Best Football Game: The 1992 Class 5A state football championship game between Parkway Central and Blue Springs was a classic shootout where the last team that had the ball would win the game. Blue Springs won its first state title in a 39-35 thriller that had the fans at Faurot Field electrified from start to finish with one big play after another. It marked the highest scoring championship game to date. Parkway Central quarterback Isaac Byrd concluded a brilliant postseason run with another spectacular performance with 339 yards of total offense and four touchdowns touchdowns. In the end, it was the combination of quarterback Nate Minnis and wide receiver Leroy Pruitt that made the difference. Minnis threw for a state-championship game record 353 yards and three touchdowns while Pruitt had 137 yards receiving and three touchdowns.
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Best Basketball Game: The 1989 Illinois Class AA boys state championship basketball game between East St. Louis Lincoln and Peoria Central. Lincoln was going after an unprecendented third consecutive state title against the perennial Peoria power. After winning two consecutive titles in ’87 and ’88, Lincoln wasn’t supposed to be back at state after losing All-American LaPhonso Ellis to graduation, but the Tigers were back behind the talents of Cuonzo Martin,Vincent Jackson and Chris McKinney. The title game went into the triple-overtime with a buzzer shot creating each extra session. Finally, senior guard Vincent Jackson hit a 19-footer from the head of the key at the buzzer to give Lincoln a dramatic 59-57 victory at the three-peat.
Most Dramatic Comeback: In the 1992 Missouri boys’ Class 4A state basketball championship game, Riverview Gardens trailed a bigger and stronger Raytown South team 51-31 at the end of three quarters. The trophy appeared headed to Kansas City, but the Rams staged a furious, canyoubelievewhatjusthappened rally to take the lead midway through the fourth quarter. The Rams went on to a 68-62 victory in one of the greatest comebacks in the history of Missouri prep sports.
Most Dramatic Play: In the 1989 Class 3A state championship football game between Lutheran North and Branson, North trailed 26-21 with the ball at the Branson 46-yard line and 17 seconds left in the game. Everyone was looking for the Crusaders’ potent passing attack. Instead, Crusaders’ coach Mike Russell calls a draw play. Tailback Sean Morris takes the handoff from QB Chuck Calhoun and weaves his way downfield to the most improbable touchdown and most improbable game ending in recent memory. Final score: Lutheran North 28 Branson 26. To me, it is still the most gutsy call in the history of football. It marked the second of three consecutive state titles won by the Crusaders. It was a great comeback as well as North trailed 26-14 with just over a minute to play.
Most Entertaining Game: In January of 1987, Beaumont and Sumner hooked up in a basketball classic in which Beaumont outlasted the Bulldogs 118-114 at Vashon. In the game, Beaumont star Craig Upchurch had 59 points, 21 rebounds, nine assists and eight steals. Sumner star Albert Thomas scored 45 points while sidekick Gerald Powell scored 31 for the Bulldogs. It was basketball entertainment at his finest.
Best Atmosphere: The 1999 Martin Luther King Basketball Classic was held at the Savvis Center. Nearly 15,000 people turned out to see the game of the year between Vashon and East St. Louis. The Wolverines were ranked No. 1 in Missouri while the powerful Flyers were led by All-American forward Darius Miles. The building rocked all night with half of the arena dressed in blue and the other half dressed in orange and my buddy Maurice Scott keeping it live on the microphone. Led by Miles, the Flyers’ rallied for a early deficit to take a 65-52 victory. On a side note, the St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation presented me with a Lifetime Achievement Award at halftime. It was truly a humbling experience for me and a great night to be a prep basketball fan.
Best Individual Performance (Boys): In the 1995 Class 5 state football semifinals, Webster Groves junior quarterback put on a tremendous show in leading the Statesmen past McCluer North in a 39-38 overtime thriller. Jackson compiled an incredible 556 yards from scrimmage. He scored the winning points on a two-point conversion in the third overtime to give the Statesmen the victory in this classic game. The following week, Jackson led the Statesmen to the state title with a victory over Raymore-Peculiar.
Best Individual Performance (Girls): In the 1994 Class 2A girls basketball district finals, Wellston’s LaShonda Albert had a performance of the ages. The wonderfully talented 6’1” guard scored 69 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and handed out eight assists in the Trojanettes victory over host Orchard Farm. Albert went on to lead Wellston to the state title.
Most Anticipated Game: It finally happened in September of 1990 when Illinois football power East St. Louis travelled to Missouri power Jefferson City for a big showdown. It pitted legendary coaches Bob Shannon vs. Pete Adkins. The teams played to a 7-7 halftime tie, but East Side star tailback Chris Moore took over in the second half, scoring three of his four touchdowns in the Flyers’ 28-7 victory. Moore broke the tie with a spectacular diving catch in the back of the end zone on a fourth down and 29 play in the third quarter. He clinched the game with a 78-yard touchdown romp in the fourth quarter. It was the only meeting between these two teams. Both went on to win state titles that year.
Best Track and Field Moment: During the 1991 Class 4A state championships, McCluer’s Rod Marshall got the baton for the final leg of the boys’ 4×400 meter relay about 25 meters behind rivals Kip Smith of Ritenour and John Gould of Normandy. An individual state champion in the 400, Marshall summoned all of his heart and speed that he could muster and turned in a spectacular 46.3-second anchor leg to catch and pass both of his rivals at the end as thousands screamed at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City.
Most Emotional Moment: Gateway Tech introduced itself to the state in 1997 by winning the Class 4A girls state championship with a 42-41 victory over Jackson. Moments after winning his first state title with an undefeated season, head coach Sherman Curtis gave me a hug and let out all of his emotions as he cried on my shoulder. Usually, you are supposed to be impartial as a reporter, but Sherman has been a great friend over the years and it was great to see him and his talented girls, such as Christian Shelton, Peaches Harris, LaTosha Thompson, Diana Hill, Brandi Archibald and Tiana Ford, accomplish something so special.
Biggest Upset: In the 2005 Class 6 state football semifinals, nationally ranked Kansas City Rockhurst raced to a 20-0 lead over a seemingly overmatched DeSmet team. The Spartans fought back and made it a game by halftime, trailing 39-29. What unfolded in the second half was perhaps the most unexpected turn of events in the history of the state playoffs. DeSmet rolled off 30 consecutive points and pulled off a 59-39 shocker over the once-invincible Hawklets. The Spartans went on to win their first state title against Hazelwood Central the next week.
Most Dramatic Sequence of Plays: In the 1995-96 Class 5A state football semifinals, Mehlville had a first down and goal on the Hazelwood East 1-yard line. Mehlville trailed 21-17, but a touchdown would give them a berth in the state championship game. The Panthers ran their 6’4” 250-pound bulldozing fullback Jason Eberhart up the middle four consecutive times. Remarkably, the Spartans’ defense stopped Eberhardt all four times short of the goal line to preserve the victory. East went on to win the state title the following week. Ten years later, the arguments still rage on over whether Eberhart scored the winning touchdown or was he stopped short of the goal line.
Most Impressive Freshman Debut: Alesha Usery of McCluer South-Berkeley exploded on to the statewide track and field scene with a season to remember in 2005. In her first Class 3 state meet, all she did was sweep the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes and break state records in the process. Her winning time in the 200 broke the overall state record, set by Olympic silver medalist Muna Lee of Kansas City Central. Usery repeated the feat as a sophomore in 2006. Who knows what the future holds.