Defending football champions back in hunt in Missouri

As the 2010 football season kicks off this weekend, the rich of the Show-Me State's prep football scene get richer once again.

As the 2010 Show-Me Bowls roll around in November, chances are there will be plenty of familiar faces vying for state football championships once again.

Although it's an unpopular pick this season, two-time defending Class 6 champion Hazelwood Central (Florissant) will remain on top of Missouri's Class 6 poll until somebody can knock off the Hawks. With 15 starters returning it's hard to bet against this Suburban North squad.

Defending champions Webster Groves (Class 5), Kearney (Class 4) and Cassville (Class 3) remain atop their respective classes as well. Defending Class 2 king Maryville moves up to Class 3 this season and is hunkered right behind Cassville.

After winning the Class 1 title a year ago, Penney (Hamilton) begins the upcoming season in the top spot in Class 2. Valle Catholic (Ste. Genevieve) fell to the Hornets in the title game a year ago, and they appear to be the early favorite in Missouri's smallest 11-man classification.

Below is a look at Missouri's preseason football rankings as well as the big school and small school all-state teams. Penney's Keagan Prather looks to be the favorite to win offensive MVP honors for classes 3, 2 and 1, while Cardinal Ritter (St. Louis) star Josh Temple claims that role on the defensive side of the ball.

Hillcrest High's Dorial Green-Beckham.

File photo by Jim Redman

MaxPreps' 2009-10 National Player of the Year Dorial Green-Beckham of Hillcrest (Springfield) is the favorite to win big school offensive honors in 2010, while Hazelwood Central's Cortland Dunlap aims to be the best defender in Classes 4, 5 and 6.

Missouri All-State Football Teams
Small School, First Team Offense
QB – Keagan Prather, Penney, 6-3 185 Sr.
RB – Trevor Dixon, Penney, 6-0 175 Sr.
RB – Andrew Erby, Brentwood, 5-10 165 Sr.
RB – Logan Eubank, Orrick, 6-1 188 Sr.
WR – DeVante Bausby, Hogan Prep Charter (Kansas City), 6-1 170 Sr.
WR – Grant Wallace, Burroughs (St. Louis), 6-0 174 Sr.
WR – Blake Seitz, Wellington-Napoleon (Wellington), 6-2 175 Sr.
OL – Cameron McGlothlin, Orrick, 6-3 231 Sr.
OL – Jake Ewigman, Marceline, 6-3 210 Sr.
OL – Bryan Tate, Thayer, 6-0 240 Sr.
OL – Brad Schieber, Maryville, 6-3 245 Sr.
OL – Spencer Polen, Carrollton, 6-1 220 Sr.
K – Garrison Green, Lawson, 6-0 160 Jr.
Offensive MVP - Prather

First Team Defense
DL – Garrett Mahurin, Cassville, 6-0 250 Sr.
DL – Josh Temple, Cardinal Ritter, 6-3 235 Sr.
DL – Chase Ewing, Carrollton, 6-2 225 Sr.
DL – Tyler Peve, Maryville, 6-1 175 Sr.
LB – T.J. Schieber, Penney, 6-3 223 Jr.
LB – Colby Hall, Lamar, 5-8 205 Sr.
LB – Devin Linenbrink, Cassville, 6-1 185 Sr.
LB – Markiki Hicks, Cardinal Ritter, 5-9 185 Sr.
DB – Tyler Hinshaw, Miller, 5-10 165 Sr.
DB – Matt Brown, Bowling Green, 5-8 150 Sr.
DB – Kevin Hopkins, Caruthersville, 5-9 165 Sr.
DB – Michael Loids, Valle Catholic, 5-11 170 Sr.
Punter – Brandon Bote, Wright City, 5-11 170 Sr.
Defensive MVP – Temple

Second Team Offense
QB – Johnny Eierman, Warsaw, Sr.
RB – G’Darius Stevenson, New Madrid County Central (New Madrid), Sr.; Trent Davis, Wright City, Sr.; Raphael Spencer, O'Hara (Kansas City), Sr.
WR – Gavin Talmadge, Maryville, Sr.; Stacey Thorton, Crystal City, Jr.; Victor Hoskins, Westport (Kansas City), Sr.
OL – Tony Hammond, Hogan Prep, Sr.; Aaron Crouch, Pierce City, Sr.; Tycie Linneman, Westran (Huntsville), Sr.; James Barnes, Trinity Catholic (St. Louis), Sr.; Zach Taylor, Pleasant Hill (Pleasant Hill), Sr.
K – Kevin Abts, Valle Catholic, Jr.

Second Team Defense
DL – Cub Reckner, Tipton, Sr.; Nathan Hollingsworth, Lexington, Sr.; Jordan Stephenson, Hogan Prep, Sr.; Shane Smith, South Shelby (Shelbina), Sr.
LB – Laron Cummings, Hogan Prep, Jr.; Devan Cobb, Bowling Green, Sr.; Trenton Tanner, Cassville, Sr.; Tylor McDonald, Adrian (Adrian), Sr.
DB – Dylon Register, Wellington-Napoleon, Sr.; Josh Lewright, Cassville, Sr.; Tyler Walter, Maryville, Jr.; Chris Smith, Cassville, Sr.
P – Keagan Prather, Penney, Sr.

Large School First Team Offense
QB – Cameron Coffman, Raymore-Peculiar (Peculiar), 6-3 185 Sr.
RB – Kody Walker, Jefferson City, 6-2 225 Sr.
RB – Darrian Miller, Blue Springs, 5-10 185 Sr.
RB – Rob Standard, Chaminade (St. Louis), 5-11 180 Sr.
WR – Dorial Green, Springfield-Hillcrest, 6-5 200 Jr.
WR – Devonte Majors, Fort Zumwalt West (O'Fallon), 6-2 215 Sr.
WR – Durron Neal, DeSmet Jesuit (St. Louis), 6-0 180 Jr.
OL – Evan Boehm, Lee's Summit West, 6-4 285 Jr.
OL – Montae Jones, Parkway North (St. Louis), 6-3 315 Sr.
OL – Tony Tanumai, Fort Osage (Independence), 5-10 260 Jr.
OL – Matt Killian, Howell (St. Charles), 6-7 275 Sr.
OL – Andrew Ness, Christian Brothers (St. Louis), 6-4 298 Sr.
TE – Dan Tapko, Rockhurst (Kansas City), 6-5 235 Sr.
K – Alec Velasquez, Grain Valley, Jr.
Offensive MVP - Green

First Team Defense
DL – Tony Robinson, Lindbergh (St. Louis), 6-3 245 Sr.
DL – Nic Branson, Howell, 6-1 250 Jr.
DL – Conrrad Nicholls, Raytown , 6-5 228 Sr.
DL – Logan Adkison, Blue Springs South, 6-3 213 Sr.
LB – Jason Meehan, Webster Groves, 6-4 240 Sr.
LB – Cortland Dunlap, Hazelwood Central, 6-1 205 Sr.
LB – A.J. Chappelle, Hazelwood Central, 6-0 195 Sr.
LB – Videl Nelson, Staley (Kansas City North), 6-1 200 Sr.
DB – Marquis Clemons, Webster Groves, 6-2 220 Sr.
DB – Bernard Thomas, Blue Springs, 5-11 172 Sr.
DB – Kevin Short, Hazelwood Central, 6-0 170 Sr.
DB – Tyran Carey, McCluer North (Florissant), Sr.
P – Layton Moore, Warrensburg, 6-0 165 Sr.
Defensive MVP - Dunlap

Second Team Offense
QB – Christian Suntrup, Chaminade, Sr.
RB – Anthony Pierson, Gateway Tech (St. Louis), Sr.; Jonny Canhos, Rolla, Sr.; Josiah Stanfield, Christian Brothers, Sr.
WR – Devin Buford, Miller Career Academy (St. Louis), Jr.; Wesley Leftwich, Hickman (Columbia), Sr.; Jordan Nubine, Blue Springs, Sr.
OL – Justin Fitzwater, Liberty, Sr.; Cooper Kerns, Rockhurst, Sr.; Hunter Luna, Webb City, Sr.; Juan Saucedo, Fort Osage, Sr.; Josh Scheuler, Helias (Jefferson City), Sr.
K – Chase Capron, Webb City, Sr.

Second Team Defense
DL – Ronelle McNeil, Hazelwood East (St. Louis), Sr.; Josh German, Hickman, Sr.; Robert King, Potosi, Sr.; John Valentine, MICDS (St. Louis), Sr.
LB – Sam Smith, Lindbergh, Sr.; Scott Roderique, Webb City, Sr.; Lewis Foutz, Blue Springs, Sr.; Jeremy Williams, Rolla, Sr.
DB – Cayden Shockley, Camdenton, Sr.; Grant Krueger, Lindbergh, Jr.; Tanner Kroutil, Nixa, Sr.; Raheem Roberts, Miller Career Academy, Sr.
Punter – Nick Reese, Warren County (Warrenton, Mo.), Sr.

Preseason Football Rankings
Class 6
1. Hazelwood Central (13-1)
2. Rockhurst (9-3)
3. Blue Springs (12-2)
4. DeSmet Jesuit (12-1)
5. Jefferson City (9-3)
6. Liberty (8-3)
7. Howell (8-3)
8. Christian Brothers (8-3)
9. Blue Springs South (4-6)
10. Hazelwood West (7-3)

Class 5
1. Webster Groves (13-0)
2. Chaminade (9-4)
3. Fort Osage (13-1)
4. Staley (11-1)
5. Parkway North (10-2)
6. Lee's Summit West (7-4)
7. Branson (6-5)
8. Central (Park Hills) (9-2)
9. Parkway Central (Chesterfield) (10-3)
10. Nixa (9-4)

Class 4
1. Kearney (13-2)
2. Webb City (13-1)
3. Helias (14-1)
4. Harrisonville (11-2)
5. Hannibal (9-3)
6. Bolivar (11-2)
7. Ladue Horton Watkins (St. Louis) (10-3)
8. Carthage (9-3)
9. Sikeston (13-1)
10. Savannah (8-4)

Class 3
1. Cassville (14-1)
2. Maryville (14-1)
3. Logan-Rogersville (Rogersville) (11-2)
4. Cardinal Ritter (9-2)
5. O’Hara (12-2)
6. Bowling Green (14-1)
7. Seneca (8-4)
8. Chillicothe (8-3)
9. Cameron (8-2)
10. New Madrid County Central (9-4)

Class 2
1. Penney (14-0)
2. Maplewood-Richmond Heights (Maplewood) (9-3)
3. Hogan Prep (11-2)
4. Warsaw (10-1)
5. Lawson (10-2)
6. Blair Oaks (Jefferson City) (9-3)
7. Centralia (Centralia) (13-1)
8. Clark County (Kahoka) (12-1)
9. Carrollton (10-2)
10. Lafayette County (Higginsville) (8-2)

Class 1
1. Valle Catholic (14-1)
2. South Shelby (10-2)
3. Orrick (11-1)
4. South Harrison (Bethany) (8-3)
5. Wellington-Napoleon (12-2)
6. Tipton (12-1)
7. Miller (10-3)
8. Westran (8-3)
9. Marceline (12-1)
10. Thayer (9-2)