I shouldn’t have been surprised.

I’d finally turned in my first breakout week of the year — a solid 8-2 effort that kept me within four games of assistant sports editor Ross Martin. Finally, a chance to gloat a little, redeemed from my previously pathetic picking.

What’s happens? Ross big-times me and writes the thing himself.

What else is new, though? I mean, he’s been doing it all year at every premier football game throughout Northwest Missouri. Chillicothe vs. Maryville. Don’t think so. Princeton at Hamilton. Yoink.

Normally, I’d use this space to make a crack about how I’d take out my frustration on a superior Pick ’Em effort that would close the gap just in time for districts. No such luck, as we both selected the same winners for each contest. Whatever.

Carrollton (6-0) at Holden (6-0) — Andy: Holden; Ross: Holden.

Hamilton (5-0) at Princeton (6-0) — Andy: Hamilton; Ross: Hamilton.

Maryville (5-1) at Savannah (6-0) — Andy: Maryville; Ross: Maryville.

Lawson (5-1) at North Platte (5-1) — Andy: North Platte; Ross: North Platte.

Liberty (5-1) at Oak Park (5-1) — Andy: Liberty; Ross: Liberty.

Plattsburg (5-1) at West Platte (5-1) — Andy: Plattsburg; Ross: Plattsburg.

Oak Grove (6-0) at Harrisonville (5-1) — Andy: Harrisonville; Ross: Harrisonville.

Minnetonka (Minn.) (4-2) at Rockhurst (5-1) — Andy: Rockhurst; Ross: Rockhurst.

Appleton City (4-1) at Rich Hill (5-1) — Andy: Rich Hill; Ross: Rich Hill.

University Academy (5-1) at Pembroke Hill (4-2) — Andy: Pembroke Hill; Ross: Pembroke Hill.

As far as area games are concerned, this is one of the best top-to-bottom slates yet. Other than the top-flight GRC clash, you’ve got entertaining toss-ups throughout the region. And get used to seeing KCI tilts on the docket from here on out. That Buch-Platte district should produce some interesting matchups and a ton of points in the season’s final weeks.

Year-to-date standings (after Week 6)

Ross 42-18, Andy 36-24