We are finally at the moment.
The high school football game that everyone has been talking about for a year is finally upon us.
A full year of barber shop hype and social media woofing can now be put the rest as a group of talented young teenagers will be able to take the field and settle the issue of who is the top small school in St. Louis.
It will be Lutheran North vs. Trinity.
It will be #Scholarship High vs. #The Movement.
These two powerhouse programs will get it on for the Class 2, District 2 championship on Friday night at Lutheran North. The winner will take one giant step in their quest for a state championship and a probable showdown with six-time state champion Lamar in the semifinals.
It is a rematch of last year’s epic district championship game when host Trinity scored in the closing minutes to take a 28-21 victory en route to a berth in the state championship game and a runner-up finish. Both teams are currently undefeated and relatively unchallenged during the season. That should change on Friday night.
On a night where traditional large-school power programs such as Hazelwood Central vs. CBC and Hazelwood East vs. Pattonville are also gearing up for district championship games, it’s the Lutheran North-Trinity showdown that gets top billing as an enormous crowd is expected to be on hand for this one.
The reason is simple. Both teams are loaded with talented players that are being recruited by many of the top collegiate programs in the country. For example, Lutheran North’s talented defensive lineman Ronnie Perkins has just given a commitment to Oklahoma University.
Meanwhile, Trinity’s talented junior trio of Isaiah Williams, Marcus Washington and Shammond Cooper have already been selected to the 2019 Under Armour All-American Game. This is just the tip of the iceberg for these two talented teams.
Host Lutheran North (10-0) has relied on a powerful and relentless ground game throughout the season. Senior Canaan Brooks has rushed for 1.098 yards and 27 touchdowns. Senior Donovan Marshall has rushed for 1,042 yards and 18 touchdowns while becoming the school’s career rushing leader this year. Senior Nick Lotts has rushed for 779 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Crusaders’ defensive leaders are the 6’4” 260-pound Perkins, who has 60 tackles and 11 sacks; and junior Isaiah Azubuike, who has 55 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions.
Trinity’s powerful quick-strike offense is led by Williams, who has passed for 1,651 yards and 23 touchdowns while rushing for 300 yards and two touchdowns.
The Titans (9-0) have a bevy of offensive weapons who can make big plays when they get their hands on the ball. The 6’2” Washington has 536 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. There is also James Frenchie (eight TDs), Darries Rainey (eight TDs), Teriyon Cooper (six TDS) and Bryce Childress (six TDs).
It promises to be a special night of high school football. We’ll see you there.
