I just like saying that phrase. I like typing that phrase. I like reading that phrase. And boy oh boy, do I like living that phrase.
For a high school football junkie like me, there’s just nothing better than these two days – the Friday & Saturday after Thanksgiving – when we finally get to settle the six Missouri state football championships, inside the cozy comforts of the Edward Jones Dome, while most other states are doing it in the bitter cold of some second-class college or high school stadium.
And it seems like I say this every year, but it’s only because the matchups keep getting better, but this year’s Show-Me Bowl weekend could be one of the best ever. The game’s haven’t even kicked off yet, and they already make your mouth water.
There are four No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchups, two STL city champ vs. KC city champ showdowns, two battles of the unbeatens, two other 13-1 vs. 13-1 heavyweight battles, and only two returning champions (Webb City in Class 4 & Valle Catholic in Class 1), which means there will be at least 4 new state champs when we it all ends late Saturday night.
I feel like NY Jets’ linebacker Bart Scott baby!….. CAN’T WAIT!
Here’s our inside look at this weekend’s 2011 MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl State Football Championships at the Edward Jones Dome:
Class 6 Championship Game – Fri., Nov. 25 Blue Springs South (11-2) vs. CBC (13-0) 7:30 pm
The marquee matchup of the weekend is this showdown between undefeated and No.1-ranked STL city champ CBC and No. 2-ranked KC-area champ Blue Springs South.
The Cadets, who stormed their way into Friday night’s title game by blowing out rival SLUH 66-28 last week, have been the best team in the state all season, especially on offense where they average 44.8 points a game, and have been held below 30 points only once all year.
QB Dalton Demos has been the leader of that group, with 2,434 pass yards and 31 TDs this season, while RBs Antonio Brown (1,432 yards and 21 TDs) and Jonathan Parker (918 yards and 12 TDs) have combined for nearly 2800 total yards & 33 TDs. CBC also likes to feature WR Aarion Penton, whose combined receiving and return yardage totals more than 1200 yards and 16 TDs this season.
Blue Springs South is your typical ground-and-pound kind of squad, led by dual-threat QB Conner Harrison, whose passed for 1,251 yards and 14 TDs, and rushed for 738 yards and another 9 TDs this season. RB Steven Sullivan is also a top performer for the Jaguars, with 1,303 yards & 24 TDs of his own this year. Defensively, South really rushes the passer well and forces an incredible amount of turnovers. Question is, will they be able to do that against CBC’s top-ranked offensive unit.
Ceddie says: CBC 30 Blue Springs South 21.
Class 5 Championship Game – Sat., Nov. 26 Staley (13-0) vs. Kirkwood (12-0) 6:30 pm
The final game of the weekend might be the best game of the weekend, when No. 2-ranked Kirkwood takes on top-ranked KC-area Class 5 city champ Staley.
Like CBC, Kirkwood has been on another planet all season long this year. In fact, the Pioneers have been even better on offense with a 46.4 points per game average.
The leaders of Kirkwood’s group are its two fantastic playmaker QBs, senior B.J. Buckner and junior Jordan Bishop. The duo has combined for nearly 2000 passing yards, 1300 rushing, receiving, and return yards, and almost 50 combined TDs. And neither of them is The ‘Wood’s best player. That distinction belongs to superfast WR Mike McHugh, who leads the team in scoring and receiving with 20 TDs and 941 yards. Junior RB Ramon Alton is also a beast out of the backfield with 1,160 rushing yards and 18 TDs this year.
Staley, which earned its trip to the Show-Me Bowl by knocking off defending champ Lee’s Summit West 76-70 in a four-overtime classic last Friday night. RB Morgan Steward, who committed to Mizzou back in the summer, is Staley’s top player with 2,021 rushing yards and 26 TDs this season. QB Trent Hosick is also a top performer for the Falcons, with 1,963 rush yards, 1,331 pass yards and 37 combined TDs, while LB Matt Harmon is the leader on Staley’s defense with 97 tackles and 13 QB sacks this year.
Ceddie says: Staley 27 Kirkwood 23.
Class 4 Championship Game – Fri., Nov. 25 Webb City (14-0) vs. MICDS (14-0) 4:15 pm
An absolute clash of the titans-type matchup is what most expect here with the defending champ Webb City Cardinals looking for their 10th title in a matchup against MICDS, which has won five state championships in its history.
The Cardinals, who survived a tremendous scare in last week’s semifinals by rallying back from a 21-0 deficit against Savannah, are led by its pair of 1,000-yard rushers Phoenix Johnson and Jamison Cady. The duo has combined for nearly 3000 yards and 49 TDs this season, and will almost certainly get the bulk of the work Friday night against MICDS.
The Rams, on the other hand, are a much more balanced team, although they rely on QB Thomas Militello to make most of their big plays through the passing game. And this season, the 6’4, 195-pounder hasn’t disappointed, with 2,985 passing yards and an STL-area best 39 TDs. His top two WRs, Jack Howell (993 yards) and Foster Bundy (882 yards) could both go over the 1,000-yard mark with big games Friday afternoon.
MICDS’ top star though is senior RB/LB Michael Scherer, a 6’4, 230-pound running and tackling machine, who’s headed to Mizzou next year, with 1,228 yards, 21 TDs, and 84 total tackles this season.
Ceddie says: Webb City 31 MICDS 27.
Class 3 Championship Game – Sat., Nov. 26 Logan-Rogersville (13-1) vs. John Burroughs (13-1) 3:15 pm
Two teams that pulled off a pair of impressive upsets in last week’s semifinals will meet in the midday matchup on Saturday afternoon.
Burroughs, who’s only loss this year came to archrival and Class 4 title game participant MICDS, flat-out bullied previously unbeaten Osage 39-14 last week, behind another brilliant effort by junior RB Ezekiel Elliott and senior QB Davey Holmes.
Elliott, the STL-area leader with 40 TDs this season, carried the ball 20 times for 110 yards and three TDs against Osage, while Holmes threw for 189 yards and three TDs of his own to turn a close early ballgame into a blowout for the Bombers.
Logan-Rogersville earned its own blowout win over a previously unbeaten opponent, when it knocked off defending state champ Richmond 48-28 last week. The Wildcats rolled up more than 400 rushing yards on Richmond, with seniors Dylan Cole and Joe Zimmer doing most of the damage. Cole had 235 yards and five TDs against the Spiders, while Zimmer added 157 yards and two TDs of his own to send Logan-Rogersville to its first state title game appearance ever.
John Burroughs will be going for its ninth state championship when it meets Logan-Rogersville this weekend.
Ceddie says: John Burroughs 23 Logan-Rogersville 19.
Class 2 Championship Game – Lamar (13-1) vs. Lafayette County (13-1) 1 pm
The weekend will begin with this matchup of top-ranked out-state teams, which both feature outstanding playmaking QBs. Lafayette County of Higginsville, is led by sensational senior DeShaun Thierkield, who after losing the season opener has won 13 straight games, including last week’s stunner over two-time defending champ Penney. Little brother Tyrell Thierkield is another top performer for the Huskers, who’ll be making their first trip to the Dome ever.
Lamar is led by Levi Peterson, a tough and gritty signal-caller, who powers a run-heavy offense with RB Jared Beshore and wingback Markell White.
Ceddie says: Lafayette County 28 Lamar 21.
Class 1 Championship Game – Sat., Nov. 26 South Shelby (10-4) vs. Valle Catholic (13-1) Noon
The surprise team of the weekend is most certainly the South Shelby Cardinals, who were 2-4 at one point this season and 3-4 heading into districts, before reeling off eight straight wins to reach Saturday’s championship game.
RB Shawn Bertrand is the top performer on offense for South Shelby, with 2,047 rushing yards and 24 TDs, while also ranking second on the defense with 123 tackles this season. LB Mason Greenwell has also been key during South Shelby’s win streak. For the season, he leads the Cardinals with 172 tackles and eight forced turnovers.
Valle Catholic, the 10-time champions from Ste. Genevieve, are looking to add another state title to its ever-growing championship case.
Last year, the Warriors made a perfect run through Class 1, and with only one blemish this year, Valle sure seems primed for trophy No. 11. QB Michael Wehner and playmaker Jared Bruns, key contributors to last year’s title, will be asked to do it again against possibly the hottest team in the state when they meet up on Saturday.
Ceddie says: Valle Catholic 26 South Shelby 24.
