Blog

By Jim Wieners

Some people believe that homecoming football games should be against weak opponents so they can enjoy the dance after the game.

However there may be exceptions and a strong opponent may mean an enjoyable game. Such is the case at McCluer North this Saturday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m. as the Stars play host to Hazelwood Central with first place on the line in the Suburban XII (12) North Conference.

This will be the fifth consecutive home game for McCluer North and the Stars have won the last three games, including two in the Suburban XII North, after losing the first two. Hazelwood Central is unbeaten after five games including the last two in the Suburban XII North.

McCluer North’s offensive in the first four weeks combined to score only 46 points including 10 in the fourth quarter of the Sept. 13 win (10-6) over Hazelwood East. One week later, Sept. 20, the Stars scored 31 second-quarter points in romping over Hazelwood West, 66-7 as DeMonte Morris passed for three touchdowns and Ryyan Wilkins ran for three more.

Mentioning about the McCluer North slow start through the first four games, prior to playing Hazelwood West, Hazelwood Central Head Coach Van Vanatta said the Stars “will come out with a whole other game plan.” With receivers like Ryan Stokes and Harry Ballard Vanatta said the Hawk defensive secondary will be “a good test to see who we are.”

Hazelwood Central is coming off a 60-0 home whitewashing of Riverview Gardens on Sept. 20 as the Hawks scored 28 first quarter points and led 54-0 at halftime. Vanatta said he played all of his healthy players on the 68-man roster in the game plus extras from the lower level teams. Plus, Vanatta said the Hawks are “using our running backs by committee” since Kevin Batt broke his foot in the Sept. 30 home win over Lafayette.

“We did what we needed to do” said Vanatta, “We executed on all cylinders. We don’t play the opponent; we play the game of football.” Hazelwood Central, on Sept. 12, won 34-12 at McCluer as Mike Glass threw three touchdown passes.

On Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. McCluer North plays in Riverview Gardens Homecoming while Hazelwood Central visits Hazelwood East.

HAZELWOOD WEST-HAZELWOOD EAST — This Saturday 2 p.m. Hazelwood West will play their homecoming game against Hazelwood East and both teams are 1-1 in the Suburban XII North. Overall, on the other hand, Hazelwood West is 2-3 while Hazelwood East is 30-2.

Hazelwood West, on Sept. 13, won 39-0 at Riverview Gardens and it was sandwiched in between two lopsided losses, to Pattonville 50-0 on Sept. 6 and at McCluer North. After hosting Hazelwood East the Wildcats host McCluer Oct. 4 at 1 p.m.

Two days later, Sept. 15, after the loss to McCluer North Hazelwood East defeated University City 12-9 in the completion of the game suspended Aug. 23 due to excessive heat and the Spartans were trailing 9-6 when play was halted with 11:02 left in the third quarter. East, less than two minutes after play resumed won on a 35-yard Tyrone Johnson to Rajai Perkins touchdown pass. Five days later, Sept. 20, Hazelwood East won at home 43-0 over McCluer.

TRINITY CATHOLIC-McCLUER-RIVERVIEW GARDENS — Trinity Catholic will be playing their Homecoming Game Friday (Sept. 26), 7 p.m. against John F. Kennedy then on Oct. 3, also at 7 p.m., play their final Archdiocesan Athletic Association Small Division game at Bishop DuBourg. Meanwhile, Saturday at 1 p.m. 1-4 McCluer hosts 0-5 Riverview Gardens in a battle of 0-2 Suburban XII North teams.

Trinity, 2-3 overall, evened its mark in the AAA Small Division to 1-1 on Sept. 12 with a 19-18 home win over Lutheran St. Charles County as Darion Bolden scored two touchdowns. On Sept. 19 Bolden returned a short third-quarter punt for a touchdown but the Titans lost 15-7 at St. Charles High as two Trinity touchdowns were called back because of penalties. Malcolm Alston scored two St. Charles touchdowns.

“We’ll get better,” said Trinity head coach Leon Hite at St. Charles High. “We’re a Class Two team playing a Class Four team (St. Charles.”

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