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Read MoreHazelwood Central, SLUH, CBC, LHSN Host District Openers
By Jim Wieners
After the Hazelwood Central 31-0 home shutout of Columbia-Hickman Oct. 18 head coach Van Vanatta made a comment perhaps about the Hawks but that should include every Missouri State High School Activities Association Football team beginning Friday, Oct. 24.
“Every kid is fighting for their lives,” Vanatta said.
Actually Hazelwood Central opens Class Six, District Two playoff action Saturday, Oct. 25 with a 1 p.m. game against Francis Howell Central (2-7). Hazelwood Central is 9-0, “an accomplishment,” Vanatta said, and Central is coming off their second consecutive shutout The Hawk defense, who “stepped up, is young and smarter” according to Vanatta, had five takeaways against Hickman including four pass interceptions, two by Cameron Price, and a safety in the first three minutes while on offense Mike Glass threw three TD passes.
The Hazelwood Central-Francis Howell Central winner plays Oct. 31 or Nov. 1, if MSHSAA allows, against St. Louis University High or Hazelwood West. SLUH hosts the district opener Friday at 7 p.m. and the Junior Billikens are 6-2 coming off a 38-35 upset win Oct. 17 at Kirkwood. HAZELWOOD WEST is 2-7 following a 13-9 loss Oct. 17 at Seckman in Imperial.
CBC is the top seed in Class Six, District Two and the 9-0 Cadets open at home Friday, 7 p.m. against 1-8 DeSmet in a rematch of Metro Catholic Conference rivals. The winner plays Oct. 31 against Francis Howell North or Ritenour, a pair of teams that are each 3-6 going to the Friday match. CBC, who won 60-0 at DeSmet on Sept. 26, overcame a 26-17 deficit Oct. 17 to win 40-26 at Columbia-Rock Bridge.
In Class Two, District Five Lutheran North is the top seed and will likely play Saturday; 1 p.m. against 2-7 Principia in a rematch of the Aug. 30 contest at Principia and Lutheran North won 72-7. Lutheran North is 8-1 after winning 35-6 at home Oct. 18 over St. Mary’s as Justin Baker threw two touchdown passes.
The Lutheran North-Principia winner plays Oct. 31 or Nov. 1, if MSHSAA allows, against Maplewood-Richmond Heights or TRINITY CATHOLIC. Friday Maplewood hosts Trinity in a battle of 3-6 teams and Trinity was shut out Oct. 18 at Jennings, 40-0.
McCluer North, Chaminade Have Class Five, District Two Rematch
McCluer North and Chaminade are each 6-3 going into Friday’s 7 p.m. Class Five, District Two opener at Chaminade is a rematch from Nov. 1, 2013 at Fort Zumwalt South — a see-saw affair won going away by McCluer North, 38-28. The winner plays Oct. 31 at top-seeded Webster Groves — who is 6-1 after Oct. 18, thanks to winning 49-14 at McCLUER, who plays at Ladue Saturday or Friday at a neutral site.
McCluer North won a see-saw affair Oct. 17 at Lafayette, 26-23 as DeMonte Morris, who ran for a touchdown and a pair of two-point conversions, threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Stokes with 24 seconds to go in the game.
HAZELWOOD EAST will be playing in Class Five, District Two Friday, 7 p.m. at 6-3 Pattonville in a battle of former Suburban North Conference rivals and the winner plays Ladue or McCluer Oct. 31 or Nov. 1 if MSHSAA allows. Hazelwood East is 5-4 after being shut out 38-0 Oct. 17 at Eureka.