The 2021 high school football season in Missouri kicks off next week and
MaxPreps has your look at the state's top teams. Coming off a 6-1
season in 2020, De Smet Jesuit (St. Louis) owns the top spot in our preseason rankings.
The Spartans outscored their first six opponents 229-71 before losing 23-0 in the 6A state finals to Raymore-Peculiar, which starts the year No. 14.
Kaleb Purdy, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound safety, leads De Smet into the 2021 season. Also a track and field standout, Purdy has committed to the University of Kansas. He ranks as the No. 19 senior prospect in the state.
Third-ranked Lee's Summit North possesses two other Top 25 senior recruits in 6-4, 275-pound offensive lineman
Armand Membou, a Missouri commit, and 6-6, 230-pound tight end
Gracen Bell, who is headed to Navy.
Besides Raymore-Peculiar, other defending state champions are Jackson (Class 5), Helias (Class 4), Blair Oaks (Class 3), Lamar (Class 2) and Windsor (Class 1).
See complete list below.
Lee's Summit North and Raymore-Peculiar are two of the Top 25 teams in the state once more in 2021.
File photo by David Smith
1.
De Smet Jesuit (St. Louis), 6-1
2.
Jackson, 14-0
3.
Lee's Summit North (Lee's Summit), 4-6
4.
Lutheran North (St. Louis), 5-1
5.
Christian Brothers (St. Louis), 4-2
6.
Blair Oaks (Jefferson City), 13-1
7.
Holt (Wentzville), 8-2
8.
Howell (St. Charles), 9-2
9.
Rockhurst (Kansas City), 5-4
10.
Liberty, 10-2
11.
Liberty North (Liberty), 9-3
12.
Cardinal Ritter College Prep (St. Louis), 4-4
13.
Smithville, 10-3
14.
Raymore-Peculiar (Peculiar), 12-2
15.
West Plains, 10-2
16.
Odessa, 9-1
17.
Nixa, 9-3
18.
Fort Zumwalt North (O'Fallon), 11-2
19.
MICDS (St. Louis), 7-1
20.
St. Mary's (St. Louis), 4-2
21.
Valle Catholic (Ste. Genevieve), 9-1
22.
Chaminade (St. Louis), 4-2
23.
Carthage, 9-1
24.
Webb City, 11-2
25.
Grain Valley, 10-2
