By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Timberland running back sensation Montee Ball put himself in position to climb up the Missouri high school rushing charts a year ago by racking up 3,077 yards on the ground ground, and 32 touchdowns in 2007.
His numbers dropped off just a bit this season, but not enough to void his billing as the Missouri All-Class most valuable player following a season in which the University of Wisconsin recruit climbed to third on the Show Me State’s all-time rushing chart with 7,260 yards and 88 touchdowns.
Ball rushed for at least 1,800 yards in each of his three seasons as a starter for the T-Wolves. His 2,187 yards in 2008 gave the 6-foot, 215-pound Ball at least 2,000 yards for the second year in a row.
His numbers are the best three-year rushing numbers in Missouri high school football history. Only Archie back Brad Hocking (9,193 career yards) and Platte County standout Zach Sherman (7,827 career yards) were more productive on the ground.
Hocking and Sherman played four years for their respective schools.
Below is a look at the 2008 Missouri All-Class Team and All-State teams for the big school classes.
Missouri All-Class Football Team
Offense
QB – Jordan Webb, Union 6-1 223 Sr.
RB – Ronnie Wingo, St. Louis University High 6-3 204 Sr.
RB – Montee Ball, Timberland 6-0 215 Sr.
RB – Anthony Pierson, Gateway Tech 6-0 180 So.
WR – Keeston Terry, Blue Springs 6-2 185 Jr.
WR – Marcus Lucas, Liberty 6-5 185 Jr.
WR – Ronnell Garner, Raytown South 6-1 190 Sr.
Line – Tom Freeman, Rockhurst 6-3 273 Sr.
Line – Tua Faletagoai, Fort Osage 6-3 295 Sr.
Line – Tyler Evans, Strafford 6-6 315 Sr.
Line – Justin Britt, Lebanon 6-5 267 Sr.
Line – Jack Meiners, Chaminade 6-5 305 Sr.
Defense
Line – Derrion Thomas, Blue Springs South 6-3 205 Sr.
Line – Gus Toca, Blue Springs 6-2 245 Sr.
Line – Sheldon Richardson, Gateway Tech 6-4 285 Sr.
Line – Stephen Welling, Lee’s Summit West 6-1 240 Sr.
LB – Sal Belfonte, Rockhurst 5-10 192 Jr.
LB – Armahn King, Blue Springs South 5-8 195 Sr.
LB – Sean King, Raytown South 6-2 220 Sr.
LB – Andrew Wilson, Raymore-Peculiar 6-4 225 Sr.
DB – Terrance Lockett, DeSmet Jesuit 5-9 185 Sr.
DB – Marcus Cotton, Hazelwood Central 5-9 170 Sr.
DB – E. J. Gaines, Fort Osage 5-10 165 Jr.
DB – B. J. Ray, Waynesville 6-3 205 Sr.
Class 6
Offense
QB – Nathan Scheelhaase, Rockhurst 6-3 190 Sr.
RB – Ronnie Wingo, St. Louis University High 6-3 204 Sr.
RB – Aaron Terrill, Jefferson City 6-0 200 Sr.
RB – Maurice Scott, Hazelwood Central 5-5 160 Sr.
WR – Marcus Lucas, Liberty 6-5 185 Jr.
WR – Keeston Terry, Blue Springs 6-2 185 Jr.
Line – Kaleb Davis, Jefferson City 6-1 240 Jr.
Line – Drew Kerber, Blue Springs 6-3 270 Jr.
Line – Stanley Travis, Hazelwood Central 6-2 285 Sr.
Line – Tom Freeman, Rockhurst 6-3 273 Sr.
Line – Chad Butler, Blue Springs South 6-2 205 Sr.
Kicker – Joe Schrick, St. Louis University High 5-10 175 Sr.
Defense
Line – Frank Bryant, Jefferson City 6-2 230 Sr.
Line – Derrion Thomas, Blue Springs South 6-3 205 Sr.
Line – Gus Toca, Blue Springs 6-2 245 Sr.
Line – Evan Conrad, Columbia Hickman 6-3 295 Sr.
LB – Sal Belfonte, Rockhurst 5-10 192 Jr.
LB – Armahn King, Blue Springs South 5-8 195 Sr.
LB – Yomi Alli, Hazelwood Central 6-1 205 Jr.
LB – Tom Tuck, Fort Zumwalt West 5-8 205 Sr.
DB – Marcus Cotton, Hazelwood Central 5-9 170 Sr.
DB – Terrance Lockett, DeSmet Jesuit 5-9 185 Sr.
DB – Quincy Williams, Lee’s Summit North 5-10 180 Sr.
DB – Ian Moore, Lafayette (Wildwood) 6-4 180 Sr.
Class 5
Offense
QB – Cameron Coffman, Raymore-Peculiar 6-2 175 So.
RB – Montee Ball, Timberland 6-0 215 Sr.
RB – Dalton Krysa, Fort Osage 6-0 185 Sr.
RB – DuJuan Owens, Hazelwood East 6-0 190 Sr.
WR – Gavin Lutman, Raymore-Peculiar 6-4 205 Sr.
WR – Ronnell Garner, Raytown South 6-1 190 Sr.
Line – Justin Britt, Lebanon 6-6 275 Sr.
Line – Jack Meiners, Chaminade 6-5 305 Sr.
Line – Tua Faletagoai, Fort Osage 6-3 295 Sr.
Line – Easton Crist, Raytown South 5-11 280 Sr.
Line – Kurt Ketter, Timberland 6-3 275 Sr.
Kicker – Corey Smith, Eureka 6-1 160 Sr.
Defense
Line – Maurice Alexander, Eureka 6-0 185 Sr.
Line – Jaime Curry-Slaughter, Hazelwood East 6-3 270 Sr.
Line – Stephen Welling, Lee’s Summit West 6-1 240 Sr.
Line – Jake Peterson, Raymore-Peculiar 6-4 245 Jr.
LB – Sean King, Raytown South 6-2 220 Sr.
LB – Blake Pfeiffer, Jackson 6-1 220 Sr.
LB – Andrew Wilson, Raymore-Peculiar 6-4 225 Sr.
LB – Charles Edwards, Hazelwood East 5-11 175 Sr.
DB – E. J. Gaines, Fort Osage 5-10 165 Jr.
DB – B. J. Ray, Waynesville 6-3 205 Sr.
DB – Will Richards, Lee’s Summit West 5-11 190 Sr.
DB – James Woffard, Timberland 5-10 185 Sr.
Class 4
Offense
QB – Jordan Webb, Union 6-1 223 Sr.
RB – Solomon Watkins, Smith-Cotton 5-9 175 Sr.
RB – Anthony Pierson, Gateway Tech 6-0 180 So.
RB – Braxton Baker, Webb City 5-11 175 Jr.
WR – Devontee Bell, Clayton 5-11 155 Jr.
WR – Isaac Purnell, Union 5-10 172 Sr.
Line – Cody Holland, Neosho 6-5 295 Sr.
Line – Parker Graham, Webb City 6-7 255 Sr.
Line – Adam Fetters, Bolivar 6-4 310 Sr.
Line – Taylor Moreland, Harrisonville 6-2 220 Sr.
Line – Joey Kramer, Helias 6-6 260 Sr.
Kicker – Matt Sims, Hannibal 5-9 175 Jr.
Defense
Line – Sheldon Richardson, Gateway Tech 6-4 285 Sr.
Line – Austin Lepper, Webb City 6-3 215 Sr.
Line – Joe Windsor, Kearney 6-0 220 Jr.
Line – Christan Baker, Helias 6-2 235 Sr.
LB – Derek Lee, Bolivar 6-0 225 Sr.
LB – Cody Scheuler, Helias 5-10 180 Sr.
LB – Tyler Trout, Kearney 6-0 185 Sr.
LB – Julian Davis, Gateway Tech 6-1 225 Sr.
DB – Trey Derryberry, Carthage 6-1 175 Sr.
DB – Brad Lorang, Helias 6-0 205 Sr.
DB – Malcolm Stanley, Union 5-11 179 Sr.
DB – Boo Rodgers, Webb City 6-1 165 Jr.
