Special to the American
It’s been an upsetting first couple of weeks of the prep football season. At least it has been for several of the area’s top rated teams, who despite their lofty rankings have suffered some truly surprising & debilitating losses early on.
And the upset monster is still lurking out there. This week maybe for teams like MICDS, which travels to Duchesne, and McCluer North, which has been bitten once already and this week hosts my new & improved Ritenour Huskies.
But the favorite five games of the week focus on several other big-time matchups, including the potentially epic Metro Catholic Conference showdown between DeSmet & CBC. Here’s an inside look:
#1 Fri., Sept. 14 DeSmet (2-0) at CBC (1-1) 7 p.m.
Several of the area’s top players will be on display in this very important early season MCC contest. DeSmet looks to be returning to its state championship form from two years ago, with big-time wins over Columbia Rock Bridge and Lafayette. The Spartans have relied heavily on its big three in the form of senior WR Wes Kemp, senior DB Robert Steeples, & junior RB/LB Devin King. Kemp, who’s headed to Wisconsin, might be the area’s best wideout. Steeples, who committed to Mizzou earlier this summer, might be the best DB. And King is probably the best player in the junior class. So DeSmet has a lot to work with, and have gotten off to a fine start.
CBC, last season’s Class 6 city champs, is led by senior RB Rayon Simmons. The area rushing and scoring leader last season, Simmons had a huge day (248 yards & 2 TDs) in the Cadets’ upset win over then-No. 1 Hazelwood East. But last week, he was effectively shut down in a 55-17 loss by Mehlville’s swarming, big-hitting D.
#2 Sat., Sept. 15 Pattonville (2-0) at Hazelwood East (1-1) 1 p.m.
The Pattonville Pirates have been one of the best stories of the early season. They’ve played two nailbiters against two high quality opponents, McCluer North and Parkway South, and they’ve won them both thanks to a much-improved defense and the steady play of QB Colin Hanna. In week one, Hanna ran for two scores and threw for a third to lead Pattonville to the win. Then last week, he rushed for a TD, while navigating the Pirate ship through treacherous weather and a sloppy field.
The very young, but very talented Hazelwood East Spartans looked much more like themselves in last week’s 26-6 win over Ritenour. Junior QB Eric Brown ran for a score and threw for a score to lead East to the win. But more exciting for Spartan fans is it seems they’ve found another emerging star in RB DeJuan Owens. He had 90 yards rushing last week, on only nine carries on a very sloppy field.
#3 Fri., Sept. 14 Alton (2-1) v. Belleville East (3-0) at Township Stadium 7 p.m.
Alton pulled off the upset of the week with last week’s 20-13 win over Edwardsville, which had just moved into the top slot in the area’s large school rankings. The big star in the win for the Redbirds was junior RB Kenny Jones. A 5’10”, 170-pound speedster, Jones rushed for 135 yards and two TDs, including a breath-taking 55-yard scamper late in the fourth quarter for the game-winning score. The entire Alton defense also starred in the win as it held Edwardsville to just 240 yards of total offense and forced five turnovers. Jarvis Smith led the way with 11 tackles and an INT.
Belleville East has been another fun early-season story. The Lancers have been as impressive as any team in the Metro East this season. And the main reason why is their superb RB Jamon Bester. Already this season, Bester has rushed for 575 yards and scored eight TDs. Last week, he had 255 yards rushing and scored five TDs in a 56-13 win over Collinsville. QB Eric Watkins is also off to a fine start, with four TD passes in three games.
#4 Fri., Sept 14 Lindbergh (2-0) at Kirkwood (2-0) 7 p.m.
Kirkwood, the defending Class 5 city champs, has not missed a beat coming off its best season ever. The Pioneers have rolled over two opponents, showing off a big-play offense and that same suffocating defense led by senior LBs Derrick Staten and Taron Thomas. The plan for Kirkwood is to do the same to Lindbergh, heading into next week’s much-anticipated showdown with Mehlville.
But somebody better tell Lindbergh that the Suburban West Conference race is supposed to be only a two team battle this year, because the Flyers are playing phenomenal defense, posting consecutive shutouts against Northwest House Springs and Marquette. And offensively, Lindbergh’s look to have a potential star in RB Antwon Robinson.
But Friday night, it’s the battle of the young QBs that will tell the tale of this contest. Kirkwood’s Michael Harris has thrown three TD passes already, but sometimes holds onto the ball too long and takes hits that he shouldn’t. And Lindbergh’s Zeke Scott, who also has three TD passes, likes to take chances he may not get away with against Kirkwood. Whichever of these young men figures it out first, will set his team up real nice for a shot at the league title.
#5 Sat., Sept. 15 Jennings (1-1) at McCluer South-Berkeley (1-0) 1 p.m.
Now this quiet little tussle in the Suburban East Conference might not show up on too many people’s radar, but there’s just something about the matchup here that intrigues me. And that something is speed. Most times when Jennings steps on the field, there’s no way its opponent can much speed with them. The Warriors are just too fast. Often times, their 10th fastest guy is faster than their opponent’s fastest guy is. But this week, against a resurgent and fired up MSB squad, Jennings will face someone that can match up in the speed department.
Last week, it was the Warriors’ speed advantage that proved the difference in a 20-6 win over Cleveland NJROTC. Senior RB Frank Williams had 132 yards rushing and a TD to lead the way, while teammate Darryl “Scoot” Grady had 136 yards of total offense, with a TD of his own, to go along with seven tackles & two INTs on defense.
But MSB looked like a track team themselves, as it ran circles around Soldan in a 21-6 win. Speed demons/junior RBs Mike London and Willie Williams each scored TDs to seal the Bulldogs’ win. While behemoth RB/LB Andrew Spencer was the workhorse, carrying the ball 23 times for 130 yards and a TD. Spencer, a 2006 St. Louis All-American team selection at LB, also led the defense with 10 tackles and a sack.
Other games of note include:
Fri., Sept. 14
MICDS at Duchesne 7 p.m.
Timberland at Ft. Zumwalt N. 7 p.m.
Chaminade at SLUH 7 p.m.
O’Fallon at Granite City 7 p.m.
Summit at Parkway W. 7 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 15
John Burroughs at Lutheran N. 1 p.m.
Ritenour at McCluer N. 1 p.m.
Gateway Tech v. Miller Career at Southwest 1:30 p.m.
Ladue at Normandy 2 p.m.