Cardinal Ritter College Prep is enjoying an excellent run with a 6-1 record heading down the home stretch of the regular season.
The only blemish on the Lions’ record is a loss to a powerful Trinity team during the third week of the season. In the Lions’ six victories, they are averaging more than 50 points a game.
Ritter’s top ball carrier is powerful 5’7” 215-pound junior Jared Price, who has rushed for 560 yards and 11 touchdowns. Junior Jameson Williams is a big-play performer who has 22 receptions for 641 yards and seven touchdowns. He also has three touchdowns on kick and punt returns. Williams has earned scholarship offers from a number of top programs, including Ohio State University. Sophomore quarterback Ernest Wess has passed for 992 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Lions’ defense features 6’2” 210-pound senior defensive end Donnell Sharp, who has come back strong after suffering a season-ending knee injury last year. Sharp has recorded 60 tackles this season. Senior defensive back Jared Phillips is a ball hawk who has three interceptions while junior Isaiah Jones has a team-high 64 tackles with an interception and a quarterback sack.
Cardinal Ritter will close the regular season home games against Priory and St. Mary’s in the final two weeks.
Earl’s Exciting Weekend
I was treated to three exciting football games on three consecutive days over the weekend. On Thursday night at Kirkwood, MICDS defeated Westminster 38-31 in a shootout in which the Rams scored in the final minute of the game for the victory. On Friday night, Lindbergh defeated Ritenour 46-42 in a showdown of undefeated teams that lived up to the hype. The Flyers needed a late goal-line stand in the closing seconds to hold off Ritenour. On Saturday, Hazelwood Central defeated Pattonville 33-27 in an overtime thriller. With the regular season winding down and the playoffs just around the corner, the excitement level is beginning to ramp up around the metro area.
Stellar performers last week
- Receiver Bryce Childress of Trinity scored five touchdowns on three receptions, a punt return and an interception return in the Titans’ 71-10 victory over Tolton Catholic.
- Quarterback Mekai Hagens of Hazelwood East passed for 329 yards and two touchdowns in the Spartans’ 20-14 victory over Rockwood Summit.
- Running back Cole Mueller of Holt rushed for 393 yards and eight touchdowns in the Indians’ 51-45 victory over Fort Zumwalt South.
- Running back Titus Baker of Miller Career Academy rushed for 289 yards on 17 carries and five touchdowns in the Phoenix 42-0 victory over Roosevelt.
- Wide receiver Dijion Walls of Hazelwood East caught seven passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns in the Spartans’ 20-14 victory over Rockwood Summit.
Top Games of the Week
Lindbergh (7-0) at Eureka (6-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
Ritenour (6-1) at Pattonville (4-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
Mater Dei (2-4) at Lutheran North (6-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Parkway West (6-1) at Parkway Central (6-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
CBC (6-1) at Rockhurst (5-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Francis Howell Central (3-4) at Francis Howell (5-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Hazelwood Central (6-1) at Hazelwood West (5-2), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Webster Groves (3-2) at Parkway North (4-3), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Affton (4-3) at McCluer South-Berkeley (5-0), Saturday, 1 p.m.
