Top “Yards on the Ground” in Missouri 2026.

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're only about three weeks into the 26-27 high school football season in the show me state and already these runningbacks have been carving up some serious yards on these poor defenses. I have been thoroughly impressed with the running offenses in Missouri and these five young runningbacks are on the top of the list in terms of yards on the ground. </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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Lincoln Howard","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"145","_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":"Neosho 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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aad6463576ae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lincoln Howard has been fantastic with 537 rushing yards, and 4 rushing touchdowns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Howard in 2025 found himself out wide at wide receiver, where he earned 2nd team all district honors. Now in 2026 he finds himself in the backfield and the transition has been quite smooth leading the entire state of Missouri in rushing yards with 537 yards on the ground. Neosho boasts one of the best all around offenses in the state of Missouri in terms of rushing and passing. Howard is the main reason as to why this offense hums, he is a cunning slashing type runner that can carve up a defense quick. Howard coming from his receiver background is a real difference maker in the passing game as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't really see Howard slowing down his incredible numbers anytime soon in 2026. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2044807"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aad6463577c6"} --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aad6463577e0","hasAcfError":true} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aad6463577f0","hasAcfError":true} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aad66f0d662a","hasAcfError":true} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aad6463577fe","hasAcfError":true} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aad64635780b","hasAcfError":true} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aad646357817","hasAcfError":true} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2044807' first='Lucas' last='Davidson'] is on a tear with 527 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was a fan of [player_tooltip player_id='2044807' first='Lucas' last='Davidson'] last year when he attended a Prep redzone camp and I was excited on what he had to offer in 2026. He hasn't disappointed me in the slightest, he actually has been better than I expected gaining 527 rushing yards in just 4 weeks of play. I love the hard nosed running approached he's displayed early on in the year, by the 4th quarter nobody is really pumped to put a hat on Davidson. He has been one of the best backs in Missouri and the year has just started. Colleges put the name [player_tooltip player_id='2044807' first='Lucas' last='Davidson'] on your watchlist. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20157160/693b20111f31bec855cb2ce0u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aad66f0d668f"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2244554"],"_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":2098003,"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aad6463578e5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2244554' first='Joe' last='Roche'] has picked off where he left off in 2025 with 496 rushing yards and a whopping 8 TD's.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2244554' first='Joe' last='Roche'] had a eye opening junior season last year and now in his Senior year he has been even better. Roche has developed a certain more mature approach to his running style. Roche has been more patient and a tad bit more explosive in 2026. You can tell that he put in loads of extra work in the off season to sharpen his game for his senior year and it's totally paying off in dividends. 8 Td's in three weeks is an absurd amount of times to be in the endzone and he is just getting started honestly. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22754423/69382f305d430005f4442ebdu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aad66f0d6720"} /--> <!-- /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":2401590,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Frank Mccuiston ","_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":"148","_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":"Raytown","_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aad646357a5e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Big play Frank Mccuiston has carved out 417 rushing yards and 4 Touchdowns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mccuiston has been the motor of the undefeated Raytown Blue jays offense in 2026. He has been absolute lightning in a bottle with his best attribute being his short are quickness and speed. Opposing defenses have had a very hard time getting their hands on Mccuiston and he has been on a consistent running streak all year long. Some runners just have the uncanny feel as to how to tout the football and Mccuiston definitely possesses this trait. Somehow still underrated Frank Mccuiston is looking to shed that label in 2026. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19430310/699bda845559ea3094e1f6f2u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aad66f0d6774"} /--> <!-- /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":2401709,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Austin Cravens","_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":"180","_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":"Salisbury 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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aad646357b94"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Austin Cravens is just getting started with 403 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cravens from small town Salisbury, Missouri has big town playing ability. Standing at a astounding 6'1, 195 pounds Cravens is your battling ram, one-cut type of running back that has been lightning up class 1A defenses for the past three weeks. Not only can he beat you with his strength, but unlike a lot of class 1A backs Cravens has a full bag of tricks where he can run away from you while also being a receiving threat with his long limbed frame to pluck the ball from the air. I love giving some love to small town prospects and Cravens is definitely on the top of my list. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aad66f0d6826","hasAcfError":true} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23409598/6a9d5da4891fd032fe951003u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aad66f0d6842"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->