Those fans of the Suburban South and Suburban West Conferences are in store for an exciting weekend of football. The Suburban South is totally up for grabs on Friday night with two marquee matchups.
Parkway Central (7-0) will host Kirkwood (6-0) in a battle for first place in the league. Both teams are also undefeated in conference play. Meanwhile, Webster Groves will host Rockwood Summit in a battle of two teams with one loss in Suburban South play.
The Suburban West title will be on the line as well as Lafayette host Parkway South in a battle of 7-0 teams. Lafayette has been a dominant team from the beginning of the season while Parkway South is enjoying an excellent rebound season from last year’s 5-5 campaign.
On the Illinois side, East St. Louis can lock up the Southwestern Conference title with a victory over visiting Belleville West on Friday night. Should the Maroons upset the Flyers, the winner of Friday night’s O’Fallon at Edwardsville showdown can tie East Side for first place.
*Miller Career Academy is enjoying the best season in the school’s history with its 7-0 start. The Phoenix solidified its position as the top team in the Public High League with a 20-14 victory over Soldan last weekend. The Phoenix also scored convincing victories over fellow PHL contenders Gateway Tech (21-0) and Vashon (40-22) during the season. Career Academy will close the regular season with games against Cleveland and Northwest Academy.
*The McCluer Comets are enjoying one of their best seasons in recent memory. McCluer is currently 6-1 entering Saturday’s showdown against visiting rival McCluer North. McCluer features a standout two-way performer in senior Champ Holloman, who plays quarterback and leads the team in tackles. The Comets are also still in the hunt for the Suburban North title, trailing league-leading Hazelwood Central by one game. McCluer still has a game left with Hazelwood Central.
*Freshmen of Influence
A couple of talented freshmen has made an immediate impact at the varsity level this season. On the Missouri side, wide receiver Harry Ballard is enjoying an excellent debut at McCluer North. The 6’2” Ballard has 22 receptions for 454 yards and eight touchdowns. He is averaging more than 20 yards per catch. On the Illinois side, tailback Kentrail Moran of O’Fallon has rushed for 465 yards on 86 carries and scored seven touchdowns for the Panthers, who are currently 6-1. Moran rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns in O’Fallon’s 31-7 victory over Collinsville last Friday.
*Play by Play Friday Night’s Prep Football Game of the Week returns to KATZ-AM, Hallelujah 1600 with a Public High League clash between Soldan and Gateway Tech. The pre-game show begins at 6 p.m. with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Top Games of the Week
O’Fallon at Edwardsville, Friday, 7 p.m.
Soldan at Gateway Tech, Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Kirkwood at Parkway Central, Friday, 7 p.m.
Parkway South at Lafayette, Friday, 7 p.m.
Summit at Webster Groves, Friday, 7 p.m.
Highland at Jerseyville, Friday, 7 p.m.
Maplewood at Cardinal Ritter, Friday, 7 p.m.
Jefferson City Helias at CBC, Friday, 7 p.m.
Belleville West at East St. Louis, Friday, 7 p.m.
Clayton at John Burroughs, Saturday, 1 p.m.
McCluer North at McCluer, Saturday, 1 p.m.
(You can catch Earl Austin Jr. talking high school football every Friday night on The Prep Zone on KTVI-Fox 2 with host Maurice Drummond at 10:20 p.m.).
