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September 27, 2009 YOUR thoughts..predictions.. hopes ! Which team will go 10-0 in regular season ?
It's shocking to me but we're already halfway through the regular high school season in Missouri. It really seems weird since we're still in September; Mizzou hasn't faced any Big 12 teams yet; baseball hasn't even started their month long of playoffs; the trees have all their leaves; the NFL completes just week 3 of their schedule.
Many of these unbeaten teams are very familiar to you. Others are new or maybe from other parts of the State. We hope you'll follow these teams in pursuit of perfect excellence this year.
Probably most familiar to many in the State are the Cardinals of Webb City. Rolling along again at 5-0, Coach John Rodrique's squad took care of the Nixa Eagles 42-21 in Central Ozarks League Action last Friday. This Class 4 team is a familiar site at the Dome around Thanksgiving time.
Another traditional power are the MICDS Rams. Under 2nd year head Coach Josh Smith, the Rams haven't missed a beat in their no huddle, spread, power running offense. Sometimes this talented program gets lost in the hu-bub of the big schools of St. Louis. These Ram helmets, familiar to the St. Louis Rams, are often seen around Turkey Day in the Dome.
A new kid on the block at 5-0 are the Staley Falcons. This new school (only a few years old) is coached by highly successful coach, Fred Bouchard. Current leaders of the KC Suburban Small 6 Conference, Prepcasts thinks this class 4 squad has long playoff run possibilities. Last week the Falcons trimmed Kearney 21-7.
Around the St. Louis area, their are a plethora to untainted teams. The #1 Class 5 team, the Webster Groves Statesman (4-0) won the battle of the unbeatens in the Suburban South as the handled the Parkway North Vikings on Friday 20-14. Usually, Coach Cliff Ice's teams really ramble on offense but this the Statesman have lived off their tremendous "D" in the early part of the season.
The DeSmet Spartans (5-0) have suffocated most opponents with their lightning quick, aggressive defense; explosive special teams and an efficient offense. The Spartans whipped the Vianney Golden Griffins last Friday in MCC action in a surprising high scoring affair 58-39. David Hill scored 6 TD's for the Spartans in this highly unusual scoring game. DeSmet, a class 6 team, travels through the west side of the bracket.
The Suburban North Conference is always loaded with talented, tough football teams. This year is NO exception. However, the 5-0 teams include some new names. Yes...defending class 6 champ, Hazelwood Central is there but so is Hazelwood West and Riverview Gardens ! These 3 teams and McCluer North (not to be overlooked) comprise one of the most wicked looking districts in the state. Two good teams will be done by Halloween !
The Valle Catholic Warriors have a tremendous legacy to uphold at the Class 1 level. This year's squad, under Coach Judd Naeger (grad of Valle) look to have the high powered pass offense and a swarming defense to "go places" in the playoffs. Next Weeks game against Maplewood seems to be the largest obstacle between the Warriors and a perfect regular season. Listen the game on Prepcasts-Ste. Genevieve.
In recent weeks, we've already discussed some of the Powerhouse teams in Missouri. Let's just mention them quickly--the Orrick Bearcats (5-0), Class 1 who lead the I-70 conference pop right to mind. This week, Bearcats have the Concordia Orioles who should provide a stern test. Another team we've highlighted is the Centralia Panthers (5-0), #1, Class 2 team who trampled Macon 40-6 this week and looks for a long post-season run. Rolla (5-0) played "keep away" from the potent Joplin offense by churning out huge chunks of yardage on the ground. The Bulldogs beat the Eagle 31-13. Cardinal Riter (5-0) waxed JF Kennedy 52-0 this week and now have outscored their five opponents 234-40 for the season. On tap are the Westminster Wildcats this week. Fair Grove (5-0) continued its winning ways with a 34-0 drubbing of Stockton last weekend. Clark County (5-0) has an unbeaten string of 20 straight!
How about the job that Coach Curtis Jasper has done at Westran? His Hornets were 1-9 in 2007, 8-3 in 2008 and now are 5-0 ! The next two weeks will be crucial for Westran. Next week the Hornets play a larger school-So. Boone and in two weeks the Hornets will be facing the Marceline Tigers (currently 5-0) for the Championship of the Lewis & Clark Conference.
The Smith-Cotton Tigers of Sedalia are 5-0 thus far. The win over O'Hara 28-20 has been the best of the season for the Tigers. This Class 4 team has a tough district with Harrisonville and Grain Valley as two tough teams. Only two will advance into post-season, so it's up for grabs.
Sometimes overlooked in the Four Rivers conference, Class 3 Sullivan has prospered in baseball in recent years. This year the Eagles have opened up with 5 close wins. Sullivan's highest offensive total in any one game is 25 points and the Eagles have won three games by 3 points or less!
In class 1, the Penny Hornets are averaging 49 ppg as they've coasted to their 5-0 record. A tougher back side of the schedule will make Penny "up the ante".
Bowling Green raised their mark to 5-0 with an impressive 25-6 win over N.Calloway on Friday. The Bobcats were led by QB Ryan Cox (21 of 40, 240 yards, 3 TD passes). Orchard Farm is next on the schedule.
Ryan Schwartz has his Ft Osage Indians (Class 5) pounding the drums on the West side of the State with a 5-0 mark. Impressive wins over Kearney, Belton and Lee Summit West make many observers think that this team is destined for post season heroics.
In Class 2, the Warsaw Wildcats of veteran coach, Randy Morrow (241-79-3) are blasted off to a 5-0 start. Last week the offense was held under 30 points so the defense stepped up and shut out Versailles 24-0.
Ranked #4, class 3, the Potosi Trojans (5-0) have the strong arm of Matt Marler, who threw four 1st half TD strikes in a 35-7 win over Perryville last Friday. Brandon Bourbon leads the strong running game.
The Sikeston Bulldogs (5-0) are off to their best start since 1991 when they won their first 6 games. The Bulldog defense dominated in the 33-6 win over Cape Central last Friday.
Lindbergh Flyers (5-0), Class 6, rolled past a strong Lafayette team on Friday. WATCH the replay of this game on www.prepcasts.com as it appears that the Flyers will be seeded #1 in their District.
At the Class 3 level, the Monnett Cubs (5-0) have beaten Mt Vernon and Carl Junction back-back in key wins over the past 2 weekends. Competing in the Big 8 conference, the Cubs seem to be on their way to the title of that league.
I'm sure that this isn't a comprehensive list (despite our best efforts)....if you know of some other unbeaten teams.....just shoot me an email.
Metro East news & notes... A special ceremony was held prior to the Bell E-Bell W game. Former football coach Dick Hood's family was present as both schools honored the late coach. Mr. Hood died in June. He was paralyzed from the waist down from an accident that occurred at football practice in 1995. Coach Hood remained as coach for his remaining years. The family announced a $500 gift to each school's football program in his honor. East went on to recover 2 late fumbles that led to TD's and beat West 19-14. Listen the replay on www.prepcasts.com
ESL got two TD's from a defender as Glen Faulkner score on a 15 yd FR and an 11 yard INT as ESL romped past O'Fallon 44-0.
Edwardsville QB Chase Westra crossed the goal line with only 9 seconds left to lift the Tigers past Collinsville 13-12.
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