Howell (St. Charles, Mo.) at Rockhurst (Kansas City, Mo.)What to watch: In order to make a record 15th trip to a state championship game over Thanksgiving weekend, Rockhurst must first hand Francis Howell its first loss of the season this Friday night. Rockhurst (11-1) enters semifinal-round action with an undefeated record versus Class 6 teams. The Hawklets have won 10 in a row since being thumped, 40-14, by Class 4 power Webb City on Aug. 29. Last week, junior running back
A.J. Taylor scored all five Rockhurst touchdowns in a 34-29 quarterfinal victory over rival Blue Springs. On the other side, Howell (11-0) rallied from a 10-0 fourth-quarter deficit to advance with a 14-10 win over Jefferson City. Senior running back
Sutton Smith (a Northern Illinois recruit) scored both Vikings touchdowns and totaled 232 rushing yards on a back-breaking 42 carries,
according to stltoday.com.
Sign up to provide live scoring updates from this game via QwixcoreJust the facts: With two more wins this season, Rockhurst would tie Jefferson City for the most state football championships in Missouri history (10). … Francis Howell has never won a state football title. Its best finish was runner-up in 2012.
Mitch Stephens: Rockhurst 35, Howell 21
Kevin Askeland: Howell 21, Rockhurst 14
Jamie DeMoney: Rockhurst 34, Howell 13
Stephen Spiewak: Rockhurst 28, Howell 10
Leland Gordon: Rockhurst 20, Howell 14
Colin Ward-Henninger: Rockhurst 30, Howell 21
