The Public High League has displayed some strength early in the season with teams such as Miller Career Academy and Gateway Tech leading the way. Both schools are among the Class 4 teams in the area.
Career Academy is off to a dominating 3-0 start. The Phoenix are averaging a whopping 60 points a game, which includes a 78-0 victory over Beaumont last Thursday.
The Phoenix features three top offensive players in seniors Lamore Wise, Markese Marbley and Devin Buford. The 6’0″ 215-pound Wise has rushed for 390 yards and five touchdowns. The 6’1″ 210-pound Marbley has rushed for 336 yards and six touchdowns. The 6’1″ 200-pound Buford is a big-play receiver who has eight receptions for 145 yards and five touchdowns.
On defense, Wise also has three sacks and one interception. Senior linebacker Gabriel Lloyd has 26 tackles while senior DeShaun Isaiah has five sacks.
Gateway Tech is led by do-it-all quarterback Paul Rice, who has passed for 464 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 371 yards and three touchdowns.
Receiver Kalen Petty has 11 receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns while Michael Ball has four touchdowns.
There are two big dates on the calendar to mark down regarding these two teams. On Thursday night Oct. 6, Career Academy will be hosting Class 6 power DeSmet in a game that will be played at Gateway Tech. The Phoenix upset DeSmet last season. On Saturday, Oct. 15, Career Academy and Gateway Tech will hook up in a big showdown that will have PHL and district title implications. That game will be played at Gateway Tech.
On tap this weekend
Fort Zumwalt West (1-2) at Francis Howell (3-0): Friday, 7 p.m. – A showdown in St. Charles County features these two Gateway Athletic Conference. West is 1-2, but there losses have come against highly-rated CBC and Arkansas state power Bentonville. Howell is on a roll in the first three weeks. The teams staged two great games a year ago with Howell winning the regular season game and West coming back to win the Class 6 state quarterfinals.
Jefferson City Helias (2-1) at MICDS (3-0), Saturday, 1 p.m. – A battle featuring two of the top Class 4 teams in the state. MICDS is coming off a big victory over rival John Burroughs last weekend. Helias in annually one of the top programs in the state.
Belleville East (2-1) at East St. Louis (2-1), Friday, 7 p.m. – The Lancers will try to challenge East Side’s supremacy in the Southwestern Conference. Both teams are 1-0 in league play.
Kirkwood (2-0) at Hazelwood Central (1-2), Saturday, 1 p.m. – The high-powered Pioneers will come North to take on Central. The two teams staged an epic 41-39 contest last year, won by Central.
CBC (3-0) at SLUH (1-2), Friday, 7 p.m. – Metro Catholic Conference rivals meet. CBC showing early signs of being the area’s most dominant Class 6 team.
Lafayette (3-0) at McCluer North (2-1), Saturday, 1 p.m. – Lafayette will put its unblemished record on the line to face a solid McCluer North team.
Lindbergh (2-1) at Parkway South (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m. – An excellent Suburban West Conference game between two top programs.
Â
