Just one step away from reaching the ultimate dream of playing for the state championship at the Edward Jones Dome next weekend.
That’s where the 24 teams that somehow survived last weekend’s Missouri state football quarterfinals find themselves, heading into this weekend’s playoff semifinals.
The quest began, for some teams, back in May & June, with summer camps and weight-training & conditioning workouts, and progressed through preseason training camp in the hot sun of August.
And now, in the blustery cold of November, there are only 24 teams left in the six MSHSAA classifications, all hoping to fulfill their dream of advancing to the Thanksgiving weekend Dome spectacular, known as the Show-Me Bowl State Football Championships.
But first, they’ve got to get through this weekend.
And boy, what a weekend it oughta be, with 12 sensational matchups around the state, including three magnificent contests here in the STL (one on Friday, two on Saturday), featuring the absolute best teams still questing for that trip to the Dome.
Here is a preview of the six state semifinal games involving teams from St. Louis.
Class 6 State Semifinals – Fri., Nov. 18 CBC (12-0)at SLUH
(9-3),7 p.m.
The marquee matchup of the weekend is this showdown between the area’s bes young head coach (CBC’s Scott Pingel) and the area’s best coach-yet-to-win-a-title (SLUH’s Gary Kornfeld).
The odds say one of these guys is going to get his first title this year, but first, they’ve got to get past each other.
Undefeated CBC is the No. 1-ranked team in the city and the state this season, with a high-powered offense that averages 43.1 points/game. QB Dalton Demos, a three-year varsity starter, is the leader of the Cadets wonderfully-balanced offensive unit, with 2,338 pass yards and 30 TDs this season – totals which both rank in the top 7 in the area this year.
In the backfield, CBC features two fantastic ballcarriers in senior AntonioBrown (1,174 yards & 17 TDs) and junior Jonathan Parker (806 yards & 12 TDs), while also utilizing top receiver and return man Aarion Penton(33 catches for 683 yards and 15 TDs) for big plays when needed. On defense, senior RB Darian Bass is CBC’s top playmaker.
For SLUH, which began the year 1-3, after a 34-7 Week 4 loss to CBC, but has won eight straight since, is led the the STL area’s No. 1 passer, QB Trevor McDonagh. This season, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound, gunslinger has thrown for 3,124 yards & 27 TDs, which includes the 396 yards and four TDs he put up against rival De Smet in last week’s quarterfinals.
Speedy senior Stefan Sansone is McDonagh’s top receiving target, with 54 catches for 1,009 yards & 16 TDs. But he also doubles as the area leader with more than 800 total return yards on kickoffs, punts, and INTs. The Jr. Bills also feature a top performer at RB, in No. 1 Metro Catholic Conference rusher Terek Hawkins, who to date has totaled 1,291 yards and 19 TDs in SLUH’s versatile offense.
Class 5 State Semifinals – Sat., Nov. 19 Kirkwood(11-0) at Hazelwood East (8-4), 1:30 p.m.
This might be the most unlikely matchup of the weekend. Not so much because of Kirkwood, the Pioneers are undefeated this season, and just about everyone expected them to be in the city championship.
But who would’ve thought a youthful and rebuilding Hazelwood East team would be in the state semifinals this season. The Spartans were 3-4 heading into districts, but have somehow come alive with five straight wins, including the upset shocker of the season, last Saturday night, 42-15 over Parkway Central.
Sophomore RB Jimmy Jones had 120 yards and two TDs in that win, and is now sniffing the 1,000-yard mark, with 921 yards & 12 total TDs for the season. Senior QB Trey Hill also threw for two scores in the win over Parkway, and has 1,220 yards & 14 TDs this season. East also features a trio of other supremely talented underclassmen in junior RB Dallas Vaughn, sophomore RB Ahmad Huddleston, and sophomore DB/KR Diondre’ Worthy.
Kirkwood is led by talented QB duo Jordan Bishop and B.J. Buckner.
For the season, the two have combined to throw for more than 1,800 yards and 33 TDs. Buckner has also scored 10 TDs rushing and receiving for the Pioneers, whilesharing the ball with speedsters Ramon Alton (1,007 rush yards, 16 TDs) and WR Mike McHugh (941 receiving yards & 19 TDs).
Class 6 State Semifinals – Fri., Nov. 18: Blue Springs South (12-1) at Francis Howell (9-3), 7 p.m.
The host Vikings are making their first ever appearance in the state semifinals after its 49-21 victory over rival Fort Zumwalt West in the quarterfinals. Howell has an excellent passing game, led by senior quarterback Eric Siebenshuh, who has passed for 2,799 yards and 30 touchdowns. He has two 1,000-yard receivers to throw to in Cory King and Alex Strong. Blue Springs South advanced to the semifinals with a convincing 28-7 victory over defending state champion Kansas City Rockhurst.
Class 4 State Semifinals – Sat., Nov. 19: MICDS (13-0) at Farmington (12-1), 1:30 p.m.
The undefeated Rams are seeking their first Show-Me Bowl berth since 2007. They have a well-balanced offense, led by the powerful running of senior Michael Scheer and passing of senior Thomas Militello. Scherer has rushed for 1,179 yards and 25 touchdowns while Militello has passed for
2,794 yards and 37 touchdowns. Militello’s favorite targets are seniors Jack Howell and Foster Bundy, who have combined for 29 touchdown receptions. The defense is led by Scherer at linebacker and defensive linemen Todd Hearns, Peter Schlafly, Chris Brothers and A.J. Washington.
Farmington rallied from a 14-0 deficit in the fourth quarter with 31 unanswered points to defeat PHL champion Gateway Tech in the quarterfinals. Running back Connor Devault rushed for 206 second-half yards and scored five touchdowns for Farmington.
Class 3 State Semifinal Game – Sat., Nov. 19 Osage (13-0) at John Burroughs (12-1), 1:30 p.m.
Of the 12 semifinal games around the state this weekend, this might be the best matchup of them all, with undefeated Osage bringing the entire Lake of the Ozarks community into West County to take on Burroughs Saturday afternoon.
The Bombers, heartbreak losers of the Class 3 state championship game last year, are looking to finish what they started this time, with a squad that looks a whole lot different from 2010.
Last year, Burroughs was all about 2010 St. Louis American Small Schools Player of the Year and star WR/KR Grant Wallace. This year though, the Bombers rely mostly on junior RB Ezekiel Elliott, who leads the Metro Football League in rushing (1,542 yards) and yards per carry (9.1 avg.), and leads the entire area in scoring with 37 TDs. At QB, senior Davey Holmes has passed for 1,997 yards and 29 TDs, throwing to a variety of receivers, led by senior Nathan Adams.
Osage features one of the truly dynamic players in the state in senior RB/WR/DB/PR Jared Edwards. This season, he’s led the Indians to a perfect 13-0 record, and just last week scored five TDs and set a state record with his sixth punt return for a touchdown, to lead Osage to a 63-21 win over North Callaway.
Class 2 Semifinals: Sat. Nov. 19: Maplewood (10-2) at Lamar (12-1), 1:30 p.m.
Maplewood is seeking its second consecutive berth in the state-championship game, but it must make the long trip to Lamar. Junior quarterback Kahlid Hagens is a dual-threat with 2,767 total yards and a total of 29 touchdowns. Freshman tailback Elijah Keely has rushed for 961 yards and 16 touchdowns. Juniors Antar Thompson and Aaron Spudich anchor the line play while Wes Williams is the leading tackler on defense.
