It was a tremendous opening weekend of high school football in the St. Louis metro area. It will be a tough act to follow for all of the teams after some of the exciting action that we witnessed last weekend.
I took in the action at the Maplewood-MICDS game, which turned out to be an instant classic. MICDS took a 36-35 overtime victory as the Rams scored on a two-point conversion in overtime on a gutsy call by head coach Josh Smith. Senior running back Michael Scherer rumbled in for the two-point conversion after scoring on a touchdown in the overtime session. He scored three touchdowns while fellow senior Thomas Militello threw for 240 yards and two scores.
If anyone thought Maplewood was going to experience a big drop-off after losing 17 seniors from last year’s Class 2 state runners-up team, don’t count on it. The young Blue Devils are still going to be a force in 2011. Freshman tailback Elijah Keely enjoyed a big coming out party with 161 yards and five touchdowns. Keely ran behind talented junior offensive linemen Antar Thompson and Aaron Spudich. Junior quarterback Kahlid Hagens is a dual-threat athletes who can make plays with his arm and his legs.
It was a great way to open the season.
Newsom dominates
University of Missouri-bound linebacker Donavin Newsom of Parkway North had quite an evening in leading the Vikings to a 38-35 victory over SLUH last Friday night. Newsom rushed for 150 yards on offense. On defense, he had four tackles, one sack and one interception, which he returned 102 yards for a touchdown.
Dynamic duo
CBC’s dynamic duo of Jonathan Parker and Antonio Brown came up big in the Cadets’ 52-49 victory over Fort Zumwalt West in a battle of highly-ranked Class 6 teams. Parker had 226 yards of total offense and two touchdowns while Brown scored three touchdowns to lead the Cadets.
Early impressions
A couple of highly touted athletes who are known for their prowess in basketball made an early impression on the gridiron during Week 1. Soldan High’s Paul McRoberts had nine receptions for 186 yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers’ 52-12 victory over Confluence. The 6’4″ McRoberts is one of the top basketball players in the senior class. Lutheran North junior Anthony Virdure caught two touchdown passes in the Crusaders’ 42-12 victory over Clayton. Virdure hasn’t played football in two years, but he returned to the sport this season after several years of excellence on the JFL scene.
PHL wins non-conference
The Public High League had a solid weekend in non-conference play. Gateway Tech ventured South and came away with a 34-14 victory over Sikeston. Vashon defeated Poplar Bluff 27-25 while Miller Career Academy defeated Mount Vernon 40-36.
On tap this week
The second annual East St. Louis City of Champions Classic will be held on Sunday at Clyde C. Jordan Stadium in East St. Louis. This year’s event is a tripleheader which will bring together six top programs from Missouri, Illinois, Kansas and Tennessee. In the featured game of the Classic, the host East St. Louis Flyers will take on Kansas state power Gardner-Edgerton at 8 p.m. In the opening game, perennial Missouri state power Jefferson City will take on Chicago Public League stalwart Simeon at 2 p.m. That game will be followed by Chicago St. Rita of the powerful Chicago Catholic League against Memphis Whitehaven at 5 p.m.
DeSmet (1-0) at Hazelwood East (1-0), Saturday, 1 p.m. – Both teams are coming off impressive shutout victories in Week 1. DeSmet defeated Hazelwood Central 28-0 behind three Durron Neal touchdowns while East defeated Pattonville 55-0 as quarterback Trey Hill threw four touchdown passes.
Jefferson City Helias (1-0) at Francis Howell (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m. – GAC power Francis Howell will host Class 4 state contender Helias in what should be an excellent Week 2 matchup.
Lafayette (1-0) at Lindbergh (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m. – A Suburban West Conference battle featuring two teams that posted impressive opening-week victories.
Vashon (1-0) at Union (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m. – The Wolverines will travel down to Franklin County to take on the high-powered offense of Union.
Lutheran North (1-0) at Westminster (1-0), Saturday, 1 p.m. – The improved Crusaders will pay a visit to the brand new football digs at Westminster.
(For a complete list of Earl’s Prime-Time Performers from Week 1, you can visit www.stlamerican.com).
