Every year it seems, one of the best events of the St. Louis sports season is the MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl State Football Championships at the Edward Jones Dome. Even in the years when not many area teams advance that far.
But this year’s event, thanks to championship game appearances by four local teams and incredible comeback wins by two of those teams, made for one of the best Show-Me Bowl weekends of all time.
For those of you who were lucky enough to get down to the Dome last weekend, I’m sure you won’t ever forget it. But for the unfortunate that weren’t here, here’s a quick recap of this weekend’s festivities.
The Champions: Class 1-St. Vincent (13-1) of Perryville, Class 2-Blair Oaks (14-0) of Jefferson City, Class 3-MICDS (14-0), Class 4-Clayton(13-1), Class 5-Raymore-Peculiar(13-0), Class 6-Columbia Hickman(11-1).
Best Game: Even with six championship trophies on the line, one game usually stands out as the best of the bunch. But this year, there were three nail-biters that weren’t decided until the final play. The Class 2 game, won by Blair Oaks High of Jefferson City, finished with a 27-26 final score, with the game-winning touchdown being scored with just two minutes left in the game. The Class 4 game, won by our boys at Clayton High, was the first overtime game in Show-Me Bowl history. The Greyhounds won it in the first overtime when they scored on a fourth down play, then stopped Webb City on a two-point conversion try, after it scored on a fourth down play to pull within a point. But the best game of the event was MICDS’ heartstopping comeback win in the Class 3 game on Saturday. The Rams trailed at one point 35-10, but rallied thanks to some scintillating playmaking by wideouts Jono Hiemenz and Matt Levis, brilliant defense that forced three second half turnovers, and the clutch field goal kicking of senior Robby Mandel. Then in the first overtime, MICDS scored on a fourth down play to tie the game at 42, before taking its first lead on a FG by Mandel in the second OT, then finally stopping defending Class 3 champ Harrisonville on a fourth down play to win the game 45-42.
Best Player: Amongst a number of standout players at last week’s event, the standout player was Clayton’s Jairus Byrd. Again it seemed, No. 8, just willed his team to victory. In the first half, when his team did almost nothing offensively, Byrd made two fantastic throws for touchdowns, with defenders draped all over him. But it was in the second half when Byrd just took over. With his team trailing in the fourth quarter, Byrd carried the ball on 14 of Clayton’s final 19 run plays, threw four passes while standing in against a heavy blitz, before tying the score with a fourth-and-goal run with just minutes left. Byrd then made sure the game reached overtime by forcing two turnovers from his free safety position. Then after Clayton took the lead in overtime, on a TD pass from Byrd to WR Torrey Tate, Byrd sealed the game with a huge hit on a Webb City ballcarrier to stop the Cardinals two point try in its tracks.
Best Moment: Had to be the instant the Webb City ballcarrier hit the ground and the Clayton players, coaches, and fans knew they had won the first state championship in the school’s history. The Dome erupted into sheer delirium.
The players stormed the field in wild celebration. The coaches made a pig pile of hugs and backslaps on the Clayton sideline. And even former SLU basketball coach and current Clayton athletics director Rich Grawer was seen
running around Jim Valvano-like looking for someone to hug. It was awesome. And after all those kids have been through the past two years, I say WAY TO GO CLAYTON!!!
Worst Moment: Also occurred during the Clayton victory celebration. Fortunately, it wasn’t a sportsmanship problem or anything to do with a fight. Instead it happened when one jubilant Clayton fan jumped out of the
crowd and tried to run onto the field to celebrate with the team. He barely made it 10 feet onto the Dome floor, though, as one of St. Louis’ finest grabbed him up quick. But the Clayton fan didn’t care, he kept right on
screaming and cheering for the Greyhounds as the officer slapped the cuffs on him. It seemed the Clayton fan didn’t even know he was being arrested until he was being dragged up the tunnel and towards the Dome security office.
Additional kudos: Have to go to the folks at Hazelwood East and McCluer North. Unfortunately neither the Spartans nor the Stars could pull out a win last weekend. So it’ll be back to the ol’ drawing board for one of the area’s best young coaches in East’s Corey Johnson and one of the best overall coaches in North’s Jim Schottmueller. Johnson was making his second Show-Me Bowl appearance, with both games ending in lopsided losses. And
Schottmueller’s three previous Show-Me Bowl appearances also were lopsided losses. But at least this time the Stars scored in the game.and actually had the lead at halftime. They had been shutout in the championship game previously.
What it all means: Unfortunately, it still means that the best large school football in this state, which usually field the best teams, is still being played somewhere other than in St. Louis. We still seem to develop the best college prospects with area skill position players being recruited all across the country. But the best teams still seem to come from Kansas City or the Columbia-Jeff City area. But that doesn’t mean its going to stay that way. Next year, look for Hazelwood East and McCluer North to be strong championship contenders again, as will Eureka, Kirkwood, and Webster Groves. Hazelwood Central and Mehlville are expected to rebound from tough seasons this year, as are Lindbergh and Parkway South. On the Ill. side, Cahokia and Althoff should be good again, as will East Side, Belleville East, and Alton. O’Fallon will have a number of holes to fill, and Edwardsville will look to rebound from its first losing season under head coach Tim Dougherty.
Bold predictions for next year: East and Kirkwood will meet again in the Class 6 semifinal and this time Kirkwood will win. McCluer North and Webster will meet in the Class 5 semifinals, with the Stars winning. Which will lead to Coach Schottmueller finally winning his first state championship. McCluer North’s defense won’t be as good, but the offense will be much improved and even dangerous. Eureka and Lutheran North will also make it to the Show-Me
Bowl next year. East St. Louis will reclaim the Southwestern Conference title. And my bold as they come pick of the year, after having never reached the playoffs in football, my Ritenour Huskies will finally get’r done and win districts next year. It’s got to happen someday. If the Red Sox can do it, why not us?
And finally: I want to issue my heartfelt thanks to the kids and coaches that provided so many wonderful thrills, chills, and memories over the past season. See ya next year.
