Rematch of 2006 Class 6 championship
By Cedric Williams
For the St. Louis American
Last week’s prep football kickoff weekend was all that we gridiron junkies hoped and more. There were lots of big plays, several outstanding individual performances, and even a couple of big-time upsets. We can only hope for more of the same this week.
And we just might get it with top-notch matchups all over the area, including our Game of the Week, the rematch of last season’s Class 6 city championship game between Mehlville and CBC.
Here’s an inside look:
#1 Fri., Sept. 7 Mehlville (0-1) at CBC (1-0), 7 p.m.
Even though CBC is the defending Class 6 city champ, the Cadets pulled off the big upset of the weekend (except Appalachian State’s shocker over Michigan), when they knocked off the area’s top-ranked team Hazelwood East. Senior RB Rayon Simmons, last season’s area rushing champ, was once again the star for CBC, going off for 248 yards on 29 carries, including a breathtaking 72-yard scamper for a score that proved to be the game-winner.
Mehlville couldn’t get much going last week in its 20-10 loss to Eureka. The Panthers only managed 187 yards of total offense and turned the ball over three times. But the folks at Mehlville believe that with a few tweaks of the offense, the Panthers will be back to putting up 30 points a game like they did during the stretch run last season.
#2 Fri., Sept. 7 Althoff (1-1) at SLUH (0-1), 7 p.m.
Althoff RB Jason Ford continues to climb the ladder among all-time great area backs. Thanks to last week’s 215-yard rushing performance in the Crusaders’ 28-12 win over Belleville West, Ford went over the 5,000 yard mark, becoming the first player in more than a decade to reach that plateau.
SLUH, on the other hand, was without its star runner Ronnie Wingo for most of its 20-14 loss to Parkway South. But sophomore Griffin Lowery stepped in and almost helped the Jr. Billikens pull out the victory. If Wingo is a no-go Friday, look for QB John Swanston to put it in the air more. And when he does he likes to look for wideouts Drew Blackmon & Eric Devlin.
#3 Fri., Sept 7 East St. Louis (1-1) at O’Fallon (1-1), 7 p.m.
The folks over at East Side are still stinging over the way the Flyers let their season opener slip away against Lincoln Way Central. But it didn’t take long to right the ship, as East Side dominated Missouri power Columbia Hickman 19-9. QB Detchauz Wray has starred in both games. Wray threw for 283 yards & three TDs in the opener, then last week passed for 213 yards & a TD, and ran for another score to lead the Flyers to the win. Wideouts Terry Hawthorne & Kraig Appleton, who are both averaging more than 22 yds/catch, have also been big-time playmakers for the Flyers.
Last week’s trip to Hazelwood Central was an absolute nightmare for O’Fallon. The Panthers got very little done against the Hawks, losing 29-7. QB Lee Geyer has the worst game of his life, tossing five INTs against the speedy Hazelwood defense. It’ll be interesting to see how he holds up against East Side’s secondary, especially that pass-rush led by Nicholas Beaver & Brandon Harold.
#4 Fri., Sept. 7 Pattonville (1-0) at Parkway South (1-0), 7 p.m.
Both these teams were upset winners last week. Pattonville pummeled preseason No. 3 McCluer North 21-14 last Friday, while Parkway South outlasted SLUH 20-14 on Thursday.
Pattonville looked impressive last week, especially on defense where it ran roughshot over McCluer North, allowing the Stars just 160 yards on offense and forcing four turnovers. On offense QB Colin Hanna rushed for 136 yards & two TDs, then passed for the game-winning score late in the 4th quarter.
Parkway South, which might play the toughest non-conference schedule in the area, hence its 3-7 record last season, is still trying to decide on a QB. But the Patriots feature several up & coming skill players, including RB Kevon McGrew, WR Kevin Wallace, DB Darren Davis and DL Davion Sanders.
Other games of note:
Fri., Sept. 7
Hazelwood Central at McCluer 4 p.m.
Miller Career vs. Roosevelt at Gateway 6:30 p.m.
Oakville at Parkway Central 7 p.m.
Borgia at Clayton 7 p.m.
Edwardsville at Alton 7 p.m.
St. Mary’s at St. Dominic 7 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 8 Chaminade at Normandy 1 p.m.
Lutheran North at Westminster Christian 2 p.m.
