By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Waynesville's Lyle Cox still has one more high school football game remaining on his schedule before he finishes his prep career and heads to the college ranks.
The Tiger quarterback has been invited to participate in the 2008 Max Emfinger All-American Bowl, one of the highest profile all-star football games for prep seniors in the nation. Over 100 of the top high school seniors will compete against one another Jan. 5 in Jackson, Miss., in hopes of impressing a slew of college recruiters that will be in attendance.
Cox, who led Waynesville to a state football championship last fall, caught the interest of collegiate scouts in the off-season by attending combines and camps. The 6-foot 190-pound signal caller competed at the Nike Combines at Texas Christian University and Arrowhead Stadium, and was named the Offensive MVP at the Kansas City event.
Cox also impressed coaches and scouts on the playing field. The Waynesville senior pulled the strings for a Tiger team that produced a 12-1 record and battled its way through probably the toughest playoff field in recent memory.
Cox and company edged top-ranked Kirkwood 14-7 in the quarterfinals of the Class 5 Missouri State High School Football Playoffs. The Tigers then outlasted second-ranked Jackson 25-14 in the semifinals and held off a hot Belton team 17-7 in the state title game at the Edward Jones Dome the weekend following Thanksgiving.
Cox completed 99 of 171 Passes for 1,161 yards, nine touchdowns and just three interceptions. The mobile quarterback also ran for 579 yards and eight more scores. When you add his 36-inch vertical leap and 4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash to the equation, it's pretty easy to see why scouts like Cox.
The Missouri coaches association Class 5 second team All-State selection will join Oak Park's Jarell Childs as the game's lone participants from the Show Me State. Childs has a 6-3, 216-pound frame, and has reportedly been timed at 4.5 in the 40-yard dash.
Childs is being courted by Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Missouri State, TCU and Central Arkansas. Cox is considering Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Wisconsin.
Boys Basketball: Pepsi Showcase Scores and Leading Scorers
Games played Dec. 22 at Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau;
Farmington 47, De Soto 46 - OT
Parks Peterson, Farmington (23)
Poplar Bluff 57, Fort Zumwalt South 49
Jordan Raulston, Poplar Bluff (23)
Cape Girardeau Central 46, Vienna (Ill.) 45
Brett Thompson, Vienna (15)
Derek Trovillion, Vienna (15)
Lafayette 63, Pinckneyville (Ill.) 53
Tyler Griffey, Lafayette (23)
Gateway Tech 58, Cape Girardeau Notre Dame 56 OT
Ryan Willen, Notre Dame (26)
White Station (Tenn.) 65, McCluer North 57
Joe Jackson, White Station (Tenn.), 28
Webster Groves 72, Jackson 51
Jake Leet, Jackson (23)
Boys Top Scoring Performances
Thursday
27 Robert Mumphard, Tower Grove Christian vs. Logos
27 Danny Ortiz, Fort Zumwalt South vs. Timberland
26 Cameron Cathcart, Howell vs. MICDS
22 Corey Ballard, Trinity vs. Lutheran North
20 Chaz Simpson, Holt vs. Jackson
20 Desmond Moore, Ladue vs. Parkway South
20 Ronald Fortune, Miller Career Academy vs. Westminster
20 Anthony Jones, Cardinal Ritter vs. Lutheran SC
20 Danny Mundwiller, Hermann vs. Montgomery County
20 Tyler Shaw, Lutheran North vs. Trinity
Friday
33 Drew Hanlen, Webster Groves vs. Kirkwood
30 Anthony Jones, Normandy vs. V&P Arts
30 Daniel Taylor, Crosspoint Christian vs. People's Christian
29 Ryan Kesler, St. Charles Christian vs. Christian Academy
26 Luke Wishman, Liberty Christian vs. Central
25 Peter Eggers, Lutheran South vs. Trinity
25 Kramer Soderberg, St. Charles West vs. St. Francis Borgia
24 Brad Kassebaum, Liberty Christian vs. Central
Saturday
30 Craig Bals, Troy Buchanan vs. Lindbergh
22 Kramer Soderberg, St. Charles West vs. Eureka
20 Brian Maurer, St. Charles West vs. Eureka
Girls Basketball: Five Double Digit Scorers
Markeita Baker paced a balanced, but explosive Berkeley scoring punch in an 88-29 win over Affton by erupting for 22 points. Briana Hawthorn added 15 points to the scoring total, while Meghan Lewis chipped in 13 points. Lametria Jackson and Chiara Robinson each scored 12 points in the 59-point win.
Girls Top Scoring Performances
Thursday
38 Kathleen Scheer, New Haven vs. Washington
24 Shelah Fields, Riverview Gardens vs. Belleville East (Ill.)
23 Alex Perry, Crystal City vs. Kingston
23 Shelby Winkelman, Hermann vs. Linn
22 Markeita Baker, Berkeley vs. Affton
20 Jasmine Bailey, Normandy vs. Beaumont
Friday
25 Kayla Stephansky, Crystal City vs. St. Pius X
24 Chelsea Grimshaw, Seckman vs. Fox
Backes' Kansas City All-Metro Football Team - Missouri Side
After sorting out a long list of qualified football players from within the Kansas City metro, and placing them on their proper side of the border, here are my picks for my first annual Kansas City All-Metro football team for Missouri.
There was no science in making my selections. I just studied any numbers I could get my hands on, all-conference teams, all-state teams and the success of each individual player's team. Then after pulling all of my hair out, I just went with my gut.
Offense
End - Keith Langtry, Rockhurst 6-1, 180, Jr.
End - Erick Roe, West Platte 6-4, 180, Sr.
End - Darrin Sanders, Belton 5-10, 175 Sr.
Line - Lucas Kriz, Fort Osage 6-2, 265 Sr.
Line - Max Brown, Lee's Summit West, 5-10, 240 Sr.
Line - David Benson, Belton 6-5, 230, Sr.
Line - Doug McFarland, Rockhurst 6-0, 278, Sr.
Line - Zach Wilson, Blue Springs South 6-5, 310, Sr.
QB - Nathan Scheelhaase, Rockhurst 6-3, 193, Jr.
RB - Carlos Anderson, Blue Springs 5-8, 165, Sr.
RB - Dalton Krysa, Fort Osage 5-10, 190, Jr.
K - Dallas Herndon, Harrisonville 6-3, 160, Sr.
Defense
Line - Brian Kagarice, Harrisonville 6-2, 225, Sr.
Line - Rodney Kelly, Lee's Summit West 6-2, 210, Sr.
Line - Van Marshall, Rockhurst 5-11, 225, Sr.
Line - Brandon Dean, Fort Osage 6-3, 215, Sr.
LB - Malachi Bickle, Lee's Summit West 5-10, 195, Sr.
LB - Matt Massey, Kearney 6-2, 205, Sr.
LB - Casey Lewis, Belton 6-0, 230, Sr.
LB - Bear Hollins, Park Hill 5-11, 190, Sr.
DB - Donte Strickland, Blue Springs South 5-10, 170, Sr.
DB - Ivan Charbonneau, Rockhurst 5-9, 190, Sr.
DB - Ty Postlewait, Belton 5-10, 175, Sr.
P - Collin Goforth, Park Hill South 6-1, 175, Sr.