“font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;”>The

second season begins this weekend for high school teams on the

Missouri side of the river as the district playoffs get

underway.

“font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;”>The

last three weeks of the regular season will constitute the district

playoffs, meaning that everyone begins with a clean slate once

again. Whether your team is 7-0 or 0-7, everyone gets a fresh start

with a chance to qualify for the state playoffs. The top two teams

in each district will advance to the state playoffs. Everything

will culminate on the weekend of Nov. 25-26 at the Edward Jones

Dome for Show-Me Bowl weekend.

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Teams from the area who

have the best chance of getting to the Dome are:

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Class 6:

CBC, but watch out for, DeSmet, McCluer North,

Ritenour, SLUH

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Class 5:

Webster Groves,

Kirkwood, but watch out for

Parkway Central

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Class 4:

MICDS, but watch out for, Career Academy, Ladue,

Gateway Tech, St. Charles West, Borgia, St. Dominic

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Class 3:

John Burroughs, but watch out for

Lutheran North, Cardinal Ritter

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Class 2:

Maplewood

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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Conference champ

clinchers

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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>A couple of teams clinched

conference championships over the weekend. CBC clinched the Metro

Catholic Conference title with a 41-7 victory over Chaminade. The

Cadets are the top-ranked large school team in the area. MICDS

defeated Lutheran North 42-19 to win the ABC League championship in

the last year of its existence. The league will be renamed the

Metro League next season.

“font-family: Verdana;”> 

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Winning

Ritenour

“font-family: Verdana;”> 

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Ritenour High clinched its

first winning season since 1989 with its 16-8 victory at Hazelwood

East last weekend. The Huskies are now 7-0 heading into the Class

6, District 4 playoffs. Ritenour head coach Hoyt Gregory was a

member of that last winning team. The Huskies have a legitimate

shot at the Suburban North Conference title. It could come down to

the last week of the season when they host McCluer

North.

 

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Going

Strong

“font-family: Verdana;”> 

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>During the summer, my

colleague Maurice Scott gave our readers a head-up on incoming

freshman tailback Naterace Strong of East St. Louis. Strong had a

breakout performance last Friday night in the Flyers’ 26-0 victory

over Granite City. He rushed for 198 yards and scored two

touchdowns in the Flyers’ rout. The kid has quite a

future.

 

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Trifecta of

touchdowns

“font-family: Verdana;”> 

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>McCluer North senior Radja

Harvey scored a pretty nice trifecta in the Stars’ 43-28 victory at

Riverview Gardens last Saturday. Harvey scored three touchdowns to

lead the Stars. He scored on a 59-yard punt return, a 10-yard

interception return and a 30-yard reception from quarterback Galen

Brown.

 

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>On tap this

weekend

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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Ladue (5-2) at MICDS (7-0),

Saturday, 1 p.m. – A battle of the Rams. Top-ranked and undefeated

MICDS will face a challenge from the speedy Ladue Rams in this

Class 4 district battle.

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Miller

“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Career Academy

(5-2) vs.

Gateway Tech (5-2), Saturday, 1:30 p.m. – The Public High League

championship will be up for grabs in this Class 4 district

game.

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Borgia (7-0) at St. Charles

West (7-0), Friday, 7 p.m. – In one of the toughest Class 4

districts in the state, these two undefeated teams will square off.

Also in the district is undefeated St. Dominic.

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>DeSmet (6-1) at Lindbergh

(5-2), Friday, 7 p.m. – This Class 6 district game features the

powerful Spartans against a Lindbergh team that is quietly enjoying

another successful season.

“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Parkway Central (6-1) at

Parkway North (3-4), Friday, 7 p.m. – In a strong Class 5 district,

Parkway Central is looking good, but the must face the Vikings, who

regained the services of their top player Donavin

Newsom.