Lutheran North Visits Blair Oaks

In Class 2 Semifinals on Saturday

By Jim Wieners

For the first time since 2002, Lutheran North Football will be playing a state semifinal game, on the road in Class Two, Saturday at 1 p.m. when the Crusaders visit Blair Oaks High School, located just south of Jefferson City in Wardsville.

The winner plays for the Class Two State Championship Nov. 30, 3 p.m. at Faurot Field on the University of Missouri Campus. The opponent will be Lamar, a seven time state champion seeking their eight in a row, or Lathrop, in their first state semifinal since losing in 1972 to Tarkio 25-12.

In 2002, Lutheran North lost 14-7 in the Class Two semifinals at Centralia. That ended the Crusader’ hopes for an undefeated season at 12-1

Blair Oaks is in their eighth state semifinal since 2004 and won state titles in 2004 and 2006. Last year Blair Oaks played in Class Three, winning the State quarterfinal at McCluer South-Berkeley 32-16 before losing 49-20 in the state semifinal at home against eventual State Champion Maryville. Two years ago, the Falcons lost 34-10 in the Class Three quarterfinals at home to eventual semifinalist McCluer South-Berkeley.

Since 2012, Blair Oaks is 84-10 and this season the Falcons are entering the semifinal game with a 13-0 record. That includes winning the season opener at Kansas City Liberty over Maryville 38-35, as the Falcons avenged last year’s semifinal loss to the Spoofhounds, which plays Trinity Catholic Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Class Three Semifinals (see related article).

Lutheran North is in their 12th State Semifinal since 1981, is 6-5 in the semifinals and is 5-1 in state finals, last winning in 1999. Lutheran North is on a 10-game winning streak, including six shutouts. The Crusaders opened the season with

three losses — first 20-6 at LaGrange Park-Nazareth Academy, which plays St. Charles (Ill.) North Saturday for the Illinois Class 7A State title, second 34-14 in East St. Louis to Homewood-Flossmoor, which finished in the Illinois Class 8A Quarterfinals, and third to Cincinnati LaSalle.

Lutheran North tuned up for a shutout run in Class Two, District Two with a 40-0 senior night shutout of Class Five, District Two Runner Up Chaminade. Then, LHSN whitewashed their first two opponents in Class Two, District Two. First, it was 83-0 over winless Grandview and, second, it was 68-0 over 2-9 Duchesne.

24th District Title for Crusaders

On a snowy Nov. 9 Lutheran North won their 24th District title since 1979 and repeated as Class Two, District Two champions with a 51-0 shut out over Lift For Life Academy Charter.     The Hawks had a 10-game winning streak sandwiched in between losses two Lutheran High Schools (St. Charles County and North).

Lutheran North scored 23 points in the first quarter, 14 in the fourth and played the last 17:19 with a rolling clock. Sophomore running back Chris Childs rushed for 91 yards and five touchdowns while freshman running back Ali Wells rushed for 135yards and a first quarter touchdown.

In the Nov.16 quarterfinal Lutheran North returned to Caruthersville, in the Missouri boot heel, and the Crusaders easily won 51-8 but not before Caruthersville snapped the LHSN four game (actually 18 quarter) shutout streak. Last year Lutheran North won easily over Caruthersville 64-7.

This year the Crusaders outscored Caruthersville 37-0 in the second half, leaving the final 19:35 of the fourth quarter with a rolling clock. Junior Jordan Smith rushed for 102 yards, four touchdowns and a pair to two point conversions while passing for a pair of second half touchdowns.

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