Hazelwood Central, McCluer North Football Clash For First Win of 2012

By Jim Wieners

For the previous four years Hazelwood Central and McCluer North football teams clash for berths in the Class Six State Tournament, with Hazelwood Central advancing to the state championship game in 2008-2010 and winning in 2008-2009.

Last year both teams were eliminated by eventual state runner up CBC.

This Saturday, Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. McCluer North hosts Hazelwood Central in the Suburban North Conference opener for both teams with different twists. McCluer North was assigned to Class Five so there will be no rematch in the district playoffs.  Also the two rivals go into this game with something rare, both 0-2 and both seeking their first win of 2012.

Hazelwood Central opened the season with a 26-25 loss Aug. 24 at Webster Groves. Despite leading by 12 points, 19-7 after three quarters and Marlon Peal scoring two touchdowns, Webster outscored the Hawks, 19-6 in the fourth quarter as the Statesmen scored the game winner with 1:04 left. Last week Hazelwood Central was shut out 21-0, Sept. 1 in a game that was switched to DeSmet because of stormy weather from the remnants of Hurricane Isaac and DeSmet got two touchdowns from Marcus Jester.

McCluer North, once again, opened the season by being routed by Jefferson City. On Aug. 24 the Jays — with four Thomas LaPage touchdown passes, two in the third quarter to Scott Stegemann and another to Elijah Sherwood — led the Jays to a 39-6 rout as Sherwood ran in for another score. Last week, in a game rescheduled to Aug. 30 because of Isaac, the Stars were shut out at home by Lindbergh 6-0, as Grant Krueger scored the game’s only touchdown with 32 seconds left in the game.

McCLUER AT RIVERVIEW GARDENS-Sept 8, 1 p.m. — This will be the first of two consecutive road games McCluer plays whose opponent is nicknamed “Rams, ” the Comets visit Ladue in a non-conference game Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. The 1-1 Comets, 0-1 in the Suburban North, were shut out Aug. 24 at home by Hazelwood East, 12-0 in their Suburban North opener. Last week Isaac moved the game to Aug. 30 but the Comets made this home non- conference game a winner in a 52-0 whitewashing of Jennings as Aaron Willis, Wyatt Clark and Nat Miller each ran for two touchdowns and a two-point conversion.

Riverview opened the season Aug. 24 with a 27-24 loss at Gateway Tech despite a touchdown run and touchdown pass by Marlon Smith. Last weekend’s game against visiting Normandy was postponed as of Sept. 3 due to Isaac even though the game was suspended in the third quarter on Aug. 31 with Riverview leading 14-13. If the game was played before Sept. 7 as a make up the final score was not available.

PATTONVILLE AT HAZELWOOD EAST, Sept. 8, 1 p.m. — This will be the Suburban North opener for 0-2 Pattonville while Hazelwood East (1-0 Suburban North, 1-1 overall) is their second conference game, a tune up before a non conference clash in Jefferson City, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. Both teams lost to Class Five runner up Kirkwood as the Pioneers defeated visiting Pattonville, 38-10 on Aug 24 and defeated East 32-22 Sept. 2.

East opened the season with a 12-0 Suburban North shutout at McCluer as Ahmad Huddleston and Jarin Finley each scored a second-half touchdown. Pattonville, on Aug. 31, was routed at home by Lafayette, 48-0, as Deonte Robinson ran for four touchdowns in Pattonville’s first on campus game since Oct. 2010.

HAZELWOOD WEST AT RITENOUR, Sept. 7, 7 p.m. — It is the first Suburban North game for both teams as Hazelwood West was 0-2 in non-conference games while Ritenour is 1-1 after two road games. West was routed at home in their opener Aug. 25 as Edwardsville, Ill., scored 35 first-quarter points in a 56-0 rout the lost at Rockwood-Marquette, 19-6 on Aug. 30, rescheduled due to Isaac. Ritenour opened Aug. 24 with a 60-12 rout over host Cardinal Ritter while losing Aug. 31 at Parkway South, 7-0 on a fumble recovery return for a touchdown.

TRINITY CATHOLIC AT CARDINAL RITTER, Sept, 7, 7 p.m. — It will be the first game in the Archdiocesan Athletic Association Small School Division (new format) for both teams. Trinity, 1-1 won at home Aug. 24 over Wright City as DeSoto Dickson scored three touchdowns and then the Titans were routed Aug 31 at Farmington, 45-8. Ritter (0-2), besides being routed by Ritenour, was routed 45-20 Aug. 31 at St. Dominic, a team that will visit Trinity, Sept. 14 for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

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