By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
With three of the six 11-Man football champions in Missouri reigning from the Kansas City area, it's no stretch to say the power still lies in that part of the state. Not only are defending champions Blue Springs South (Class 6), Raymore-Peculiar (Class 5) and Harrisonville (Class 3) favored to rise to the challenge again, several other KC Metro schools are ready to pounce if the others can't get the job done.
South enters the season with some big holes to fill. But it does return all-state second team quarterback Blaine Dalton (1491 passing yards, 23 TDs and 8 INTs; 467 rushing yards and 7 more TDs) for his junior season. Also back, on the defensive side of the ball, is middle linebacker Steven Brooks, who was in on 88 tackles last season.
Raymore-Peculiar looks to fill some big holes as well. But it does have the momentum of winning three straight state championships it can fall back on. The Panthers will have to replace Missouri Coaches Association Class 5 Offensive Player of the Year running back Derrick Washington. Ray-Pec coach Tom Kruse does expect to find the quality athletes he needs to replace Washington and several other key losses due to graduation.
Harrisonville has won three of the past four Class 3 state championships, and it hopes to add one more. The Wildcats do return Kansas quarterback recruit Sean Ransburg, an all-state second team signal caller, for his senior season. Harrisonville has won 52 of its last 55 football games.
In the other three 11-Man classes, 2006 champions South Shelby (Class 1), Blair Oaks (Class 2) and Webb City (Class 4) are favored to repeat again. Last season's 8-Man champion Mound City should also repeat.
Missouri Top Fives
Class 1
1. South Shelby (13-1)
2. Marionville (13-1)
3. Gallatin (12-1)
4. Orrick (11-1)
5. Tipton (9-2)
Teams to Watch: Valle Catholic (7-4), Adrian (7-4)
Class 2
1. Blair Oaks (13-1)
2. Hogan Prep (12-2)
3. Lawson (9-3)
4. Mountain Grove (11-2)
5. Centralia
Teams to Watch: Hermann (11-2), Clark County (10-2), Brookfield (10-1)
Class 3
1. Harrisonville (14-0)
2. Kansas City St. Pius X (11-2)
3. Platte County (10-1)
4. St. Genevieve (9-4)
5. Ava (8-3)
Teams to Watch: Owensville (8-6), Grain Valley (10-2)
Class 4
1. Webb City (14-0)
2. Lee's Summit West (12-1)
3. Parkway Central (11-2)
4. Farmington (11-2)
5. Kearney (6-4)
Teams to Watch: Parkway North (11-1), Union (10-1)
Class 5
1. Raymore-Peculiar (10-3)
2. Kirkwood (10-1)
3. Lee's Summit (8-2)
4. Hazelwood East (8-2)
5. Park Hill (5-7)
Teams to Watch: McCluer North (11-1), Belton (7-3)
Class 6
1. Blue Springs South (13-0)
2. Blue Springs (9-2)
3. Rockhurst (6-3)
4. Jefferson City (7-5)
5. Rock Bridge (9-1)
Teams to Watch: Christian Brothers (11-2), Mehlville (8-4)
8-Man
1. Mound City (10-1)
2. St. Joseph Christian (10-2)
3. Worth County (9-3)
4. North Nodaway (8-2)
5. West Nodaway (8-2)
Teams to Watch: Miami (6-4), Stanberry (6-4), Hardin-Central (8-2)
Returning 2006 Missouri Football Coaches Association All-State Team Members and Other Players to Watch:
Class 1: Ryan Barnes LB, Polo; Preston Henry OL, 1st team All-State, Ethan Stine DL, 1st team All-State, Garrison Edgar DB, 1st team All-State, Marionville; Leslee Eubank DE, 1st team All-State, Taylor Eubank RB, 3rd team All-State, Orrick; Luke O'Laughlin DB, 1st team All-State, Justin Wilt TE, 2nd team All-State, Jordan Bowman LB, 2nd team All-State, Ethan Harris RB, 1st team All-State, Bryce Johnston LB, 1st team All-State, South Shelby; Erick Roe WR, 1st team All-State, Kyle Elder LB, 2nd team All-State, West Platte; Michael Lowther DB, 1st team All-State Thayer; Stephen Wood RB, 2nd team All-State, Corey Lee DL, 2nd team All-State, Gallatin; Quent Robinson OL, 2nd team All-State, Saint Vincent; Mike Giger OL, 2nd team All-State, North Platte; Brad Madison DE, 2nd team All-State, South Harrison; Zach Uding LB, 2nd team All-State, Valle Catholic; Brentlee Thomas DB, 2nd team All-State, Kyle Driskell P, 3rd team All-State, Rock Port; Logan Cornish QB, 3rd team All-State, Elijah Lasater TE, 3rd team All-State, Landon Eggerman DL, 3rd team All-State, Lockwood; Arvie Kilongkilong WR, 3rd team All-State, McAuley Catholic; Matthew Dickerson OL, 3rd team All-State, Wyatt Jackson OL, 3rd team All-State, Adrian; Michael Lantere DE, 3rd team All-State, Lone Jack.
Class 2: Justin Eiken WR, 1st team All-State, Michael Singer DE, 2nd team All-State, Calin Wilbers OL, 3rd team All-State, Brandon Otto WR, Blair Oaks; Deron Cooper LB, 1st team All-State, Cornell King DE, 3rd team All-State, Hogan Prep; Tyler Gordon OL, 2nd team All-State, Colby Bailey DB, 3rd team All-State, Brookfield; Logan Williams LB, 3rd team All-State, Mountain Grove; Javis Vineyard SB, 2nd team All-State, Cori Seth OL, 3rd team All-State, Clark County; Joseph Kassanavoid DB, 1st team All-State, Troy Green K, 3rd team All-State, Lawson; DeAndre Vandevender RB, 2nd team All-State, Kyle Hoyt OL, 2nd team All-State, Ethan Tabbert DL, Trenton; Brett Rawlings WR, 2nd team All-State, Lamar; Dyson Dick TE, 1st team All-State, Justin Moore DB, 2nd team All-State, Zach Sage DL, 3rd team All-State, Centralia; Rashad Fields DB, 1st team All-State, Caruthersville; Bill Rose K, 1st team All-State, Ochard Farm; Stevie Jones P, 1st team All-State, Wright City; Levi Terrell Ret, 1st team All-State, Grandview; Taylor Cameron WR, 2nd team All-State, Brady Houska LB, 3rd team All-State, Hermann; Bryant Allen DB, 2nd team All-State, Maplewood; Jake Buehler OL, 3rd team All-State, Crystal City; Clint Elmore DL, 3rd team All-State, Montgomery County; Derek Varns Ret, 3rd team All-State, Butler.
Class 3: Matt Angell LB, Brian Decker OL, Owensville; Sean Ransburg QB, 2nd team All-State, Harrisonville; Kyle Knox WR, 1st team All-State, Eric Barmann Ret, 1st team All-State, Jerome Spearman DL, 2nd team All-State, Platte County; Kellen Cox DB, 1st team All-State, Cole Higginbotham LB, 2nd team All-State, Mount Vernon; Joe Altenhofer OL, 1st team All-State, Kansas City Saint Pius X; Chance Davis RB, 2nd team All-State, Ava; Andrew Jones TE, 1st team All-State, Ronnie Ekis OL, 3rd team All-State, Smithville; Travis Allread DL, 1st team All-State, Moberly; Jerrell Coleman DL, 2nd team All-State, Jeremiah Oteh QB, MICDS (Saint Louis); Colby Shepherd WR, 3rd team All-State, Ronnie Herda QB, Nevada; Luke Harris DB, 3rd team All-State, Bolivar; Denny Pressitti RB, 2nd team All-State, Tyler Davis K, 3rd team All-State, Osage; Cody Fogle Ret, 2nd team All-State, Grain Valley; Curt Roth TE, 2nd team All-State, Saint Genevieve; Adam Hightower DB, 1st team All-State, Adam Polen OL, Oak Grove; Aaron Bates WR, 3rd team All-State, Park Hills Central; Matt McCoy OL, 3rd team All-State, Clinton; Sedrick Hemphill LB, 3rd team All-State, Corey Rowe DB, 3rd team All-State, New Madrid; Bryce Lochmann DB, 3rd team All-State, Pembroke Hill.
Class 4: Solomon Watkins, 2nd team All-State, Ethan Warren, 3rd team All-State, Sedalia; Montee Ball, 3rd team All-State, Timberland; Chad Kilgore, 3rd team All-State, Excelsior Springs; Darryl Grady, 3rd team All-State, Jennings; Landon Zerkel, 1st team All-State, Webb City; Kody Boles, 1st team All-State, Darian McKee, 2nd team All-State, Matt Holt, Wil Richards S, Lee's Summit West; Stephen Poston, 2nd team All-State, Carthage; Matt Jordan, Nathan Herrold, 2nd team All-State, Ozark; Jordan Webb, 2nd team All-State, Union; Heath Hennes, 1st team All-State, Parks Peterson, 2nd team All-State, Farmington; Mat Simms, 1st team All-State, Hannibal; Alex Bennett, 2nd team All-State, Michael Whittier, 3rd team All-State, Webster Groves; Anthony Thompson, 1st team All-State, Marshall; Zack Morrow, 3rd team All-State, McDonald County (Anderson); Jacob McKinley, 2nd team All-State, Parkway North (Saint Louis); Eric Henningsen, 3rd team All-State, Clifton Brown RB, St. Charles; Daniel Cassmeyer, 3rd team All-State, Helias; Will Compton OLB, North County.
Class 5: Ben Pritchett RB, 2nd team All-State, Zach Rasmussen QB, Belton; Bear Hollins LB, 2nd team All-State, Park Hill; Gavin Lutman WR, 1st team All-State, Sean Middleton K, 2nd team All-State, Andrew Wilson DE, Raymore-Peculiar; Brian Chiles OL, 2nd team All-State, Lee's Summit; Brandon Kirksey DE, 1st team All-State, DeMarco Paine DB, 2nd team All-State, Hazelwood East; Hulas King DL, 2nd team All-State, James Moore LB, McCluer North; LJ Fort RB, 2nd team All-State, Waynesville; Colton Engleman DB, 1st team All-State, Caleb Walston LB, 2nd team All-State, Park Hill South; Brad Schaefer OL, 2nd team All-State, Kirkwood; Matt Scheible DB, 2nd team All-State, Denodus O'Bryant Ret, 2nd team All-State, Washington; Dalton Krysa RB, 1st team All-State, Fort Osage; Deonta Wade OL, 2nd team All-State, Garrett Wade DE, 2nd team All-State, Lebanon; Conner Mach DB/WR, 1st team All-State, Blaine Gabbert QB Parkway West (Ballwin).
Class 6: Blaine Dalton QB, 2nd team All-State, Kellen Bartlett, 2nd team All-State, Shane Simpson, 1st team All-State, Blue Springs South; Carlos Anderson, 1st team All-State, Blue Springs; Travis Ruth, 1st team All-State, Jeremy Hampton, 1st team All-State, Ben Licklider, 2nd team All-State, Jefferson City; Rayonn Simmons, 1st team All-State, Christian Brothers (Saint Louis); Justin Davis, 1st team All-State, Joe Day, 2nd team All-State, T.J. Moe QB Fort Zumwalt West; Kyle Harris, 1st team All-State, Hazelwood Central; Drew Temple RB, Rockhurst.
8-Man: Ryan Atkins DL, 2nd team All-State, Michael Livengood OL, 2nd team All-State, Taylor Sharp DB, 1st team All-State, Patrick Treese RB, 2nd team All-State, Mound City; Adam Nelson DE, 1st team All-State; Nathaniel Runde OL, 1st team All-State, Austin Hann OL, 1st team All-State, Todd Corbet DL, 1st team All-State, Kyler Hiatt DE, 2nd team All-State, Andrew Davidson LB, 2nd team All-State, Worth County; Quentin Blackford LB, 1st team All-State, North Nodaway; Kevin Perkins LB, 2nd team All-State, Skyler McGiness KR, 1st team All-State, West Nodaway; Craig Newman DL, 2nd team All-State, Stanberry; Lucas Milligan DL, 2nd team All-State, Ethan Burk DB, 2nd team All-State, Daniel Carpenter OL, 2nd team All-State, Hardin-Central; Scott Anderson P, 1st team All-State, South Holt.
