QB. Coleman is a highly athletic and intelligent football player. Against the Carthage Tigers last Friday night, Coleman played very well on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker. Coleman is very fast out on the edge. He made it very hard for the Carthage running backs to get outside and pick up yards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He really made a name for himself these last two years. Coleman is only a junior, in 2026 I expect him to have a big impact and gain some traction in his recruiting process. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19585174/67a40c54a55c6d59998b5e81' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-691ea556bbc56"} /--> <!-- /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":2059327,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Matthew Pelfrey","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"193","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_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-691ea556bbced"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pelfrey ran for 43 yards and two touchdowns in the district Championship game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pelfrey is a Bonafide enforcer for the Republic Tigers. Matthew Pelfrey plays with his head on fire, and last Friday night, he regularly went right through the Carthage Tigers defense with the ball in his hands. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pelfrey is a north-south downhill runner through and through. He sticks his foot in the ground and looks for contact right off the snap of the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>College programs are always on the lookout for a hard-nosed football player, regardless of the position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->