The East Side will be the hub of high school football activity this weekend as the City of Champions Classic will be held on Saturday at Jordan Stadium at East St. Louis High.
Former Flyers greats Dana Howard and Juylon Brown have put together a strong triple-header for this year’s event. It will feature three teams from the powerful Southwestern Conference in the metro east against three quality teams.
Game 1 will feature Edwardsville against Public High League contender Soldan at noon. The second game will feature Illinois Class 7A contender O’Fallon against Illinois Class 8A Loyola Academy from Chicago at 2:45 p.m. In the finale, host East St. Louis will take on five time Illinois Class 5A state-champion Lombard Montini at 5:45 p.m.
The East Side-Montini finale will be a heck of way to close the event. East St. Louis (1-0) opened the season with a 19-14 over perennial Missouri state power Kansas City Rockhurst last Friday. They will take on a Montini team that has been dominated the Illinois Class 5A ranks for several years. Montini defeated Class 8A Maine South to open the season.
Edwardsville (1-0) advanced to the Class 7A quarterfinals a year ago. The Tigers defeated Hazelwood West to open the season while Soldan defeated Roosevelt last week 28-6. Soldan is led by senior receiver Cortlen Brooks. O’Fallon also advanced to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs in Class 8A. The Panthers defeated Cahokia 40-12 to open the season last week.
City clashÂ
Another big game in the Metro East on Friday night will be the annual city clash between Belleville Althoff and host Belleville West at 7 p.m. It will mark the final time that these two teams will play each other in a rivalry which goes back 80 years and several generations.
The cost for the event is $15 for all three games.
Week 1 StandoutsÂ
Vianney’s Markel Smith had 291 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in the Golden Griffins’ 42-28 victory over Francis Howell North.
Alim Muhammad of MICDS had six receptions for 162 yards and three touchdowns in the Rams’ 39-12 victory over Maplewood.
Kevin Batt of Hazelwood Central rushed for 202 yards and one touchdown on an 89-yard gallop in the Hawks’ 33-28 victory over Webster Groves.
Jimmy Jones of Hazelwood East scored four touchdowns on offense and had an interception on defense in the Spartans’ 41-0 victory over McCluer.
Doug Cook of Fort Zumwalt West rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns as the Jaguars surprised CBC 24-21.
Deantrell Prince of Christian-O’Fallon 267 yards of total offense, three touchdowns, three tackles and one sack in a 50-0 victory over Van-Far.
 Other top games this weekÂ
Friday, September 6 (Kickoff at 7 p.m.)
 Hazelwood East (1-0) at Kirkwood (1-0)
Fort Zumwalt West (1-0) at Rock Bridge (1-0)
Francis Howell (1-0) at Webster Groves (0-1)
Hazelwood Central (1-0) at DeSmet (0-1)
Eureka (1-0) at CBC (0-1)
Belleville East (1-0) at Jefferson City (1-0)
Clayton (1-0) at Parkway Central (1-0)
John Burroughs (1-0) at Lutheran South (1-0)
Parkway South (0-1) at Ritenour (1-0)
McCluer North (0-1) at Lindbergh (1-0)
 Saturday, September 7 (Kickoff at 1 p.m.)
Lutheran North (0-1) at Priory (1-0)
Westminster (1-0) at MICDS (1-0)
