Last weekend of regular season on Missouri side
Ladue vs. Clayton at Wash. U, and more
Of the St. Louis American
The regular season and district playoffs will conclude this weekend on the Missouri side. This weekend’s action features several winner-take-all showdowns featuring two teams that are 2-0 in district play.
Ladue (7-2) vs. Clayton (6-3) at Washington University, Fri. 7 p.m. – These Suburban East Conference powers have been in the Show-Me Bowl the past two years. The winner of this game will win the Class 4, District 6 title. Both teams tuned up for this showdown with big victories last week. Ladue defeated University City 56-33 behind 233 yards rushing and five touchdowns from D’Angelo Dean. Clayton defeated Normandy 51-28 as Brian Minor scored three touchdowns. Also, a Ladue victory will give them the outright conference title. If Clayton wins, they will earn a share of the title with Ladue and Affton.
Summit (5-4) at Eureka (7-2), Fri. 7 p.m. – These Rockwood School District rivals will tussle for the Class 5, District 1 title. Summit is on a charge, winning four consecutive games after a 1-4 start. The Falcons have some weapons in senior Zach McFerren, who has 944 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns, and multitalented senior Edward Calvin, who has 10 touchdowns in a variety of ways. The Wildcats have maintained a high level of success with its no-nonsense ground attack and stingy defense that has recorded four shutouts. Seniors Sam Johnson and Mike Nowicki have combined for 20 touchdowns.
Parkway North (5-4) at Duchesne (7-2), Fri. 7 p.m. – The winner gets the Class 4, District 7 title. Duchesne has already cliched the Gateway Athletic Conference North division. The Pioneers are led by double-threat quarterback Collin McGilligan (who is banged up with an injured wrist) and running back Mitch Kohnen (10 touchdowns). Parkway North has battled through a tough schedule to get to this point. Their four losses have come to Suburban South Conference heavyweights Webster Groves, Parkway Central, Eureka and Summit. The Vikings defeated St. Charles West 21-20 on a Nick Scott touchdown in the closing seconds. Scott has rushed for 878 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Windsor (5-4) at Affton (8-1), Thur. 7 p.m. – This game will settle the Class 4, District 4 title. Affton is looking to repeat as district champs after lopsided victories over Lutheran South and DuBourg. Quarterback D.J. Ford has accounted for 20 touchdowns while the Cougars’ offensive line is big and experienced. Windsor’s big victory this season came against highly-regarded Herculaneum in Week 3. The Owls will have to control the ball with senior running back Ben Falkenberry, who has 928 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns.
News and notes
The Class 5, District 3 scrum featured four teams that were tied for the PHL lead with 4-0 conference records. The Vashon Wolverines have emerged from that logjam with two big wins to take control of the conference and the district. The Wolverines defeated Gateway Tech 35-17 and Beaumont 41-0. Doing the damage on offense has been tailback Devaughon Reece. He rushed for 213 yards and two touchdowns against Beaumont and 216 yards and four touchdowns against Gateway Tech. On defense, All-State defensive end has been a man among boys. Brown had two quarterback sacks against Gateway Tech and a whopping five sacks against Beaumont. The Wolverines will visit Roosevelt on Saturday, where they will try to complete an undefeated district and PHL slate. The Roughriders (6-3) can tie Vashon for the title with a win or get the district with a victory and a Beaumont victory over Gateway Tech.
Kirkwood High defensive end Willie Dyson gave a verbal commitment to Minnesota this week. The 6’3” 230-pound Dyson made his official visit a few weeks back and was hosted by former McCluer North star Steve Davis, now a freshman starter. Dyson has 54 tackles with six sacks and 12 tackles for losses this season. He is the fourth member of Kirkwood’s team to commit to a NCAA Division I-A school.
Cardinal Ritter clinched a Class 2, District 3 title with a 31-7 victory over Maplewood. The Lions were led by 6’4” senior quarterback Quentin Davie, who passed for 152 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for two more scores.
Senior Cartez Parker of Lafayette had a fine all-around game in the Lancers’ 38-14 victory over CBC in Class 6, District 3 action. The 6’2” 185-pound Parker rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns and had two interceptions, one which he returned for 86 yards. Parker has 980 yards of total offense and 17 touchdowns this season. He is also Lafayette’s top returning basketball player.
Kirkwood’s Marcus Harris enjoyed his best outing of the season in the Pioneers’ 43-21 victory over SLUH. The junior quarterback threw for 294 yards and one touchdown to lead Kirkwood.
