DeSmet High senior standout Durron Neal was recently selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, which will be held on Jan. 7, 2012 in San Antonio, TX. The game features many of the top graduating seniors in the country.
Neal has already committed to the Oklahoma University, where he will begin his collegiate career in the fall. The all-purpose performer has played a multitude of positions for the Spartans during his career. As a senior, Neal has rushed for 460 yards and seven touchdowns. He has 589 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 21.8 yards per reception. He has scored a total of 19 touchdowns this season.
The All-State wide receiver has led the Spartans to an 8-2 record during the regular season and a berth in the Class 6 playoffs, which begin this weekend. DeSmet will visit Eureka in a first-round game on Friday night.
Neal’s senior teammate, KeVonn Mabon, has given a verbal commitment to Ball State Univesity last week. The 6’2″ 210-pound Mabon will play wide receiver at Ball State. For the season, Mabon has 538 yards receiving and five touchdowns. In the past two weeks, Mabon has been moved to tailback where he has been the Spartans’ featured runner.
The 400 Club
Quarterbacks Rayshawn Simmons of Webster Groves and Steven Irving of Soldan closed out the regular season with 400-yard passing performances last weekend. Simmons completed 20 of 34 for 417 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Statesmen past Parkway North 38-24 to earn a berth in the Class 5 playoffs. Irving completed 19 of 30 for 400 yards and three touchdowns to lead Soldan past Sumner 30-0 to earn a berth in the Class 4 playoffs. Senior receiver Paul McRoberts caught six of Irving’s passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers. Irving finished the regular season with 2,450 yards passing and 31 touchdowns.
The Undefeated
Five St. Louis metro area teams made it through the regular season unscathed as they head into the state playoffs with undeated records. CBC (10-0), Kirkwood (9-0), MICDS (10-0), Union (10-0) and Borgia (10-0) all take unblemished records into this week’s postseason action.
DGB in the record books
Congratulations to Springfield (Mo.) Hillcrest senior All-American receiver Dorial Green-Beckham on becoming the all-time national leader in receving yardage last weekend. Green-Beckham broke the national record last week in Hillcrest’s victory over Republic on an 81-yard touchdown reception. He now has 6,109 yards in his career. The old record was 5,867 yards by Abram Booty of Shreveport, La. Green-Beckham is the No. 1 ranked football prospect in the nation.
North Stars
McCluer North rumbled into the postseason on a nine-game winning streak after its 45-6 victory at Ritenour. The Stars clinched the Suburban North Conference title in the process. Senior Rodja Harvey had three touchdown receptions and an interception on defense. Earl Cozart had three quarterback sacks and scored on a 60-yard fumble recovery.
What’s on tap this weekend
The Missouri state playoffs begin this weekend at the Class 6 level while the Illinois playoffs begin second-round action. Missouri Classes 1-5 began postseason play on Wednesday night with the second-round games set for next Monday night. Here is this weekend’s schedule. All games will be played on Friday at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Class 6
DeSmet (8-2) at Eureka (8-2)
Oakville (5-5) at SLUH (7-3)
Hazelwood Central (5-5) at CBC (10-0)
Lafayette (8-2) at McCluer North (9-1), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Columbia Hickman (5-5) at Francis Howell (7-3)
Pattonville (4-6) at Fort Zumwalt West (7-2)
Illinois High School Playoffs
Class 8A: Belleville East (6-4) at Naperville Central (7-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
Class 7A: East St. Louis (8-2) at Oswego (8-2), Saturday, 3 p.m.
O’Fallon (9-1) at Pekin (7-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
Class 5A: Triad (9-1) at Springfield Griffin (10-0), Saturday, 3 p.m.
Class 4A: Mt. Zion (8-2) at Mater Dei (9-1), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Class 3A: Anna-Jonesboro (8-2) at Breese Central (9-1), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
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