And other hot matchups in Week 4
By Cedric Williams
For the St. Louis American
Week 4 of the prep football season is shaping up to be one of the best weekends of the entire season. Not only is Friday night jam-packed with high quality matchups from all over the area, but there are several intriguing Saturday afternoon showdowns (mostly involving North County teams). And there’s even a couple of terrific Thursday night contests to get the weekend started off right.
Our game of the week is a Metro East showdown featuring top-ranked East St. Louis travelling to one of its most recent road nemeses the Alton Redbirds.
Here’s an inside look:
#1 Fri., Sept. 21 East St. Louis (3-1) at Alton (2-2), 7 p.m.
There’s quite a fierce rivalry developing between these two programs. We all know that East Side is one of the big, bad bullies on the block around here. But Alton has earned a nice reputation as a giant-killer the last couple of years with a series of upset wins, especially at home. The Redbirds already got Edwardsville earlier this season, when the Tigers were ranked No. 1. And they even got East Side a couple of times in a row a few years ago.
But to pull off the upset this time Alton will have to stop one of the area’s most explosive offenses. Led by sophomore QB Detchauz Wray, the East Side offense is averaging 31.0 pts/game. Wray currently leads the Southwestern Conference with 841 passing yards and six TD passes. The Flyers primary receiving duo, Terry Hawthorne and Kraig Appleton, is also among the best in the area. Hawthorne leads the area with 17 catches for 455 yards, while Appleton boasts 16 catches for 366 yards. Both have caught four TD passes.
For Alton, running backs Fiero Kelly and Kenny Jones have handled the bulk of the work while the Redbirds continue to work on finding a consistent leader at quarterback. One thing we know is Alton will not be intimidated.
#2 Sat., Sept. 22 McCluer North (2-1) at Hazelwood Central (2-1) 1 p.m.
This is a very important game for McCluer North if it wants to stay in the Suburban North Conference race. The Stars are already down a loss to Pattonville. So another loss here would effectively end any chance for them to somehow win their third straight league title.
Central is looking to bounce back after letting last week’s game slip through their fingers. The Hawks dominated throughout, but didn’t put up enough points. That left the door open for Columbia Hickman to drive the length of the field in final minutes and steal away a 16-13 victory.
The most intriguing matchup here, at least for me, is watching the development of both teams’ young quarterbacks. McCluer North’s Ralph Watson is a marvelous athlete and a joy to watch with the ball in his hands. While Hazelwood Central’s Raynell Ferguson has a big-time arm and big-time moxie. It could be quite a show, if both these young men can get their games off.
#3 Fri., Sept. 21 Webster Groves (1-2) at Parkway West (2-1), 7 p.m.
Two of the area’s most seasoned QBs will be on display in this important Suburban South Conference showdown. Parkway’s Blaine Gabbert finally showed some of that big-time ability that’s had college recruiters salivating since his sophomore year. Last week, Gabbert passed for 195 yards & a TD, rushed for a TD, and led the Longhorns on a late drive to set up the game-winning field goal in a 20-17 win over Summit.
Webster’s Mike Whittier was the Statesmen’s only bright spot in a 41-14 spanking at Eureka. Whittier, who leads the Suburban South in passing with 472 yards, had 184 of the 190 total yards Webster accumulated in the Eureka loss. The Statesmen have got to get their run game going.
#4 Fri., Sept. 21 St. Mary’s (2-1) at Cardinal Ritter (2-1) 7 p.m.
Now it’s time to show a little love to the small schools. This splendid little matchup in the Archdiocesan Athletic Association will essentially eliminate the loser from any chance of winning the league crown this year. Ritter has got a fun bunch of athletes on the squad this year, led by dimunitive quarterback Calvin Mooney. A 5′ 8” junior playing his first varsity season, Mooney is tied for the conference lead with five TD passes. His favorite target, Terrence Miller, is second in the league in receiving yards, but ranks among the area’s best with a 27.9 yards per catch average. On defense, 6-2, 200-pound bruiser Raymond Corbin has been virtually unblockable at defensive end. He is second in the conference in tackles, and ranks second in the entire area with nine QB sacks.
St. Mary’s is another one of those teams trying to find its way after the graduation of a star QB. Damian Savka is gone, it’s Phil Brotherton’s team now. And boy did he have a big day in last week’s 35-12 win over Bishop DuBourg. A 6-foot, senior with a great touch and accuracy, Brotherton threw three TD passes and ran for a fourth as the Dragons bounced back from a disappointing loss to league frontrunner St. Dominic. RB Zach Ungerott and WR Matt Mallette are big-play threats for St. Mary’s as well.
#5 Thurs., Sept. 20 MICDS (3-0) at Clayton (2-1) 7 p.m.
Every year it seems, these two nonconference rivals put on a show when they meet on the third Thursday in September. This year’s matchup should be more of the same with two of the area’s top young QBs taking starring roles.
MICDS’ Jeremiah Oteh might be the area’s best pure passer. He’s sure looked like it in the early going, passing for 745 yards and seven TDs, while leading the Rams to a perfect record and the new No. 1 ranking among area small school teams.
Clayton’s Adam Banks is also off to fine start. He threw three TD passes in the Greyhounds’ 35-14 win over Lutheran North in the season opener. Then last week, threw three more in a thrilling 21-20 win over Affton. Banks’ six TD tosses lead the Suburban East Conference. He’ll need another big day if Clayton is going to upset top-ranked MICDS.
Other games of note:
Thur., Sept. 20
Ft. Zumwalt N. at Parkway N. 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 21
Francis Howell N. at Pattonville 7 p.m
Edwardsville at O’Fallon 7 p.m.
CBC at Chaminade 7 p.m.
Trinity Catholic at Lutheran St. Charles 7 p.m.
Eureka at Summit 7 p.m.
Lindbergh at Oakville 7 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 22
Riverview Gardens at Hazelwood E. 1 p.m.
Lutheran N. at Priory 1 p.m.
