This weekend’s schedule is highlighted by three big games that have conference championship implications. The big large-school showdown will take place in Belleville on Friday night when Belleville West host Edwardsville in a Southwestern Conference tilt. Both teams are currently 5-0 and playing the part of league heavyweight.
Belleville West is coming off a big 55-38 victory over host O’Fallon in a game in which it forced seven turnovers. The Maroons have some prime-time athletes, led by quarterback Sherand Boyd, linebacker Tori Millander and two-way standout Brian Hill. Edwardsville has been rolling behind the stellar play of junior quarterback Dan Marinko and top athletes such as Craig James, D’Anthony Knight, Darius Crochrell and Isaiah Michl. The winner will take over first place of a very hyper-competitive Southwestern Conference.
In the small schools, Duchesne will meet Christian-O’Fallon on Friday night in a battle of the two top teams in the Archdiocesan Athletic Association. Christian-O’Fallon has one of the area’s most explosive offenses. They are averaging well over 50 points a game. Duchesne will counter with a very stingy defense that has given up only 23 points this season. Something has got to give in this one. Both teams are 5-0 heading into this showdown.
On Saturday, John Burroughs (5-0) will take on Westminster Christian (5-0) for the championship of the Metro League. The Bombers kept their season rolling with a 42-0 victory over rival MICDS last weekend while Westmister escaped with a 20-18 victory over Priory on a field goal as time expired.
Top performances last weekÂ
Francis Howell Central’s Kendall Morris continued his torrid rushing pace last Friday night as he ran for 304 yards on 19 carries and three touchdowns in the Spartans’ 37-21 victory over Francis Howell North. Morris scored on runs of 69, 80 and 76 yards. He now has 1,110 yards rushing after just five games, which is best in the St. Louis area.
East St. Louis broke its three-game losing streak in a big way with a 52-3 victory at Belleville East. The Flyers got back into the win column for the first time in a month by doing it the old-fashioned way, running the football. The Flyers rushed for 526 yards on the afternoon. Senior Gregory Taylor led the way with 311 yards on 24 carries and three touchdowns. In was Taylor’s first game as a running back. He had been playing wide receiver. Junior Nate Strong added 209 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns.
Junior Kevin Batt of Hazelwood Central rushed for 252 yards on 29 carries and two touchdowns to lead the Hawks to a 42-27 victory over Ritenour in a Suburban North Conference showdown. For the season, Batt now has 965 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns.
(You can catch Earl Austin Jr. talking high school football on the Fox 2 Prep Zone every Friday night at 10:20 a.m.)
