November 9, 2024

By Fred Liggett
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A top 25 ranked team throughout the 2024 season, Mizzou Tigers football continues to get a lot of attention nationwide. The Tigers play in the highest ranked conference in Division I, that being the SEC. Helping the Tigers score points is a number of players who call Lee’s Summit their hometown.

The list of players start up front with a pair of former LS North standouts in Armand Membou and Cayden Green who start along the offensive line. In addition to protecting QB Brady Cook and RB Nate Noel they also help a former rival in Lee’s Summit High School grad Joshua Manning catch passes downfield.

Manning is an impressive 6’2″, 209 lb. sophomore wide receiver who continues to gain playing time as the Tigers season moves forward. On the 2024 season so far Manning says he’s “been getting better, take it day by day.” Manning is quick to give credit to Mizzou wide receivers coach Jacob Peeler saying he “is heavy in my development.” On having other players on the team from Lee’s Summit Manning believes “helped me get more comfortable here.” On playing in the SEC compared to the Suburban Gold conference “a step up, in speed and strength.”

While in Columbia, Manning likes to check out the 2024 Tigers football team who finished up the regular season at 7-2. Manning feels they are “always worth a look,” Manning adds “proud of those guys, see the success.” Manning isn’t happy with the schedule maker as November 1-3 weekend both Lee’s Summit and Mizzou have a bye week. Manning admits “not able to make a game this year.”

On the Tigers current group of receivers Manning calls them “playmakers, they looked explosive on the freshman team” Manning was a senior when Karstein Fiene and the Hatfield twins were playing on the freshman team just two years ago.

Up next for the Missouri Tigers is a renewal of what was a Big 12 rivalry for a number of years. The Tigers host the Oklahoma Sooners a new member of the SEC on Saturday, Nov. 9. For the Lee’s Summit Tigers they host Rockhurst in a Class 6, District 6 semifinal game on Friday, Nov. 8.