By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
A season ago Rockhurst edged Blue Springs South 27-21 in a thriller to earn a berth in the Class 6 state football playoffs. Then Tony Severino’s team bullied its way to the school’s eighth football title with a 28-9 win over Mehlville in the championship game.
The Class 6 road again runs through Rockhurst and Blue Springs South, the winners of the last two Class 6 titles, and Kansas City area high school football fans - as well as those around the nation - will get a taste of that rivalry at 11 a.m. Sunday when the Jaguars host Rockhurst on ESPN.
The winner gets the inside track to the Class 6 crown, but the team that falls in this classic should get a chance at redemption once playoff time rolls around.
The guess here is that the Hawklets, led by senior quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase, will edge Greg Oder’s team for the second-straight time and lay claim to the top spot in the rankings.
Scheelhaase, who recently committed to Illinois, will again play catch with senior receiver Keith Langtry.
A season ago Sal Belfonte was known as an explosive returner, but this season the junior takes over where Drew Temple left off, as Tony Severino’s top running back.
Senior offensive lineman Tom Freeman will make sure Hawklet skill players have the time and room to do their thing.
Scheelhaase’s peer on the other side of the rivalry is Jaguar senior Blaine Dalton, who committed to Missouri last October. On the other end of his passes will be senior wide receiver Nathan Ingram. Senior kicker Brian Geraghty is also a real offensive threat.
If anybody can upset the apple cart of these two Missouri powers, it’s 2007 runner-up Mehlville. The Panthers may lack size up front, but they have the skilled players to step up and take over as the team to beat in Missouri’s largest classification.
Chris Baltazar will lead the way up front for a strong corp of running backs that includes Phil Blair and Tyrone Clark. Set to hand the ball off to the Panther duo is signal caller Anthony Townsend, who may also opt to throw to tight end Aaron Alexander.
Blue Springs coach Kelly Donohoe has athletes like junior wide receiver Keeston Terry at his disposal, and that is good enough to land the Wildcats the No. 4 ranking heading into the 2008 season.
DeSmet Jesuit rounds out the top five after making the semifinals a year ago because of a strong nucleus of players.
Returning senior running backs Devin King and Terrance Lockett will run behind junior offensive lineman Ryan Isom. Senior receiver Ricky Dansdill and senior defensive back E. J. Clark also return.
Here are the Missouri Class 6 preseason rankings.
1. Rockhurst Hawklets 13-0
School Colors: Blue/White
Conference: Freelance
Head Coach: Tony Severino
2007 State Playoffs: Defeated Mehlville 28-9 in State Championship Game
State Championships: 1971 (Class 4A), 1981 (Class 4A), 1983 (Class 5A), 1986 (Class 5A), 1987 (Class 5A), 2000 (Class 5A), 2002 (Class 6), 2007 (Class 6)
Record Last Five Seasons: 45-10
Top Players: Nathan Scheelhaase Sr. QB, Sal Belfonte Jr. DB/Ret., Keith Langtry Sr. WR, Tom Freeman Sr. OL
2. Blue Springs South Jaguars 9-1
School Colors: Blue/Green/Silver
Conference: Suburban-Big 7
Head Coach: Greg Oder
2007 State Playoffs: N/A
State Championships: 2006 (Class 6)
Record Last Five Seasons: 42-11
Top Players: Blaine Dalton Sr. QB, Nathan Ingram Sr. WR, Brian Geraghty Sr. K
3. Mehlville Panthers 10-3
School Colors: Green/White
Conference: Suburban-West
Head Coach: Gary Heyde
2007 State Playoffs: Lost to Rockhurst 28-9 in State Championship Game
State Championships: 1999 (Class 5A)
Record Last Five Seasons: 36-20
Top Players: Chris Baltazar Sr. OL/DL, Aaron Alexander Sr. TE/DT, Phil Blair Sr. RB/WR/DB, Tyrone Clark Sr. RB/LB, Anthony Townsend Sr. QB/WR/DB
4. Blue Springs Wildcats 8-3
School Colors: Purple/Gold
Conference: Suburban-Big 7
Head Coach: Kelly Donohoe
2007 State Playoffs: Lost to Rockhurst 42-17 in Quarterfinals
State Championships: 1992 (Class 5A), 2001 (Class 5A), 2003 (Class 6)
Record Last Five Seasons: 43-12
Top Players: Keeston Terry Jr. WR
5. DeSmet Jesuit Spartans 8-3
School Colors: Maroon/White
Conference: Metro Catholic
Head Coach: Pat Mahoney
2007 State Playoffs: Lost to Rockhurst 67-7 in Semifinals
State Championships: 2005 (Class 6)
Record Last Five Seasons: 33-19
Top Players: Devin King Sr. RB, Terrance Lockett Sr. RB, Ricky Dansdill Sr. WR, E. J. Clark Sr. DB, Ryan Isom Jr. OL/DL
6. Fort Zumwalt West Jaguars 9-2
School Colors: Purple/Silver
Conference: Gateway-South
Head Coach: Paul Day
2007 State Playoffs: Lost to DeSmet Jesuit 27-20 in Quarterfinals
State Championships: N/A
Record Last Five Seasons: 31-20
Top Players: T. J. Moe Sr. QB, Brennan Longwell Sr. WR, Tommy Tuck Sr. LB
7. Jefferson City Jays 8-2
School Colors: Black/Red
Conference: Freelance
Head Coach: Ted LePage
2007 State Playoffs: N/A
State Championships: 1976 (Class 4A), 1977 (Class 4A), 1978 (Class 4A), 1984 (Class 5A), 1988 (Class 5A), 1990 (Class 5A), 1991 (Class 5A), 1993 (Class 5A), 1994 (Class 5A), 1997 (Class 5A)
Record Last Five Seasons: 30-19
Top Players: Frank Bryant Sr. DL, Brad Allen Sr. QB, Aaron Terrill Sr. FB, Cole Boyce Sr. TE, Evan Porter Jr. DB, James Kramer Sr. DL
8. St. Louis University High Junior Bills 6-5
School Colors: Blue/White
Conference: Metro Catholic
Head Coach: Gary Kornfeld
2007 State Playoffs: Lost to Mehlville 39-14 in Quarterfinals
State Championships: 1970 (Class 4A)
Record Last Five Seasons: 33-18
Top Players: Ronnie Wingo Sr. RB, Morgan Cole Sr. LB, John Swanston Jr. QB, Griffin Lowry Jr. RB
9. McCluer North Stars 8-3
School Colors: Blue/Silver
Conference: Suburban-North
Head Coach: Jim Schottmueller
2007 State Playoffs: Lost to Jackson 24-7 in Quarterfinals
State Championships: N/A
Record Last Five Seasons: 44-11
Top Players: DeMonte Bell Sr. RB
10. Liberty Bluejays 3-7
School Colors: Blue/White
Conference: Suburban-Big 7
Head Coach: Pat Hansen
2007 State Playoffs: N/A
State Championships: N/A
Record Last Five Seasons: 27-22
Top Players: Marcus Lucas Jr. WR, Jimmy Smelcer Sr. QB, Derek Coon Sr. K, Devin Montague Jr. LB, Anthony Young Sr. DB