By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Many of Missouri's state football championships could be decided long before the actual championship game is played this year. Oh sure, there will still be championship events held. But, will the state's two best teams be participating in them?
Looking at the brackets, only Class 1 has a chance to host the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the state in the season-ending championship match. That match-up would pit top-ranked Orrick (10-0) against second-ranked Hayti (10-0) for all the marbles later in November at the Edward Jones Dome.
But for the remaining classes that match-up could materialize as soon as the quarterfinals and semifinals.
In the eight-man semifinals Saturday, top-ranked Worth County is set to battle No. 2 Mound City for the second time this season. The Tigers knocked off Mound City 32-20 in late September to put their stamp on the No. 1 ranking throughout the regular season. But can they win the rematch and vault themselves into the championship match against either third-ranked St. Joseph Christian or unranked Hardin-Central? Stay tuned Saturday.
If all goes as planned for Class 2's top-ranked Lawson (10-0) and No. 2 Mountain Grove (10-0), the two unbeatens will meet in the semifinals. If Lawson gets by Carrollton (3-7), the Cardinals would then have to take on 2006 runner-up Hogan Prep just to put themselves into position to compete against Mountain Grove. The Panthers have to get by Cabool (7-3) and then the winner of the El Dorado Springs (5-5) and East Newton (6-4) contest.
Defending champion Harrisonville (10-0) is again the favorite to win the Class 3 title, and would love nothing better than to meet second-ranked Grain Valley in the semifinals. Both teams will have to get by some pretty tough competition in order to do so.
Harrisonville will have to end the season of fifth-ranked Monett (9-1) before playing either Mount Vernon (7-3) or Ava (7-3) in the quarterfinals. The Eagles have to get by Odessa (8-2) in the sectionals and then either third-ranked Platte County (9-1) or No. 7 KC St. Pius X (8-2).
In Class 4, the top six teams are on the same side of the bracket. That means top-ranked and defending champion Webb City (10-0) will have to get by No. 6 Carthage (9-1) in the sectionals and either Ozark (6-4) or fifth-ranked Union (9-1) in quarterfinal play to meet second-ranked Lee's Summit West in the semifinals. The Titans, on the other hand, have to get by No. 4 Helias (10-0) and then the winner of the third-ranked Kearney (9-1) and Hickman Mills (7-3) match-up.
A semifinal match up between top-ranked Kirkwood (9-0) and No. 2 Jackson (10-0) awaits if both teams get by their quarterfinal competition in Class 5. The Pioneers, last year's runner-ups to Raymore-Peculiar will have to post a win against third-ranked Waynesville (9-1), while Jackson has to find a way to win over sixth-ranked McCluer North (8-2).
Rockhurst (10-0) has already ended the season of Class 6's second-ranked Blue Springs South in a thrilling 27-21 win, in which the Jaguars nearly rallied from a 27-0 halftime deficit to the Hawklets. Now Rockhurst is faced with the task of knocking off third-ranked Blue Springs (8-2) for the second time this year in the quarterfinals. If they survive, the Hawklets will go up against either fourth-ranked Fort Zumwalt West (9-1) or previously ranked DeSmet Jesuit (7-2).
Playoff Predictions
Class 6
Quarterfinals: No. 7 Mehlville (8-2) over St. Louis University High (6-4); Lafayette (6-3) over Pattonville (6-4); No. 4 Fort Zumwalt West (9-1) over No. 8 DeSmet Jesuit; No. 1 Rockhurst (10-0) over No. 3 Blue Springs (8-2).
Semifinals: No. 7 Mehlville over Lafayette; No. 1 Rockhurst over No. 4 Fort Zumwalt West.
Finals: No. 1 Rockhurst over No. 7 Mehlville
Dark Horse: Blue Springs
Class 5
Quarterfinals: No. 2 Jackson (10-0) over No. 6 McCluer North (8-2); No. 1 Kirkwood (9-0) over No. 3 Waynesville (9-1); No. 9 Belton (7-3) over No. 10 Glendale (7-3); No. 4 Fort Osage (9-1) over Raytown South (4-6).
Semifinals: No. 1 Kirkwood over No. 2 Jackson; No. 4 Fort Osage over No. 9 Belton.
Finals: No. 1 Kirkwood over No. 4 Fort Osage.
Dark Horse: Belton
Class 4
Sectionals: No. 7 Festus (9-1) over West Plains (5-5); Vashon (7-2) over Rockwood Summit (4-6); No. 9 Parkway Central (9-1) over Normandy (7-3); Timberland (9-1) over Fort Zumwalt North (8-2); No. 5 Union (9-1) over Ozark (6-4); No. 1 Webb City (10-0) over No. 6 Carthage (9-1); No. 2 Lee's Summit West (10-0) over No. 4 Helias (10-0); No. 3 Kearney (9-1) over Hickman Mills (7-3).
Quarterfinals: No. 7 Festus over Vashon; No. 9 Parkway Central over Timberland; No. 1 Webb City over No. 5 Union; No. 2 Lee's Summit West over No. 3 Kearney.
Semifinals: No. 7 Festus over No. 9 Parkway Central; No. 1 Webb City over No. 2 Lee's Summit West.
Finals: No. 1 Webb City over No. 7 Festus.
Dark Horse: Helias
Class 3
Sectionals: Fredericktown (9-1) over New Madrid County Central (8-1); No. 9 MICDS (9-0) over Miller Career Academy (5-5); No. 4 Moberly (10-0) over Lutheran North (6-4); No. 10 St. Francis Borgia (8-2) over Osage (7-3); Mount Vernon (7-3) over Ava (7-3); No. 1Harrisonville (10-0) over No. 5 Monett (9-1); No. 2 Grain Valley (10-0) over Odessa (8-2); No. 3 Platte County (9-1) over No. 7 KC St. Pius X (8-2).
Quarterfinals: No. 9 MICDS over Fredericktown; No. 4 Moberly over St. Francis Borgia; No. 1 Harrisonville over Mount Vernon; No. 2 Grain Valley over No. 3 Platte County.
Semifinals: No. 4 Moberly over No. 9 MICDS; No. 1 Harrisonville over No. 2 Grain Valley.
Finals: No. 1 Harrisonville over No. 4 Moberly
Dark Horse: St. Francis Borgia
Class 2
Sectionals: No. 9 Crystal City (9-1) over Charleston (4-6); No. 8 Maplewood-Richmond Heights (10-0) over Hermann (7-3); No. 3 Centralia (10-0) over No. 7 Blair Oaks (8-2); No. 5 Trenton (10-0) over No. 6 Clark County (10-0); No. 2 Mountain Grove (10-0) over Cabool (7-3); East Newton (6-4) over El Dorado Springs (5-5); No. 10 Hogan Prep (8-2) over Warsaw (8-2); No. 1 Lawson (10-0) over Carrollton (3-7).
Quarterfinals: No. 8 Maplewood-Richmond Heights over No. 9 Crystal City; No. 3 Centralia over No. 5 Trenton; No. 2 Mountain Grove over East Newton; No. 1 Lawson over No. 10 Hogan Prep.
Semifinals: No. 3 Centralia over No. 8 Maplewood-Richmond Heights; No. 1 Lawson over No. 2 Mountain Grove.
Finals: No. 1 Lawson over No. 3 Centralia.
Dark Horse: Blair Oaks
Class 1
Sectionals: No. 2 Hayti (10-0) over Brentwood (3-6); No. 4 Thayer (10-0) over McAuley Catholic (4-6); No. 6 Adrian (7-2) over Lockwood (8-2); No. 3 Tipton (10-0) over Midway (7-3); No. 7 Princeton (8-2) over Maysville (7-3); Lathrop (7-3) over West Platte (7-3); No. 1 Orrick (10-0) over Fayette (8-2); South Shelby (6-4) over Marceline (5-5).
Quarterfinals: No. 2 Hayti over No. 4 Thayer; No. 3 Tipton over No. 6 Adrian; No. 7 Princeton over Lathrop; No.1 Orrick over South Shelby.
Semifinals: No. 2 Hayti over No. 3 Tipton; No. 1 Orrick over No. 7 Princeton.
Finals: No. 1 Orrick over No. 2 Hayti.
Dark Horse: Thayer
Eight-Man
Semifinals: No. 3 St. Joseph Christian (8-2) over Hardin-Central (7-3); No. 1 Worth County (10-0) over No. 2 Mound City (9-1).
Finals: No. 1 Worth County over No. 3 St. Joseph Christian.
This weekend's rematches:
8-Man
No. 1 Worth County (10-0) over No. 2 Mound City (9-1), 32-20
Class 1
No. 7 Princeton (8-2) over Maysville (7-3), 27-6
West Platte (7-3) over Lathrop (7-3), 24-14
Class 2
No. 2 Mountain Grove (10-0) over Cabool (7-3), 44-14
Class 3
No. 2 Grain Valley (10-0) over Odessa (8-2), 31-30
Class 4
Timberland (9-1) over Fort Zumwalt North (8-2), 20-19
No. 1 Webb City (10-0) over No. 6 Carthage (9-1), 44-25
No. 3 Kearney (9-1) over Hickman Mills (7-3), 42-6
Class 5
No. 4 Fort Osage (9-1) over over Raytown South (4-6), 35-14
Class 6
No. 1 Rockhurst (10-0) over Blue Springs (8-2), 21-14
Final Missouri Regular Season Rankings
Class 6
1. Rockhurst (10-0) 369 - 131
2. Blue Springs South (9-1) 400 - 95
3. Blue Springs (8-2) 324 - 141
4. Fort Zumwalt West (9-1) 425 - 169
5. Jefferson City (8-2) 401 - 224
6. Hickman (7-3) 261 - 185
7. Mehlville (8-2) 386 - 133
8. DeSmet Jesuit (7-2) 258 - 123
9. Oak Park (7-3) 333 - 207
10. Fox (8-2) 321 - 233
Class 5
1. Kirkwood (9-0) 323 - 112
2. Jackson (10-0) 302 - 93
3. Waynesville (9-1) 360 - 111
4. Fort Osage (9-1) 327 - 164
5. Eureka (9-1) 319 - 100
6. McCluer North (8-2) 206 - 129
7. Camdenton (8-2) 318 - 104
8. Park Hill (7-3) 220 - 127
9. Belton (7-3) 206 - 158
10. Glendale (7-3) 292 - 249
Class 4
1. Webb City (10-0) 340 - 96
2. Lee's Summit West (10-0) 343 - 79
3. Kearney (9-1) 373 - 88
4. Helias (10-0) 370 - 108
5. Union (9-1) 485 - 283
6. Carthage (9-1) 408 - 175
7. Festus (9-1) 376 - 113
8. Farmington (9-1) 363 - 164
9. Parkway Central (9-1) 353 - 89
10. Carl Junction (8-2) 270 - 106
Class 3
1. Harrisonville (10-0) 437 - 154
2. Grain Valley (10-0) 412 - 132
3. Platte County (9-1) 349 - 147
4. Moberly (10-0) 408 - 55
5. Monett (9-1) 225 - 114
6. Cassville (9-1) 289 - 119
7. KC St. Pius X (8-2) 269 - 203
8. Pleasant Hill (9-1) 328 - 68
9. MICDS (9-0) 371 - 67
10. St. Francis Borgia (8-2) 367 - 132
Class 2
1. Lawson (10-0) 350 - 90
2. Mountain Grove (10-0) 401 - 105
3. Centralia (10-0) 432 - 56
4. Maryville (9-1) 357 - 154
5. Trenton (10-0) 414 - 137
6. Clark County (10-0) 398 - 77
7. Blair Oaks (8-2) 347 - 156
8. Maplewood-Richmond Heights (10-0) 382 - 53
9. Crystal City (9-1) 255 - 104
10. Hogan Prep (8-2) 388 - 126
Class 1
1. Orrick (10-0) 476 - 108
2. Hayti (10-0) 458 - 143
3. Tipton (10-0) 370 - 77
4. Thayer (10-0) 426 - 98
5. Marionville (9-1) 401 - 138
6. Adrian (7-2) 320 - 104
7. Princeton (8-2) 320 - 107
8. Gallatin (8-2) 336 - 102
9. South Harrison (8-2) 324 - 80
10. Concordia (8-2) 357 - 188
Eight-Man
1. Worth County (10-0) 563 - 144
2. Mound City (9-1) 520 - 64
3. St. Joseph Christian (8-2) 466 - 250
4. North Andrew (8-2) 470 - 232
5. West Nodaway (7-3) 476 - 255
