Darrian Miller steers Blue Springs into postseason

From day one of the 2010 football season, Rockhurst (Kansas City) and two-time defending Class 6 champion Hazelwood Central (Florissant) have been battling for prep football supremacy in Missouri's largest classification.

One team that shouldn't be left out of the state championship discussion, however, is Blue Springs. Since falling to the top-ranked Hawklets (7-6 in overtime) and Class 5 sixth-ranked Staley (27-16) in first and second weeks of the season, the Wildcats have reeled off eight straight wins.

Columbia-Rock Bridge was the latest foe to try and stop the Darrian Miller-led Wildcats. But it was to no avail as Blue Springs pulled away for a 43-23 district championship-clinching win Friday.

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Kansas recruit buried any hopes that the Bruins were clinging on to for a state football playoff berth after rushing for 263 yards and three touchdowns on 37 carries.



"The thing that you can't do, especially us, we can't simulate the sheer size and physicality of an offensive line like they have, and we can't simulate in practice the explosiveness of Darrian Miller," Rock Bridge coach A.J. Ofodile told the Columbia Daily Tribune. "I mean, you can draw the play up, and he's going to run off-tackle here, but our kid may go off-tackle and when the real Darrian Miller runs it, if you leave a crease anywhere, he's going to find it. That's what the great ones do, and that's why he's a Division 1 back."

Bruin quarterback Mark Pickerel had an outstanding night as well, throwing for 175 yards on 10 of 26 passing.

With the win over the Bruins, Blue Springs (8-2) stays put at No. 3 in the latest Missouri Class 6 rankings. Rock Bridge ends its season at 4-6.

Click here to view Maxpreps' Missouri high school football brackets.

Below Dean Backes attempts to pick the Bracket. The latest rankings are in as well. Let's take a look:

PICKING THE BRACKETS
CLASS 6
No. 8 Eureka (9-1) over Lindbergh (8-2)
DeSmet Jesuit (6-4) over Fox (1-8)
No. 4 Christian Brothers (9-1) over McCluer North (7-2)
No. 2 Hazelwood Central (10-0) over No. 9 Marquette (8-2)
No. 5 Francis Howell (9-1) over Jefferson City (6-4)
No. 7 Fort Zumwalt West (8-2) over Pattonville (7-3)
No. 3 Blue Springs (8-2) over No. 10 Raymore-Peculiar (6-4)
No. 1 Rockhurst (10-0) over No. 6 Blue Springs South (7-3)



No. 8 Eureka (10-1) over DeSmet Jesuit (7-4)
No. 2 Hazelwood Central (11-0) over No. 4 Christian Brothers (10-1)
No. 5 Francis Howell (10-1) over No. 7 Fort Zumwalt West (9-2)
No.1 Rockhurst (11-0) over No. 3 Blue Springs (9-2)

No. 2 Hazelwood Central (12-0) over No. 8 Eureka (11-1)
No. 1 Rockhurst (12-0) over No. 5 Francis Howell (11-1)

No. 2 Hazelwood Central (13-0) over No. 1 Rockhurst (13-0)

CLASS 5
No. 1 Webster Groves (9-0) over Seckman (3-6)
No. 5 Chaminade (7-2) over Riverview Gardens (1-8)
Kirkwood (6-3) over Holt (6-4)
Camdenton (7-3) over Parkway West (3-7)
No. 3 Lee's Summit West (9-1) over Parkview (5-5)
Lee's Summit (6-4) over Nixa (6-4)
No. 9 Park Hill South (7-3) over Raytown (4-6)
No. 6 Staley (8-2) over Fort Osage (7-3)

No. 1 Webster Groves (10-0) over Rockwood Summit (6-4)
No. 5 Chaminade (8-2) over Hazelwood East (5-5)
No. 4 Fort Zumwalt East (9-0) over Kirkwood (7-3)
Camdenton (8-3) over Waynesville (6-4)
No. 3 Lee's Summit West (10-1) over No. 2 Lebanon (10-0)
Lee's Summit (7-4) over Branson (7-3)
No. 9 Park Hill South (8-3) over No. 10 Raytown South (7-3)
No. 6 Staley (8-2) over No. 8 Park Hill (7-3)

No. 1 Webster Groves (11-0) over No. 5 Chaminade (9-2)
No. 4 Fort Zumwalt East (10-0) over Camdenton (9-3)
No. 3 Lee's Summit West (11-1) over Lee's Summit (8-4)
No. 6 Staley (9-2) over No. 9 Park Hill South (9-3)



No. 1 Webster Groves (12-0) over Fort Zumwalt East (11-0)
No. 3 Lee's Summit West (12-1) over No. 6 Staley (10-2)

No. 1 Webster Groves (13-0) over No. 3 Lee's Summit West (13-1)

CLASS 4
No. 9 Sikeston (10-0) over Potosi (7-3)
Cape Girardeau Central (9-1) over DeSoto (7-3)
Roosevelt (7-2) over Windsor (Imperial) (4-6)
Gateway Tech (6-4) over Festus (6-3)
Clayton (8-3) over Vashon (5-4)
No. 4 Ladue Horton Watkins (9-1) over Soldan (5-4)
St. Francis Borgia (6-4) over Jennings (4-6)
Warrenton (7-3) over Duchesne (2-8)
No. 10 Union (9-1) over West Plains (2-8)
Springfield-Hillcrest (6-4) over St. Clair (7-3)
No. 2 Webb City (10-0) over No. 7 Bolivar (9-1)
No. 3 Carthage (9-1) over No. 6 Jefferson City-Helias (6-4)
No. 5 Hannibal (8-2) over Kansas City-Center (8-2)
No. 8 Harrisonville (9-1) over Moberly (6-4)
No. 1 Kearney (9-0) over Savannah (9-1)
Platte County (7-3) over Smithville (5-5)

No. 9 Sikeston (11-0) over Cape Girardeau Central (10-1)
Roosevelt (8-2) over Gateway Tech (7-4)
No. 4 Ladue Horton Watkins (10-1) over Clayton (9-3)
Warrenton (8-3) over St. Francis Borgia (7-4)
No. 10 Union (10-1) over Springfield-Hillcrest (7-4)
No. 2 Webb City (11-0) over No. 3 Carthage (10-1)
No. 8 Harrisonville (10-1) over No. 5 Hannibal (9-2)
No. 1 Kearney (10-0) over Platte County (8-3)

No. 9 Sikeston (12-0) over Roosevelt (9-2)
No. 4 Ladue Horton Watkins (11-1) over Warrenton (9-3)
No. 2 Webb City (12-0) over No. 10 Union (11-1)
No. 1 Kearney (11-0) over No. 8 Harrisonville (11-1)

No. 4 Ladue Horton Watkins (12-1) over Sikeston (13-0)
No. 1 Kearney (12-0) over No. 2 Webb City (13-0)



No. 1 Kearney (13-0) over No. 4 Ladue Horton Watkins (13-1)

CLASS 3
Dexter (6-4) over Ste. Genevieve (4-6)
Fredericktown (7-3) over Park Hills Central (6-4)
No. 2 John Burroughs (10-0) over Lutheran North (5-5)
Cardinal Ritter (8-2) over Priory (8-2)
No. 5 Bowling Green (8-2) over North Callaway (6-4)
Wright City (8-2) over Southern Boone (7-3)
No. 9 Owensville (9-1) over California (3-7)
No. 10 Boonville (8-2) over Osage (7-3)
No. 7 Logan-Rogersville (8-2) over Mount Vernon (5-5)
No. 4 Springfield Catholic (9-1) over Ava (6-4)
No. 4 Cassville (10-0) over Pleasant Hill (4-6)
No. 6 Seneca (8-2) over Holden (6-4)
O'Hara (3-6) over Lincoln College Prep (4-5)
Pembroke Hill (6-3) over Imagine Renaissance Academy (6-4)
No. 3 Richmond (10-0) over St. Pius X (KC) (6-4)
No. 8 Maryville (8-2) over Odessa (5-5)

Fredericktown (8-3) over Dexter (7-4)
No. 2 John Burroughs (11-0) over Cardinal Ritter (9-2)
No. 5 Bowling Green (9-2) over Wright City (9-2)
No. 9 Owensville (10-1) over No. 10 Boonville (9-2)
No. 4 Springfield Catholic (10-1) over No. 7 Logan-Rogersville (9-2)
No. 1 Cassville (11-0) over No. 6 Seneca (9-2)
Pembroke Hill (7-3) over O'Hara (4-6)
No. 3 Richmond (12-0) over Pembroke Hill (8-3)

No. 2 John Burroughs (12-0) over Fredericktown (9-3)
No. 5 Bowling Green (10-2) over No. 9 Owensville (11-1)
No. 1 Cassville (12-0) over No. 4 Springfield Catholic (11-1)
No. 3 Richmond (12-0) over Pembroke Hill (8-3)

No. 2 John Burroughs (13-0) over No. 5 Bowling Green (11-2)
No. 1 Cassville (13-0) over No. 3 Richmond (13-0)

No. 1 Cassville (14-0) over No. 2 John Burroughs (14-0)



CLASS 2
No. 7 Caruthersville (10-0) over Crystal City (6-4)
Herculaneum (8-2) over Malden (8-2)
Brentwood (6-3) over Transportation and Law (8-1)
No. 2 Maplewood-Richmond Heights (10-0) over Principia (2-8)
No. 6 Liberty-Mountain View (9-1) over Hollister (3-7)
Strafford (7-3) over Cuba (5-4)
Stockton (8-2) over Lamar (7-3)
Warsaw (6-4) over Sarcoxie (3-7)
No. 8 South Callaway (9-1) over Clopton (6-4)
Blair Oaks (8-2) over Mark Twain (6-4)
No. 3 Centralia (10-0) over Monroe City (4-6)
No. 5 Macon (9-1) over Clark County (6-4)
No. 10 Adrian (9-1) over Carrollton (3-7)
Higginsville-Lafayette County (7-3) over Butler (6-4)
Lexington (6-4) over Trenton (5-5)
No. 1 Penney (10-0) over No. 4 Lawson (9-1)

No. 7 Caruthersville (11-0) over Herculaneum (9-2)
No. 2 Maplewood-Richmond Heights (11-0) over Brentwood (7-3)
No. 6 Liberty-Mountain View (10-1) over Strafford (8-3)
Stockton (9-2) over Warsaw (7-4)
No. 8 South Callaway (10-1) over Blair Oaks (9-2)
No. 3 Centralia (11-0) over No. 5 Macon (10-1)
No. 10 Adrian (10-1) over Higginsville-Lafayette County (8-3)
No. 1 Penney (11-0) over Lexington (7-4)

No. 2 Maplewood-Richmond Heights (12-0) over No. 7 Caruthersville (12-0)
No. 6 Liberty-Mountain View (11-1) over Stockton (10-2)
No. 3 Centralia (12-0) over No. 8 South Callaway (11-1)
No. 1 Penney (12-0) over No. 10 Adrian (11-1)

No. 2 Maplewood-Richmond Heights (13-0) over No. 6 Liberty-Mountain View (12-1)
No. 1 Penney (13-0) over No. 3 Centralia (13-0)

No. 1 Penney (14-0) over No. 2 Maplewood-Richmond Heights (14-0)

CLASS 1
Thayer (8-2) over Chaffee (4-6)
No. 4 Valle Catholic (9-1) over Hayti (7-3)
No. 6 Miller (9-1) over Lockwood (6-3)
No. 8 Pierce City (9-1) over Greenfield (6-4)
No. 3 Tipton (10-0) over Santa Fe (8-2)
No. 1 Concordia (10-0) over Windsor (5-5)
Osceola (7-3) over Drexel (6-4)
University Academy Charter (6-4) over Archie (6-4)
No. 5 South Shelby (9-1) over Scotland County (5-5)
Schuyler County (6-4) over Paris (5-5)
No. 2 Westran (10-0) over Marceline (6-4)
No. 9 Princeton (9-1) over Salisbury (9-1)
No. 7 Wellington-Napoleon (9-1) over Polo (6-4)
South Harrison (7-3) over Orrick (6-4)
No. 10 West Platte (9-1) over King City (3-6)
East Buchanan (8-2) over Rock Port (5-4)



No. 4 Valle Catholic (10-1) over Thayer (9-2)
No. 6 Miller (10-1) over No. 8 Pierce City (10-1)
No. 1 Concordia (11-0) over No. 3 Tipton (11-0)
Osceola (8-3) over University Academy Charter (7-4)
No. 5 South Shelby (10-1) over Schuyler County (7-4)
No. 2 Westran (11-0) over No. 9 Princeton (10-1)
No. 7 Wellington-Napoleon (10-1) over South Harrison (8-3)
No. 10 West Platte (10-1) over East Buchanan (9-2)

No. 4 Valle Catholic (11-1) over No. 6 Miller (11-1)
No. 1 Concordia (12-0) over Osceola (9-3)
No. 2 Westran (12-0) over No. 5 South Shelby (11-1)
No. 7 Wellington-Napoleon (11-1) over No. 10 West Platte (11-1)

No. 1 Concordia (13-0) over No. 4 Valle Catholic (12-1)
No. 2 Westran (13-0) over No. 7 Wellington-Napoleon (12-1)

No. 1 Concordia (14-0) over No. 2 Westran (14-0)

8-MAN
No. 2 Mound City (9-1) over No. 3 Stanberry (8-2)
No. 1 Worth County (10-0) over No. 5 Tarkio (7-3)
No. 4 St. Joseph Christian (8-1) over Hardin-Central (6-4)
North Andrew (6-4) over Miami (Amoret) (4-5)

No. 1 Worth County (11-0) over No. 2 Mound City (10-1)
No. 4 St. Joseph Christian (9-1) over North Andrew (7-4)



No. 1 Worth County (12-0) over No. 4 St. Joseph Christian (10-1)

FINAL REGULAR SEASON FOOTBALL RANKINGS

TOP 10
1. Rockhurst (Kansas City) (10-0) 299 108 1
2. Webster Groves (9-0) 391 134 2
3. Hazelwood Central (10-0) 331 146 3
4. Blue Springs (8-2) 386 161 4
5. Christian Brothers (St. Louis) (9-1) 360 240 5
6. Howell (St. Charles) (9-1) 389 176 6
7. Blue Springs South (7-3) 372 232 7
8. Kearney (9-0) 430 50 8
9. Webb City (10-0) 428 92 9
10. Fort Zumwalt West (O'Fallon) (8-2) 432 287 10

CLASS 6
1. Rockhurst (10-0) 299 108 1
2. Hazelwood Central (10-0) 331 146 2
3. Blue Springs (8-2) 386 161 3
4. Christian Brothers (9-1) 360 240 4
5. Francis Howell (9-1) 389 176 5
6. Blue Springs South (7-3) 372 232 6
7. Fort Zumwalt West (8-2) 432 287 7
8. Eureka (9-1) 363 123 8
9. Marquette (Chesterfield) (8-2) 387 216 10
10. Raymore-Peculiar (Peculiar) (6-4) –

CLASS 5
1. Webster Groves (9-0) 391 134 1
2. Lebanon (10-0) 358 100 2
3. Lee's Summit West (9-1) 347 128 3
4. Fort Zumwalt East (St. Peters) (9-0) 385 171 4
5. Chaminade (St. Louis) (7-2) 283 220 5
6. Staley (Kansas City North) (8-2) 299 100 6
7. Parkway North (St. Louis) (7-3) 353 162 7
8. Park Hill (Kansas City) (7-3) 291 216 10
9. Park Hill South (Kansas City) (7-3) 215 145 –
10. Raytown South (Raytown) (7-3) 251 190 –

CLASS 4
1. Kearney (9-0) 430 50 1
2. Webb City (10-0) 428 92 2
3. Carthage (9-1) 427 97 4
4. Ladue Horton Watkins (St. Louis) (9-1) 356 174 5
5. Hannibal (8-2) 395 114 9
6. Helias (Jefferson City) (6-4) 303 233 –
7. Bolivar (9-1) 470 113 3
8. Harrisonville (9-1) 289 91 6
9. Sikeston (10-0) 445 122 7
10. Union (9-1) 414 107 10



CLASS 3
1. Cassville (10-0) 382 76 1
2. Burroughs (St. Louis) (10-0) 460 119 2
3. Richmond (10-0) 415 104 3
4. Springfield Catholic (9-1) 397 164 4
5. Bowling Green (8-2) 395 73 6
6. Seneca (8-2) 320 129 5
7. Logan-Rogersville (Rogersville) (8-2) 316 98 7
8. Maryville (8-2) 319 97 8
9. Owensville (9-1) 249 165 9
10. Boonville (8-2) 317 142 10

CLASS 2
1. Penney (Hamilton) (10-0) 518 93 1
2. Maplewood-Richmond Heights (Maplewood) (10-0) 454 118 2
3. Centralia (10-0) 338 131 3
4. Lawson (9-1) 291 130 5
5. Macon (9-1) 464 88 4
6. Liberty (Mountain View) (9-1) 437 100 6
7. Caruthersville (10-0) 381 113 7
8. South Callaway (Mokane) (9-1) 275 126 9
9. Brookfield (8-2) 372 131 10
10. Adrian (9-1) 342 124 –

CLASS 1
1. Concordia (10-0) 561 32 1
2. Westran (Huntsville) (10-0) 450 56 2
3. Tipton (10-0) 399 58 3
4. Valle Catholic (Ste. Genevieve) (9-1) 493 59 4
5. South Shelby (Shelbina) (9-1) 401 117 5
6. Miller (9-1) 511 89 6
7. Wellington-Napoleon (9-1) 387 151 7
8. Pierce City (9-1) 388 67 8
9. Princeton (9-1) 412 165 10
10. West Platte (Weston) (9-1) 343 148 –

8-MAN
1. Worth County (Grant City) (10-0) 530 172
2. Mound City (9-1) 499 103
3. Stanberry (8-2) 501 145
4. St. Joseph Christian (8-1) 568 145
5. Tarkio (7-3) 382 238