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BY JIM WIENERS

There is a record for most times finishing as runner up in Missouri State High School Activities Association football and it is nine by Hazelwood Central.

Last Saturday at the Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Hazelwood Central had no plans on padding to that record. And the Hawks did just that in defeating Blue Springs South, 25-20, to win the Class Six State title.

It was the fourth state title for Hazelwood Central, including a 1972 co-championship by Hazelwood High with Kansas City Southwest, the most by any Suburban North Conference team. It came less than 23 hours after Hazelwood East won the Class Five title marking the first time the Hazelwood School District won two state football titles. The last time any city, school district or community had two state football titles was 1992 when the city of Ste. Genevieve saw Valle Catholic win Class 1A and Ste. Genevieve Public win Class 3A.

It was also the 16th MSHSAA State titles in all sports for the Hawks, three as Hazelwood High and 13 as Hazelwood Central.

“Phenomenal,” said head coach Richard Nixon, “two high schools in the same district won the state title.” A number of Hazelwood East players and interim head coach Mike Jones, according to a published report, were at the game, each paying the $11 spectator admission fee. “Like Hazelwood East we had to win it too,” Nixon said.

“I’m extremely proud of these guys,” said Nixon. “It feels great,” said senior Marcus Cotton. Being the second St. Louis team to win Class Six Football (DeSmet won in 2005) is “all we dreamed of,” Cotton adds.

It was the third title for assistant coach Norm Ryan, who was offensive coordinator in 1985 and head coach in 1996. “Amazing,” said Ryan, “the kids get better every year.”
Junior Kerry Gibson, who transferred from Hazelwood East to Hazelwood Central when the Hazelwood School District high school boundaries shifted, found senior Maurice Scott behind the Blue Springs South defense and took a 59-yard pass for the game-winning touchdown with 7:01 left in the game. However the game was still in doubt until the Hawks got the ball at their own 27 with four seconds left on downs and the Jaguars were out of time outs. After a time out the Hawks took a knee and celebrated.

Hazelwood Central had to overcome penalties in the game, 15 for 116 yards, especially in the first half with seven penalties for 71 yards. Junior Brian Walker had a torn ACL, according to Nixon, And Blaine Dalton had two first half passes for Blue Springs South.
But Hazelwood Central had a pair of second-quarter touchdowns by senior Kameron Williams, a four-yard run with 10:08 left and a 45-yard pass from Gibson, with no time left in the first half. The Hawks failed on two conversion attempts. “When we were down by 2 at halftime (14-12 with the seven penalties plus other mistakes),” said Nixon, “I’m extremely couraged.”

Meanwhile Blue Springs South, who lost three fumbles and had a pass intercepted in the first half, lost a pair of fumbles by Winston Wright in their first two possessions of the second half and sophomore Cortland Dunlap the first fumble five seconds into the half. Scott took advantage from the Jaguar 16 and ran it in from there.

Hazelwood Central had only one turnover and that was nearly fatal. With 10:28 left in the game Randy Hailer intercepted a Gibson pass at the Jaguar 19 and returned it to the South 30. Four plays and eight yards later Dalton threw a nine-yard pass to Trayon Jones, who lateraled it to Wright and Wright ran 53 yards for a Jaguar touchdown, with 9:10 left but Brian Geraghty missed on the point after attempt putting Blue Springs South ahead 20-18.
Hazelwood Central responded on the next possession with the eventual winning score, Gibson to Scott. Blue Springs South used two of their timeouts before getting the ball for the last time with 1:55 left. But Blue Springs South used their last timeout with 53 seconds left on a first down at the Hawk 17 but lost 10 yards, including a five yard penalty and an incomplete pass on fourth down sealed their fate.

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