Winners of three of the last five Class 6 titles, Scott Pingel and Christian Brothers are in pursuit of another.
The high school football season in Missouri kicks off in a little over a week with a full slate of games scheduled for the weekend of Aug. 26-27. After going 13-1 and claiming its fourth state championship since 2014 last fall,
Christian Brothers (St. Louis) headlines our look at this year's contenders in the preseason MaxPreps Top 25.
All-state running back Jeremiyah Love returns for his senior season after rushing for 996 yards and 14 touchdowns on 95 carries for Christian Brothers as a junior. Love, who is considering offers from Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon and Texas A&M, among others, also reeled in 11 passes for 103 yards during the championship season.
Love ran the ball for 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the state title contest, a 48-21 win over
Liberty North (Liberty). Three-Star receiver Dakotah Mayo returns as well after latching on to 37 balls for 440 yards and a pair of scores. Cadet coach Scott Pingel also returns defensive lineman Tyler Gant, who was credited with 73 tackles, five sacks and a couple of interceptions a year ago, and offensive tackle Joshua Gregory.
Led by Pingel, the Cadets have won three of the last five big school state titles in Missouri and are in the midst of a 13-game winning streak. CBC has amassed a 51-8 record over the past five seasons.
The Cadets, who are ranked No. 71 in Zack Poff's extended MaxPreps preseason rankings, open the season against No. 56 Milton (Ga.) on Aug. 26. Pingel then takes his squad to East St. Louis, last year's Illinois Class 6A state runner-up, on Sept. 3.
Smithville (No. 5),
Lutheran (No. 8) and
Webb City (No. 9) also won state titles a year ago and earned a spot in our preseason top 25. Read on for a complete look.
Christian Brothers running back Jeremiyah Love on his way to the end zone in last season's Class 6 state championship game.
Photo: David Smith
1.
Christian Brothers (St. Louis), 13-1 record in 2021
2.
St. Mary's (St. Louis), 12-1
3.
Liberty North (Liberty), 11-2
4. Lee's Summit North (Lee's Summit, MO), 10-3
5.
Smithville, 13-0
6. De Smet Jesuit (St. Louis, MO), 8-3
7. Troy-Buchanan (Troy, MO), 10-3
8.
Lutheran (St. Peters), 12-2
9.
Webb City, 11-3
10. Carthage (MO), 10-1
11. Valle Catholic (Ste. Genevieve, MO), 10-1
12. Fort Osage (Independence, MO), 11-2
13. Howell [Francis] (St. Charles, MO), 10-2
14. Hannibal (MO), 13-1
15. Jackson (MO), 12-1
16. Joplin (MO), 10-2
17. Lamar (MO), 13-1
18. Nixa (MO), 8-3
19. Raymore-Peculiar (Peculiar, MO), 9-2
20. St. Pius X (Kansas City, MO), 12-2
21. Platte County (Platte City, MO), 9-3
22. Holt (Wentzville, MO), 13-1
23. Cardinal Ritter (St. Louis, MO), 7-7
24. West Plains (MO), 10-2
25. Lebanon (MO), 10-2
