You can count me among those who love the changes made in the Missouri prep football district playoff format. Some media types aren’t happy that the expanded system allows more inferior teams into the playoffs. I don’t care about that. Those less qualified teams are all going to lose in the first round anyway. But what’s got me so excited is that more of the truly qualified teams are getting in as well.
One byproduct of extra teams getting in is the fabulous three days of football we’re going to get this weekend. The best on-paper matchup of the weekend is probably tonight’s showdown in Wentzville between archrivals Holt High and Timberland High. But our choice for the game of the weekend is actually a dual choice of the two Saturday Class 6 District 4 games between Hazelwood Central and Hazelwood West and Riverview and McCluer North. Here’s an inside look:
#1A Sat., Nov. 1 Hazelwood Central (7-2) at Hazelwood West (7-2) 1 p.m.
The way this district played out had to be what the honchos at MSHSAA had in mind when they agreed to add another playoff spot to each district. All four teams are 1-1 in district play, which makes the scenarios as simple as possible. Win and you’re in, lose and you’re out. And that’s really how it outta be.
Along with the district title, West can clinch its first ever Suburban North Conference championship with a win over Central. The Wildcats have been one of the great surprise teams of the season. Even though they don’t really have any stars. QB Devon Brun, a three-year starter at West, along with RBs Dillon Holliam, Najal Cheeks, and Adebayo Oladapo are truly a great that’s played greater than the sum of their parts.
Central, on the other hand, has got some star-caliber players, but don’t always show it on the field. QB Kerry Gibson is second in the Suburban North in passing with 1,157 yards and 13 TDs. His favorite targets are Jawayne Thomas and Reggie Jordan. But the workhorse for the Hawks has been little man RB Maurice Scott. A 5’6, 155-pound senior, Scott leads the league in rushing with 1,247 yards and nine TDs. On defense, Central is led by standout LBs Marcus Cotton and Yomi Alli.
#1B Sat., Nov. 1 Riverview Gardens (5-4) at McCluer North (4-5) 1 p.m.
Riverview QB Joe Williams might be the best player you never heard of. The senior signal-caller is the main reason why, the Rams are on the verge of making the playoffs for the first time since they won state in 1998. For the season, Williams leads the Suburban North in passing with 1,654 yards and 15 TDs and is second in rushing with 984 yards and 10 TDs. With just another 16 rushing yards on Saturday, Williams would become just the second QB in school history with 1,000 yards rushing and passing in the same season. Wideouts Trevor Brothers, Damariyah Carter, and Chris Thompson give Williams one of the area’s top WR corps to throw to. Thompson, especially. His 36 catches, 697 yards, and nine TDs rank second in the Suburban North.
Like Hazelwood West, McCluer North doesn’t have any players with big numbers. But the Stars do have QB Ralph Watson & RBs Darius Stewart and Demonte Bell, all players capable of taking over a big game like Saturday’s showdown with Riverview.
#3 Thur., Oct. 30 Holt (7-2) at Timberland (9-0) 7 p.m.
These two Wentzville area archrivals have already clinched their spots in the playoffs. What’s at stake is the district title, a chance at home-field advantage in the playoffs, and what might be most important to the kids on the field, braggin’ rights for a year.
Timberland is led by all-everything RB Montee Ball. A 6-foot, 212-pounder, who’s headed to Wisconsin next year, Ball recently became the area’s all-time leading rusher with a career total of 6,671 yards. For the season, Ball has rushed for 1,757 yards and leads the area with 34 TDs. But the Wolves aren’t a one-man team QB Chase Cresong is the GAC North’s second-rated passer, with 553 yards and six TDs, while FL/DB/KR James Wofford has 10 TDs and leads the conference in return yards and INTs.
The Holt Indians have a pretty good offense of their own, led by QB Collin Pierce, who ranks second in the GAC South in passing with 1,541 yards and 13 TDs. Speedy sophomore Terrance Tate gives Holt a prime threat as a RB or as an extremely dangerous return man.
#4 Fri., Oct. 31 Ritenour (5-4) at Mehlville (6-3) 7 p.m.
There is no way I can put into words how excited we Ritenour folks are about the Huskies having a chance to make the playoffs. This is the biggest game for Ritenour in nearly 20 years. The last time we were even this close to making the playoffs was in 1991, when the clock ran out on us in the district championship game against Pattonville. We lost that game 14-7. And I wanna cry right now just thinking about it. I’ll say it straight up. I hope the ’08 Huskies can make it right and win this game Friday night.
Ritenour’s got a very talented group. On offene, QB Mikel Neil is third in the Suburban North in passing with 1,100 yards and eight TDs. And RB A.J. Shipp ranks among the league leaders with 741 rushing yards and eight TDs, while WRs Josh Carr and Kadeem Booth are both big-play performers. Defensively, the Huskies feature one of the area’s best LB corps led by senior Jacob Myers, the conference leader with 130 tackles. Fellow seniors Corey Sims & Ronald Hill, rank third & fourth in tackles with 92 & 85, respectively.
Let’s not forget that Mehlville is the defending Class 6 city champ. This has been a down season for the Panthers, but they can change all that with a win on Friday. QB Tyrone Clark, RB/DB Philip Blair, and TE/DE Aaron Alexander were all prime players on last year’s 11-3 city champ team that must come up big for the Panthers to move the ball against Ritenour’s big-hitting defense.
Other games of note:
Thur., Oct. 30
Webster Groves at Chaminade 6 p.m.
Jennings at Clayton 7 p.m.
Lindbergh at SLUH 7 p.m.
Affton at St. Mary’s 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 31 University City at Normandy 3:15 p.m.
McCluer at Pattonville 7 p.m.
Kirkwood at Parkway N. 7 p.m.
Soldan at Cardinal Ritter 7 p.m.
CBC at Parkway S. 7 p.m.
Principia at Brentwood 7 p.m.
IHSA Playoff Game De La Salle at Belleville W. 7 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 1 Lutheran N. at Berkeley 1 p.m.
IHSA Playoff Game Effingham at Cahokia 1 p.m.
IHSA Playoff Game St. Laurence at E. St. Louis 1 p.m.
Gateway Tech vs. Sumner at Southwest High 1:30 p.m.
