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Central Going for 2nd Straight 6A Title Hawks’ Defense Faces High-Powered Blue Springs in 2009 Show-Me Bowl
By Jim Wieners
Through 13 high school football games 12-1 Hazelwood Central defensively has allowed less than 10 points per game but this Friday, 7:30, in the Class Six Championship game at the Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, the Hawks will face an opponent that is relentless.
Blue Springs (12-1) offensively has scored nearly 42 points per game. In 10 games Blue Springs has scored 42 points or more, with three of those games going over 50 points. In two games against Kansas City-Rockhurst, a 1-1 split, scored a combined total of 26 points, three in a week three loss and 23 in a quarterfinal win. Last Friday in the Class Six semifinals Blue Springs scored a 35-5 home semifinal win over previously unbeaten DeSmet.
Five of the 13 Hazelwood Central opponents scored in double figures including 16 by McCluer North dealing the Hawks their only loss, 16-10. Riverview Gardens was the only team to score 20 but Hazelwood Central scored two last-minute touchdowns to defeat the Rams, 27-20, and avoided playoff elimination.
On the other hand Hazelwood Central on offense has averaged nearly 31.5 points per game, scored over 40 points two times and scored less than 20 points two times. The Hawks offense will face a Blue Springs defense that has allowed just over 14 points per game, allowed 21 points three times and less than six two times. Both teams have a shutout each.
Both Hazelwood Central and Blue Springs had one common opponent; Columbia-Rock Bridge. Hazelwood Central won in Columbia in week two, 31-14. Blue Springs won at home in the last week of Class Six, District Eight, 49-14.
This will be the second time these two teams will meet in the Show-Me Bowl. In 2003, six years ago Blue Springs piled on the points early and often in dealing Hazelwood Central their worst championship game loss, 53-0. Blue Springs, making their fourth title-game appearance, is unbeaten in three championship games, including a 28-12 rout of 5A Hazelwood East in 2001 and outscored 5A Parkway Central, 38-35 in 1992.
Hazelwood Central will be making their 14th championship game appearance including Hazelwood High’s 1972 tie, 6-6 with Kansas City Southwest. This will be a Missouri State High School Activities Association Show-Me Bowl record, surpassing Rockhurst, but the Hawks own a MSHSAA record nine runner-up finishes including four losses to Rockhurst, two to Jefferson City and one each to Joplin-Parkwood and DeSmet. The Hawks are defending Class Six State Champions after defeating Blue Springs South, 25-20, and have defeated Lee’s Summit (1985) and Oak Park (1996) in Class 5A title games.
