In today’s edition of the Friday Fast Break, we begin to preview the 2023 Fall Sports season and football will take center stage every Friday.
We kick things off with three teams that expect to make some noise in their conferences and the state playoffs in the coming year.
Lutheran North returns a lot of firepower to the offensive side of the ball, and they will need that as they play arguably the toughest schedule in the state. Pattonville returns a great core from the 5-5 team last year and will compete for a conference crown with some young men ready to play with the older guys. North Point enters its second year as a varsity program after winning a pair of games in the inaugural season and has even more depth on both sides of the ball that will help to improve the win total from last season.
Lutheran North Crusaders
- Head Coach: Kyle Wagner – 3rd year as HC (6th overall)
- Years at School and Coaching Record: 14-9 as HC (51-14 overall as coordinator/HC
- Conference: Metro League Conference
- Last Year’s Overall and Conference Record: 7-5 (3-0 Conference Champs)
- Starters Returning – 6 Offense, 6 Defense
- Top Returning Players: LB Karvon Jefferson, Ath Trey Bass, QB Dakarri Hollis, DT David Gudger, OT/DE Louis Jordan, SS Xavier Chapman, and LB/RB Mikel Harris
- Players to Watch: QB Jonathan Moore 2027, WR/CB Mike Clark 2026, TE Ke’mel Salone 2026, LB James “Booby” Bryant 2027, Eli Chance DL/OT 2027, RB/LB Makhi Walker 2027, TE/DE, Darron Boone Jr. 2027
Season Outlook: “We play a tough schedule yet again, stated Wagner. “One of the toughest in the state. I see us winning some of those games that we let slip away as we are a year wiser. Our culture is fully in place and we have a very talented young team that will have a chance to make a run. We only have 7 seniors so I expect us to grow exponentially before playoff time.”
Pattonville Pirates
- Head Coach: Steve Smith
- Years at School and Coaching Record: 25 (14 as head coach) 69-76
- Conference: Suburban Yellow Pool
- Last Year’s Overall and Conference Record: 5-5, 2-3
- Starters Returning – Terrell Porter Jr., Michael Allen Jr., DeAndre Rush Jr., Bryan Orta, Clinton Griffin III, Xavier Stepney, Daniel Davis, Lawrence Jackson
- Top Returning Players: Terrell Porter Jr., Michael Allen Jr., DeAndre Rush Jr
- Players to Watch: Terrell Porter Jr., Michael Allen Jr., DeAndre Rush Jr., Kameron Eleby, Jordan Kedl-Thomas
Season Outlook: _We have a good blend of young up-and-coming players to go along with the returning starters. If we can stay healthy and continue to grow as a unit, we could do some special things together. We have a great group of kids who embrace working hard and are very coachable. Excited to see what they do on the field together.
North Point Grizzlies
- Head Coach: Alex Zangriles
- Years at School and Coaching Record: 3rd Year / 2-9
- Conference: GAC Central
- Last Year’s Overall and Conference Record: 2-8 (1-5 in Conference)
- Starters Returning – Offense=11 Defense=10
- Top Returning Players: QB-Hoyt Gregory WR-Trey Trennepohl OL-Carter Briddell, Luke Gertken, Levi Crosby, Lukas Carroll DL-Mathias Abunaw LB-Riley Deslatte, Kolton Witbeck, Peyton Briddell DB-Joel Massey
- Players to Watch: QB-Hoyt Gregory WR-Trey Trennepohl OL-Carter Briddell, Luke Gertken DL-Mathias Abunaw LB-Riley Deslatte, Kolton Witbeck, Peyton Briddell
Season Outlook: Last year we learned a lot as a program. Our Conference has a lot of great coaches and programs, and we were really proud of how our guys stayed positive and kept believing in each other, which led to a great offseason. The hard work, dedication, and commitment to the weight room and speed training has been evident. We have continued to establish our culture and program standards in the offseason, which has translated to growth as a program. We hope to lean on our leadership as they continue to grow into those roles, and hope to take steps forward week to week. On the field, we return with a lot of experience and look forward to taking the next steps as a team.
Jim Powers has been covering prep sports in the St. Louis area for 15+ years and a part of the Missouri State High School Activities Association Championship Broadcasts for the past 11 years. Powers is also a part of the Fox 2 Verlo Mattress Prep Zone Friday nights at 10:10 during the football and basketball seasons. If you have a prep sports story, please contact Jim at japowers2421@yahoo.com. Follow Jim at @hssportscaravan
