Macon rolls past Mark Twain in district opener to earn rematch with South Shelby

Macon quarterback Talen Holman prepares to pass against Mark Twain on Friday night in Center, Mo. Holman threw three touchdown passes and ran for another. | Photo by J. Robert Gough

CENTER, Mo. — The chilly night got a little cooler for Macon football coach Van Vanatta after his team’s 37-0 victory over Mark Twain Friday night. The long-time coach received a cooler of water poured over his head in the middle of Mark Twain’s field as the Class 2 District 4 opening victory was also…

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Photo gallery: Area teams converge at Porter Stadium in Hannibal for football jamboree

The Hannibal football team's offense, under the direction of senior quarterback Waylon Anders, is expected to pile up points this season. | Mathew Kirby photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal football team’s Class 4 state title aspirations were in full bloom Friday night as the Pirates were able to showcase some of the talent and depth that has fans in America’s hometown excited about the upcoming season. Palmyra, Highland, Mark Twain and Bowling Green displayed their own reasons for optimism.…

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Photo gallery: Palmyra basketball teams sweep doubleheader from Mark Twain

Palmyra senior guard Taytum White scores during Tuesday's season opener against Mark Twain in Palmyra, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

PALMYRA, Mo. — The Kelsey Stuart coaching era is off and running. The Brian Rea coaching era continues to breed success. The combination should make for an entertaining winter in the Flower City. The Palmyra girls basketball team stormed past Mark Twain 58-24 on Tuesday night in the Panthers’ season opener and Stuart’s first game…

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Crim: Sports writing pulses through your veins, even after decades have passed

Muddy River Sports Senior Columnist Don Crim covered his first high school football game since 1995 on Friday night when he wrote about Monroe City's victory over Mark Twain. | Muddy River Sports photo

QUINCY — Before Friday night, the last time I went to a high school football game for the purpose of writing about it was Nov. 11, 1995. Quincy Notre Dame was playing at Lewistown that Saturday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Class 2A playoffs. Abundant sunshine was unable to mask 20 mph winds slicing…

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Monroe City Tournament opens with trio of lopsided victories

Monroe City's Mari Gares pushes the ball up the court during the 42-8 victory over Mark Twain on Monday night in the opening game of the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

MONROE CITY, Mo. — The opening night of the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament featured a pair of lopsided victories in the girls bracket and only of the four games played being decided in the fourth quarter. The third-seeded Louisiana boys outlasted sixth-seeded Mark Twain 60-54 behind 15 points from Jack Logan. Josh Brothers led…

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Cougars see offense come to life to pull off district upset of Tigers

CENTER, Mo. — First-year Highland football coach Caleb Arnsman reminded the Cougars the records get washed away in the postseason and the season starts anew. A fresh approach led to remarkable results. Sixth-seeded Highland opened Class 1 District 6 play Friday night by upsetting third-seeded Mark Twain 32-16 to earn a shot at second-seeded South…

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Buoyed by staff and administrative support, Mark Twain’s Leake resigns to become college coach

Mark Twain football coach Austin Leake, left, leads his captains onto the field for the coin toss before a game last fall. | Submitted photo

CENTER, Mo. — Austin Leake understood the opportunity to chase his dream of coaching football at the college level came at a rather inopportune time. He wasn’t going to pursue it if anyone within his family, the Mark Twain coaching staff or the Mark Twain administration had serious reservations. The gentle nudge from their overriding…

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Monroe City’s Pennewell named Class 1’s Defensive Player of the Year by MOFBCA

Monroe City linebacker Ceaton Pennewell (24), running back Joshua Talton (11) and quarterback Kyle Hays (9) received all-state honors from the Missouri Football Coaches Association. Photo courtesy Tom Davis

MONROE CITY, Mo. — Ceaton Pennewell was named the Class 1 Defensive Player of the Year by the Missouri Football Coaches Association and led a collection of area players receiving all-state honors at the small-school level. The Monroe City junior linebacker was a first-team all-state selection and one of five Panthers to receive plaudits. Overall,…

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Bowling Green remains unbeaten in EMO showdown with Mark Twain

Bowling Green QB Dylan Dalton takes a big hit from Mark Twain's Landon Moss while scoring a two-point conversion.

CENTER, Mo – The Bowling Green Bobcats were considered the favorites on Friday night on the road at Mark Twain in a matchup of Eastern Missouri Conference unbeaten teams. And in a physical game that lived up to its billing, Bowling Green’s Marcus Starks ran for 209 yards and three touchdowns as the Bobcats remained…

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