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Jim Wieners’ FloValley Prep Sports Roundup: Prep Football Begins
Hazelwood West, East Start at 2-0:
McCluer North Ends 17-Game Slump
By Jim Wieners
It has been quite some time since Hazelwood West and Hazelwood East Football each have a 2-0 start. For Hazelwood West it was nine years (2009) since their previous 2-0 start. In fact Hazelwood West started 2008 and 2009 6-0 but finished 7-3. The Wildcats in 2008 and 2009 lost three of their last four, losing each year to DeSmet Jesuit, Riverview Gardens and Hazelwood Central.
West and Central shared the 2008 Suburban North Conference title but Central won back-to-back Class Six State titles (2008, 2009).
For Hazelwood East it was 10 years (2008) since starting 2-0. In fact, Hazelwood East, which defeated CBC and DeSmet Jesuit the first two weeks of that year, won the Class Five State title that year, the Spartans last on the gridiron, on the final play against Raytown South. Hazelwood Central won the Class Six State title the next day.
HAZELWOOD WEST opened 2018 by beating a pair of “Tigers.” The Wildcats defeated Oakville 40-7 on Aug. 24 and Soldan International Studies 46-6 on Aug. 31.
At Oakville, the Wildcats trailed 7-0 early in the first quarter but countered the rest of the way with 40 unanswered points. Junior Darius Cooper threw eight pass completions for 155 yards and four touchdowns, two to junior Antonio Doyle. Cooper ran the ball nine times for 69 yards and a second-quarter touchdown while junior Jeremiah Johnson, with 200-yards rushing on 20 carries, also ran in for a second-quarter touchdown.
In a Friday after school game against Soldan International Studies, the Wildcats were in command taking a 25-0 led at halftime then were up 33-6 after three quarters. Cooper was doing most of the passing, completing eight for 204 yards. However, he was on the receiving end of three touchdown passes, two from senior Keyvion Hampton and the other from Doyle. Johnson had 135 yards rushing on 17 carries and a third quarter touchdown while junior Charles Davis ran for two more touchdowns.
In two games, senior Nate Griddine was involved in 20 total tackles, 10 per each game.
This Friday, Sept. 7 Hazelwood West has another 4:15 after school game as the Wildcats host the Mehlville Panthers. Then Suburban XII North play begins as the Wildcats face Hazelwood Central Sept. 13, 8:30 at Lindenwood University Harlan C. Hunter Stadium in St. Charles.
HAZELWOOD EAST found out on Aug. 31 that the third time is a charm against Lafayette when the Spartans defeated the host Lancers 28-14. The previous two years saw East losing each year in week two at Lafayette. After leading 12-7 at halftime, the Spartans put game away in the second half by outscoring the Lancers 16-7.
Senior Torre Dyson completed 10 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns to senior Jar’vion Hardimon, with five receptions for 118 yards. Dyson ran for a third-quarter touchdown, senior Tavon Henley made 14 total tackles and the Spartan defense made five quarterback sacks.
East opened on Aug. 25 in University City and for the second straight year the Spartans shut out the Lions, this time 40-0 as East, which out-scored University City 86-0 the last two games, have a three-game win streak against the Lions. Freshman Octavion Henderson threw a touchdown pass while junior William Jones-Napier made 11 total tackles.
Hazelwood East visits Lindbergh Friday at 7 p.m. then opens Suburban XII North play Sept. 14 with a 4:30 game against Riverview Gardens at Lindenwood University.
McCLUER NORTH stopped a 17-game losing streak dating back to 2016 when the Stars defeated visiting Sikeston 7-0 on Aug. 31 thanks to a third-quarter 25-yard touchdown pass from senior Roman Brown to Travon Springfield. The Stars were crushed 63-0 in Edwardsville, Ill., on Aug. 24. North hosts Parkway South Friday at 4 p.m. then opens Suburban XII North play at home Sept.15, 12 noon against McCluer.
HAZELWOOD CENTRAL scored only a third-quarter safety in a 37-2 loss Aug. 24 at DeSmet, and then rebounded Aug. 30 at home with a 28-6 win over Webster Groves as the Hawks added two more safeties to start the game. Junior Jared Peters rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown. The Hawks host Eureka Friday at 4:15 then takes on Hazelwood West Sept. 13, 8:30 at Lindenwood University.
