5 Things to Watch For: Teams must eliminate turnovers

Week one has come and gone, and there are still a lot of questions surrounding our area teams – especially our teams near the top.
And with a second week comes a whole new list of subplots for the coming slate of games.
HOLD ON TO THE BALL: When you look at Blue Springs South and Fort Osage’s debuts you see 11 combined turnovers between them. While the turnovers would have helped Fort Osage make its opener a little less dramatic, South really hurt itself with its turnovers. In fact, without three first-half interceptions, South could have had the lead at halftime over Rockhurst.
If either team is going to win this week, that number is going to have to go down to one or two at the most.
Fort Osage will not be able to give Kearney the amount of chances it gave Park Hill South last week and remain unbeaten.
Meanwhile, Park Hill is looking to prove something after holding off North Kansas City 21-19 last week – a game that was much closer than it should have been. Park Hill is a traditional power, and South’s inexperienced squad is going to need every single possession to pick up this win.
2. ROAD TRIPS: Looking at the schedule this week, I was surprised not just how many teams are on the road, but how far they have to go.
Blue Springs goes to St. Joseph to play Central. Blue Springs South is at Park Hill, while Fort Osage heads to Kearney. Grain Valley goes to Marshall. Oak Grove is at O’Hara. St. Mary’s heads to Concordia to meet St. Paul’s Lutheran. Raytown South makes a short jaunt to Platte County.
The amount of gas spent this week will be ridiculous. The only thing that could have made this better is if Lee’s Summit North’s trip to Columbia Rock Bridge could have been this week instead of last week.
3. BRUTAL SCHEDULE: Truman is one team who has not been away from home yet this season. But when you face what could be the top two teams in Class 5, being home is little solace.
After facing a rebuilt Raymore-Peculiar last week, the Pats will see the favorite to win Class 5 this week in Lee’s Summit West.
And while these tough early season games may be difficult to win, they will help Truman be prepared for district play and the Suburban Big Six.
The Patriots won’t face a team in the conference as tough as the two they play to start the season.
4. EAGLES LOOK FOR DEFENSE: As Grain Valley scored 59 points last week against Lincoln Prep, my guess is the Eagles are happy with their offense.
What they’re probably not happy with is a defense that gave up more than 300 yards rushing to Blue Tiger Johnny Hall and allowed 41 points. In fact, the most Grain Valley gave up in a week during the regular season last year was 30 against Odessa.
The defense will definitely be under the microscope for the Eagles this week in a road game against Marshall, as well as next week against traditional power Chillicothe.
5. WELCOME TO THE BIG SEVEN: After a closer-than-expected (at least to people outside Lee’s Summit West) 36-35 win over West, Blue Springs now welcomes St. Joseph Central to the Suburban Big Seven Friday.
Not only will Central be playing its first game in a new conference, the Indians will be facing a Blue Springs team that is eager to have a good game in preparation for next week’s annual showdown with rival Rockhurst.
I think there will be some emphasis on coming out and playing well this week. Personally, I doubt this game will even be close.