For the St. Louis American
It’s semifinal weekend in the Missouri Prep Football Playoffs, which makes for one of the best weekends of the entire local sports calendar. Come late Saturday afternoon, only the 12 best teams of the 160 or so that play football in Missouri will see their dream of playing in the state title game come true.
That has always been a big deal to me. I remember how much I hoped that it would happen for my friends and me when I was in school. And it never did. (I’m still heartbroken over losing the district title game to Pattonville in 1991). So I always get excited for the kids & coaches it happens for now.
The winners of this weekend’s games will advance to next weekend’s Show-Me Bowl state championships at the Edward Jones Dome. Unfortunately, the local teams have had a disappointing showing in these playoffs. So instead of games on Friday and Saturday, the only local teams still alive will all play on Friday. Still, it should be a fantastic night of football, as two teams will advance and two others get to go home.
On another note, I’ve always wondered why we don’t refer to these games as the city championship games. The way the brackets are set up in Missouri, there will always be two St. Louis-area teams facing each other in the Class
5 & 6 semifinals. Isn’t the winners of those games essentially the Class 5 & 6 city champs? Cities like Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, New York and others really do it up for the city title games. Big crowds, big hype, celebrity sightings are all part of the day. The games are usually televised live (not on tape-delay like what we get here). There’s usually a trophy presentation and on-field celebration for the winners. The victors also earn the right to be called the city champion. Here’s an inside look at our two city championship games:
Class 5 Fri., Nov. 17 McCluer North (11-0) at Kirkwood (9-0) 7 p.m.
These two juggernauts have been on a collision course all season. Both teams are playing in the state semifinals (St. Louis City championship game) for the third straight year. McCluer North won the last two years in Class 5
over Webster Groves & Parkway Central, while Kirkwood lost the previous two in Class 6 to Hazelwood Central & Hazelwood East.
The Kirkwood Pioneers hope that the drop down to Class 5 will be what it takes for them to make their first trip to the state title game in school history. Should Kirkwood get it done, it will be because of its brilliant defense led by DE Chad Evans. This season, the Pioneer “D” are allowing an area-low 6.9 pts/game, have posted three shutouts, and have given more than one TD in a game only twice.
On offense, Kirkwood is led by QB Marcus Harris, who ranks second in the Suburban West Conference with 11 TD passes to go with 1,045 passing yards. RB Paul Cannon has rushed for 852 yards & 11 TDs, while also leading the
defense in tackles with 76.
While Kirkwood features the area’s best scoring defense, top-ranked McCluer North has the area’s highest scoring offense (42.6 pts/game). QB Ben Hendrix has been the catalyst, passing for 1,608 yards and 18 TDs this season. The Stars line up in a three-receiver set on almost every play, and those receivers may be the best group of wideouts in the state. Norris Johnson (31 catches 774 yards & 11 TDs) is the leader of the group, while Jonny Gordon (29-467 & 7 TDs) and Juan Redmon (23-291 & 5 TDs) are big-play guys as well. Last week though, it was RB Quartize Jackson that saved McCluer North’s bacon, carrying the ball 31 times for 220 yards and two TDs. For the season, Jackson has 1,002 rushing yards and has scored 16 TDs. FB Donald Woods has
scored 12 TDs this season.
The key in this game will be if Kirkwood’s offense can match McCluer North’s. The McCluer North Stars “D” has given up a lot of points the last two weeks. So if the Pioneers can put up some points, it might be difficult for McCluer
North’s offense to keep up against Kirkwood’s top defense.
Ced says: McCluer North 31 Kirkwood 21.
Earl Austin Jr. (McCluer North, Class of ’82) says: “Don’t worry Webster Groves fans, there will be a varsity Turkey Day Game next Thursday. Gobble, Gobble. The Stars roll.”
Alvin Reid (Kirkwood, Class of ’78”) says: “We’re tired of knocking on the door. This time, we’re going to kick it in!! Kirkwood is Dome Bound!).
Winner will play: Raymore-Peculiar/Park Hill winner Sat., Nov. 25 at Edward
Jones Dome.
Class 6 Sat., Nov. 18 Mehlville (8-3) at CBC (10-1) 7 p.m.
If the Class 5 game is one we knew would come down to those two teams, no one thought either of these teams would be playing for the Class 6 city championship. But here they are. CBC has quietly stormed through the season.
CBC’s only loss came in the season opener against Hazelwood East. Since then, the Cadets have reeled off 10 straight wins. The most impressive being last week’s 49-21 thumping of Hazelwood Central. CBC’s big three (QB David Kannapel, RB Rayon Simmons, & WR Clay Wolff) put up big numbers again against Central. Kannapel threw for 287 yards and three TDs, Simmons rushed for 108 yards & three TDs and Wolff caught 12 passes for 205 yards & 2 TDs. For the season, that threesome have some truly gaudy numbers. Kannapel passed for 2,167 yards and 25 TDs, Simmons rushed for 1,775 yards and 25 TDs and Wolff has caught 62 balls for 1,253 yards & 18 TDs. Wolff also leads the team with 7 INTs.
Mehlville is a steadily improving group. They gained their most impressive win of the season last week when they ran over SLUH 34-7. The Panthers rushed for almost 500 yards against SLUH, using a three-headed ground monster in Joel Fieseler, Rashad Wilson, & Travis Shores. QB Kevin Mahler didn’t throw much into 30 mph winds against SLUH, but better weather against CBC means he might get a chance to go deep to his favorite target Alexis Reedus. An absolute speed demon, Reedus is second in the Suburban West with 463 receiving yards and five TDs. He was also the conference leader with 436 return yards.
Both teams also have great players on defense. CBC is led by LBs Andrew Wynne (154 tackles), Pat Leonard (113 tackles) and Tyler Rawley (107 tackles). Mehlville features hitting machine LB Zack Cook (133 tackles) along with DE Zack
Jones (13 sacks). The question is can Mehlville keep up with CBC’s high-powered offense?
Ced says: CBC 34 Mehlville 17.
Earl says: CBC 38 Mehlville 28 (Bob Shannon is back in the house).
Winner will play: Jefferson City/Blue Springs South winner Fri., Nov. 24 at
Edward Jones Dome.
