All 3 Hazelwood District Football

Teams Host 2019 Season-Openers

By Jim Wieners

All three high schools varsity football teams in the Hazelwood School District will each host the opening games of the 2019 season.

Hazelwood Central — defending five-time Suburban Conference, XII North Division Champions, after winning the last two Suburban North Conference titles — hosts DeSmet Jesuit Saturday, Aug. 31, at 12 noon. Hazelwood East, coming off three consecutive years as district runner up, hosts University City Saturday at 1 p.m. Hazelwood West — which won their first post-season district game, since the Missouri State High School Activities Association went to bracket play inn 2012, hosts the 2019 kickoff Friday, 3:45, against Oakville.

Ferguson-Florissant School District, which has only two varsity football teams, opens the season Friday with a pair of 4:15 games. McCluer North hosts Illinois High School Association Class 8A Quarterfinalist Edwardsville while McCluer visits Jennings.

HAZELWOOD CENTRAL is coming off a 7-3 season, 5-1 against Suburban XII North teams (the loss was in Class Six, District One, not counting in Suburban XII North play), and 2-2 outside the Suburban XII North. The first round exit in district playoffs is the earliest since MSHSAA district bracket play began in 2-12. After Saturday the Hawks will play four straight road games, including 7 p.m. Sept. 6 at Webster Groves (0-10 last year), followed by four consecutive home games

DeSmet Jesuit is coming off a 9-3 season with two losses to eventual Class Six State Champion CBC (Sept. 14 at DeSmet in the Metro Catholic Conference and Nov. 9 at CBC in the District One Final). Hazelwood Central, since 2002, holds a 10-6 lead over DeSmet, which beat the Hawks in the 2005 Class Six State Final. Against Webster Groves, the Hawks, since 2012, won two out of three.

   HAZELWOOD EAST was 8-4 overall in 2018, 3-2 in the Suburban XII North, both losses to the other Hazelwood Schools. The Spartans were Class Four, District Three runner up to eventual state runner up Mary Institute-Country Day School. University City was 1-9 last year, only defeating St.

Charles High. Since 2014, Hazelwood East is 5-1 over the Lions with the Spartans winning twice last year.

Hazelwood East will play the first three games at Gorzynski Field including a rare Friday afternoon game, Sept. 6, 4:15 against Lafayette. The Spartans defeated the Lancers in the 1989 Class 5A State Semifinal as East went on to win their first of three state titles. Since 1999 Hazelwood East and Lafayette (3-7 last year)-are 2-2 with the Spartans winning 28-14   last year

HAZELWOOD WEST is coming off a 7-4 season, 4-1 in the Suburban XII North, losing to Hazelwood Central. The Wildcats avenged the loss to the Hawks in the opening round of Class Six, District One before losing to CBC. The ‘Cats won last year over the Tigers after losing in 2006 and 2007 to Oakville, which only won by forfeit over McCluer in a 1-9 season

Oakville is a Mehlville School District high school and Hazelwood West hosts Mehlville Sept. 13 at 4:15. In between, Hazelwood West visits Soldan International Studies Sept. 7 at 12 noon. The ‘Cats are 2-0 the Tigers (4-6 in 2018), winning last year and in 2009.

McCLUER NORTH was 5-8 last year 2-3 in the Suburban XII North and was Class Five, District Three runner up to state quarterfinalist. After playing Edwardsville (8-4 in 2019), which whitewashed McCluer North 63-0 last year, the Stars visit Sikeston Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. The Stars defeated 4-6 Sikeston 7-0 last year.

McCLUER, 0-10 last year and losers of 16 straight since 2017 will play three consecutive road games including their first appearance against Lutheran South (6-5, Class Three District Two runner up last year) Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. Since 2008, McCluer is 5-2 over Jennings but the Warriors (7-4 last year) defeated the Comets the last two meetings.

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