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Hawks, Stars, Spartans Advance To MSHSAA Football Sectionals
BY JIM WIENERS
Hazelwood Central, McCluer North and Hazelwood East football teams have qualified to compete in the Missouri State High School Activities Association post-season playoffs, beginning with the sectional round.
In Class Six Hazelwood Central (8-2) will be in Chesterfield this Friday at 7 p.m. as the Hawks play at Rockwood-Marquette (4-6) while McCluer North (5-5) is slated to host Lafayette (8-2) Saturday, starting time may be 1 p.m. or 1:30. The two winners play each other Nov. 14 or 15 in the quarterfinal round.
Rockwood-Marquette and Lafayette finished in the top two of District Three while McCluer North and Hazelwood Central shared the top two spots and 2-1 records in District Four but McCluer North won the head to head tiebreaker with a 31-30 win on Oct. 18. Regardless Hazelwood Central head coach Richard Nixon says he sees no difference in preparing for week nine and week 10 and preparing for this Friday’s game Hazelwood East (7-3) went 3-0 in Class Five, District Four and had a Regional Round bye so instead of having to play this past Wednesday the Spartans are playing this Monday, site and time not available at press time since Gorzynski Field has no lights. Kirkwood (5-4) and Wentzville-Holt (7-3) played Wednesday and the winner plays against East on Monday.
Hazelwood Central rebounded from their loss to McCluer North to win at Riverview Gardens, 38-26, and at Hazelwood West, 23-6. McCluer North, after their game at Hazelwood Central, returned home Oct. 25 with a 28-10 loss to Hazelwood West but bounced back last Saturday to outscore Riverview Gardens, 69-48. Hazelwood Central and Hazelwood West shared the Suburban North Conference title (6-2) the first since 1988 for Hazelwood Central and the first ever for Hazelwood West, who was eliminated from the playoffs with a 1-2 district mark including a 20-0 loss Oct. 18 at Riverview Gardens.
“That sucks!” said Hazelwood West head coach Keith Herring. “The kids did a good job but hey wanted to win it outright.” On the other hand the co-championship for Hazelwood Central was great, said Nixon.
Hazelwood East completed their three-game district sweep by defeating McCluer, 12-6 and Fort Zumwalt North, 48-7. Hazelwood East is on an eight day break and they were assured of that following their Oct. 25 win at McCluer. “That gives us an extra opportunity to heal,” said h Mike Jones.
McCLUER (7-3) played at Wentzville Holt (10-0) Wednesday in the Class Five Regionals and the winner plays at Waynesville (6-4) Monday 7 p.m. in the Sectionals. McCluer secured a Regional game with a 40-24 win last Friday at Pattonville.
