A season ago, Hazelwood Central came out of nowhere to reclaim the Missouri Class 6 state football championship for the St. Louis area. Now, with 15 starters back for head coach Richard Nixon, the Hawks are ready to make a serious run at repeating in 2009.
The Hawks return senior quarterback Kerry Gibson (6-foot-3, 185 pounds), who threw for 2,000 yards and rushed for another 800 as he had a hand in 32 touchdowns in 2008. But it may be the defense that carries the Hawks back to St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome in November.
Senior Yomi Alli (6-1, 205) and juniors Courtland Dunlop (6-1, 210) and A.J. Chappelle (6-5, 195) return to give Nixon one of the best linebacking corps in the state. Senior Brian Walker is back in the secondary after making 103 tackles and intercepting eight passes a year ago.
Waiting in the wings should the Hawks falter is Kansas City power Blue Springs. The Wildcats have received plenty of top billing attention themselves with the return of one of the best backfields in the state.
Back for head coach Kelly Donohoe are senior signal caller Jared Lanpher (6-1, 185), who threw 16 touchdowns a year ago, junior running back Darrian Miller (5-10, 180) and outstanding senior receiver Keeston Terry (6-3, 180).
Rounding out the Class 6 top five are perennial powers Jefferson City and Rockhurst, and a Liberty team that returns several players that are set to start for a third straight year.
Other top-ranked teams in the Missouri 2009 preseason football rankings are Raymore-Peculiar (Class 5), Webb City (Class 4), Cassville (Class 3), Hogan Prep (Class 2) and Orrick (Class 1). Webb City, Cassville and Orrick are defending champions.
Below is a look at preseason rankings for all six classes in Missouri.
Missouri Preseason Football Rankings
Class 6
1. Hazelwood Central (12-2)
Defending Class 6 champions; defeated Blue Springs South 25-20 in 2008 Class 6 finals
2. Blue Springs (9-2)
Lost to Rockhurst 48-0 in first round of 2008 Class 6 playoffs
3. Jefferson City (9-3)
Lost to Blue Springs South 16-10 in 2008 Class 6 semifinals
4. Rockhurst (10-2)
Lost to Blue Springs South 14-9 in 2008 Class 6 quarterfinals
5. Liberty (7-3)
Did not qualify for 2008 Class 6 playoffs
6. DeSmet Jesuit (8-3)
Lost to Fort Zumwalt West 35-21 in first round of 2008 Class 6 playoffs
7. Blue Springs South (11-3)
Defending Class 6 runner-up, lost to Hazelwood Central 25-20 in 2008 Class 6 finals
8. McCluer North (6-6)
Lost to Hazelwood Central 24-6 in 2008 Class 6 quarterfinals
9. St. Louis University High (7-4)
Lost to Fox 36-35 in overtime in first round of 2008 Class 6 playoffs
10. Joplin (7-3)
Did not qualify for the 2008 Class 6 playoffs
Class 5
1. Raymore-Peculiar (11-2)
Lost to Raytown South 27-18 in 2008 Class 5 semifinals
2. Fort Osage (9-3)
Lost to Raytown South 6-0 in 2008 Class 5 quarterfinals
3. Hazelwood East (11-3)
Defending Class 5 champions; defeated Raytown South 39-34 in 2008 Class 5 finals
4. Raytown South (12-2)
Defending Class 5 runner-up; lost to Hazelwood East 39-34 in 2008 Class 5 finals
5. Webster Groves (6-4)
Did not qualify for the 2008 Class 5 playoffs
6. Park Hill (7-4)
Lost to Fort Osage 21-0 in 2008 Class 5 sectionals
7. Timberland (10-1)
Lost to McCluer 35-28 in overtime in first round of 2008 Class 5 playoffs
8. Chaminade (7-4)
Lost to Jackson 38-30 in double overtime in first round 2008 Class 5 playoffs
9. Lee’s Summit West (9-4)
Lost to Raymore-Peculiar 20-14 in 2008 Class 5 quarterfinals
10. Truman (4-7)
Lost to Lee’s Summit West 38-6 in first round of 2008 Class 5 playoffs
Class 4
1. Webb City (15-0)
Defending Class 4 champions; defeated Helias 41-34 in 2008 Class 4 finals
2. Staley (9-3)
Lost to Kearney 48-3 in 2008 Class 4 sectionals
3. Helias (12-2)
Defending Class 4 runner-up; lost to Webb City 41-34 in 2008 Class 4 finals
4. Kearney (13-1)
Lost to Webb City 14-7 in 2008 Class 4 semifinals
5. Harrisonville (9-3)
Lost to Smith-Cotton 47-23 in 2008 Class 4 sectionals
6. Smith-Cotton (12-1)
Lost to Kearney 36-7 in 2008 Class 4 quarterfinals
7. Neosho (8-4)
Lost to Webb City 35-8 in 2008 Class 4 sectionals
8. Normandy (9-2)
Lost to MICDS 21-14 in first round of 2008 Class 4 playoffs
9. MICDS (11-1)
Lost to Helias 30-14 in 2008 Class 4 quarterfinals
10. Carthage (8-3)
Lost to Neosho 39-13 in first round of 2008 Class 4 playoffs
Class 3
1. Cassville (12-3)
Defending Class 3 champions; defeated Cardinal Ritter 31-7 in 2008 Class 3 finals
2. Cardinal Ritter (13-2)
Defending Class 3 runner-up; lost to Cassville 31-7 in 2008 Class 3 finals
3. Monett (11-1)
Lost to Cassville 28-14 in 2008 Class 3 sectionals
4. New Madrid County Central (10-3)
Lost to Cardinal Ritter 20-0 in 2008 Class 3 quarterfinals
5. Chillicothe (13-1)
Lost to Cassville 14-13 in 2008 Class 3 semifinals
6. Mountain Grove (9-2)
Lost to Versailles 14-10 in first round of 2008 Class 3 playoffs
7. O’Hara (8-3)
Lost to Smithville 35-34 in overtime in first round of 2008 Class 3 playoffs
8. Potosi (8-3)
Lost to New Madrid County Central 28-19 in first round of 2008 Class 3 playoffs
9. Logan-Rogersville (9-4)
Lost to Cassville 26-14 in 2008 Class 3 quarterfinals
10. Pleasant Hill (10-3)
Lost to Chillicothe 29-13 in 2008 Class 3 quarterfinals
Class 2
1. Hogan Prep (11-1)
Lost to Carrollton 14-12 in 2008 Class 2 sectionals
2. Carrollton (11-2)
Lost to Maryville 28-20 in 2008 Class 2 quarterfinals
3. Centralia (11-1)
Lost to Blair Oaks 13-7 in 2008 Class 2 sectionals
4. Maryville (13-2)
Defending Class 2 runner-up; lost to Clark County 10-7 in 2008 Class 2 finals
5. Blair Oaks (11-2)
Lost to Clark County 19-18 in 2008 Class 2 quarterfinals
6. Clark County (15-0)
Defending Class 2 champions; defeated Maryville 10-7 in 2008 Class 2 finals
7. Lawson (9-2)
Lost to Trenton 29-22 in first round of 2008 Class 2 playoffs
8. Fair Grove (13-1)
Lost to Maryville 42-6 in 2008 Class 2 semifinals
9. Montgomery County (7-3)
Did not qualify for 2008 Class 2 playoffs
10. Maplewood-Richmond Heights (13-1)
Lost to Clark County 39-14 in 2008 Class 2 semifinals
Class 1
1. Orrick (15-0)
Defending Class 1 champions; defeated Thayer 34-28 in two overtimes in 2008 Class 1 finals
2. Penney (10-1)
Lost to Orrick 18-0 in 2008 Class 1 sectionals
3. Tipton (12-1)
Lost to Thayer 36-12 in 2008 Class 1 semifinals
4. Thayer (12-2)
Defending Class 1 runner-up; Lost to Orrick 34-28 in two overtimes in 2008 Class 1 finals
5. Princeton (12-2)
Lost to Orrick 28-6 in 2008 Class 1 semifinals
6. Valle Catholic (10-3)
Lost to Thayer 30-0 in 2008 Class 1 quarterfinals
7. Wellington-Napoleon (9-4)
Lost to Princeton 54-28 in 2008 Class 1 quarterfinals
8. Miller (10-2)
Lost to Thayer 28-21 in 2008 Class 1 sectionals
9. West Platte (11-2)
Lost to Orrick 48-39 in 2008 Class 1 quarterfinals
10. Greenfield (11-2)
Lost to Tipton 19-0 in 2008 Class 1 quarterfinals
