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WALTER POWELL, Hazelwood East (left), gets set to go against Devon Coleman, McCluer, last Saturday at East. Powell caught seven passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns as East won 34-0.

Story & photo by Jim Wieners

After their worst-ever start, 0-4, the Hazelwood East Spartans have won five in a row and will begin defending their Class Five State title Nov. 9.

As a result from their 34-0 home win last Saturday over McCluer and last Friday’s Pattonville 44-0 home win over Fort Zumwalt North Hazelwood East (5-2, Suburban North, 5-4 overall) wins Class Five, District Four (2-0) and will get a Nov. 4 regional round bye. After East plays Friday, 7 p.m., at Fort Zumwalt North (0-2 District, 3-6) the Spartans will host the sectional round, Nov. 9 against the runner up from District One (Eureka or Rockwood-Summit) or the runner up from District Two (Chaminade or Webster Groves).

“We got some seniors (especially Christian Kirksey, Don Shumpert and Walter Powell) that have done and incredible job (with the younger players), said head coach Mike Jones. Thanks to the senior leadership “our younger guys are playing better,” Jones added.

Last Saturday Powell caught seven passes for 198 yards and three of the four touchdowns, and a pair of two-point conversions, from sophomore Trey Hill, who completed 15 out of 25 passes for 250 yards.

Meanwhile McCluer (0-6, 1-1, 2-7) hosts Pattonville (1-5, 1-1, 2-7), Saturday, 1 p.m., and the winner plays the Nov. 4 regional game at the runner up from District Three (Kirkwood, Parkway Central or Parkway North) with that winner playing Nov. 9 at the winner of District Five (most likely Timberland).

CLASS SIX, DISTRICT FOUR — HAZELWOOD WEST (5-1 SNC, 7-2) AT HAZELWOOD CENTRAL (5-1, 8-1) SATURDAY, 10 a.m., McCLUER NORTH (4-2, 5-4) AT RIVERVIEW GARDENS (4-2, 6-3) SATURDAY, NOON (The Hazelwood West-Hazelwood Central game may move to Friday, 7 p.m., at Lindenwood University) — For the second year in a row all four teams are 1-1 in district play so the two winners this week will advance with the district champion being decided on head-to-head tiebreaker. Also the Hazelwood West-Hazelwood Central game will be for the outright Suburban North Conference title and bragging rights in the Hazelwood School District since they both beat East.

The District Four winner hosts the District Three runner up (CBC, Lafayette or Parkway South) Nov. 7, or Nov. 6 if Riverview wins, and the District Four runner up plays at the District Three winner Nov. 6.

Two Saturdays ago Riverview Gardens defeated Hazelwood West, 22-6, while McCluer North defeated Hazelwood Central,16-10. Last Saturday Hazelwood Central, with Kerry Gibson running for three touchdowns and passing for another, defeated Riverview, 27-20 while Hazelwood West, with Najal Cheeks carrying the ball 27 times for 196 yards and four touchdowns, defeated McCluer North, 35-24.

CLASS THREE, DISTRICT FIVE — JOHN BURROUGHS (1-1 +0, 5-3) AT TRINITY CATHOLIC (2-0 +17, 6-3) FRIDAY, 7 p.m., McCLUER SOUTH-BERKELEY (0-2 -17. 3-6) AT LUTHERAN NORTH (1-1, +0, 2-7) SATURDAY, 1 p.m. — Trinity controls their own destiny and can win their first district title with a win or by losing by eight points or less if Lutheran North wins by eight points or less. Trinity can qualify for state if they lose and Lutheran North also loses but the Titans would be eliminated if they lose by at least nine points and Lutheran North wins by at least nine points. Lutheran North, besides points, can also qualify for state with a win and a John Burroughs loss.

Last Saturday Trinity won at McCluer South-Berkeley, 66-62, while Lutheran North wrapped up ABC League play (2-3) with a 38-20 home win over John Burroughs (2-3). Nov. 4 the top two teams from District Five play the top two teams from District Six with the winners hosting the regional round games.

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