We are down to the final four teams in Class 6 and the last 16 teams in the other classes as district championship play wrapped up in the Missouri State High School Activities Association football championships this past weekend. The semifinals are also set for the MSHSAA boys’ soccer championships as seven local teams advanced to WorldWide Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo.
Let’s get caught up on all the action in this week’s edition of the Monday Morning Wrap-Up.
In one of the most anticipated games since the district bracket was released, MICDS broke open a tight game in the third quarter as the second-seeded Rams upended No. 1 seed Eureka 34-14 to advance to the state quarterfinals. MICDS quarterback Brian Gould put the Rams on the scoreboard with seven seconds remaining in the first quarter with a 15-yard touchdown run to give MICDS a 7-0 lead. The Wildcats answered with just a little more than four minutes remaining in the half as Jace Peterson found the end zone from a yard out to tie the contest at 7-7. MICDS quickly answered with 88 seconds remaining in the half as Gould connected with Henry Oliver for a 71-yard strike to put the Rams on top 14-7. MICDS put the game away in the last 1:29 of the third quarter as Winston Moore scored from a yard out and Dorian Reddic picked up a fumble as time expired in the period and raced 55 yards to extend the lead to 27-7. The Wildcats cut into to deficit as Kevin Emmanuel scored on a one-yard run to put the score at 27-14, but Moore sealed the deal for the Rams with a 42-yard run to give the Rams a 34-14 edge.
In Class 4 action, Hillsboro showed why they are the top team in Jefferson County as the top-seeded Hawks defeated No. 3 seed Festus 55-6 to move on to the quarterfinals next weekend. The Hawks raced out to a 21-6 lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back as their defense kept the Tigers out of the end zone for the remainder of the contest. Austin Romaine returned to the offensive side of the ball after injuring his hand late in the regular season and rushed for 179 yards while Jaxin Patterson added 123 more yards on the ground in the victory.
Photo Credit – Hillsboro High School
On the other side of the bracket in Class 4, Parkway Central and St. Dominic moved on to the quarterfinals after victories this past weekend.
The top-seeded Colts needed some late-game heroics to defeat No. 2 seed Vashon 17-7 to win their first district title since 2017. The Wolverines cracked the scoreboard first early in the first quarter as Zach Smith Jr. raced home from eight yards out to give Vashon an early 7-0 lead. Parkway Central responded midway through the second quarter as Sam Sailors scored from a yard out to even the game at 7-7. Conner Lander put the Colts on top as he hit a 22-yard field goal with three seconds remaining in the half to stake the Colts to a 10-7 halftime advantage. Michael Cooper extended the lead for Parkway Central early in the third quarter with a 55-yard touchdown run to give the Colts a 17-7 lead. Parkway Central then turned the game over to their defense as they held Vashon out of the end zone in the final quarter to give Parkway Central the district title.
St. Dominic won their second consecutive district final as the second-seeded Crusaders defeated No. 1 seed Hazelwood East 31-12 Saturday afternoon. The Crusaders raced out to a 24-0 lead in the first half as Sam Cross scored on a 45-yard run while Thomas Pulliam raced into the end zone from 10-yards out to put St. Dominic a 14-0 advantage after one quarter of play. Max Nash opened the second quarter with a 22-yard field goal to extend the lead to 17-0 and Reid Cisel grabbed a 32-yard pass from Kelly Welby for a score to push the lead to 24-0. After Hazelwood East scored early in the fourth, Cross found the end zone for the second time on a four-yard run to give St. Dominic a 31-6 advantage. Cross and Pulliam lead the St. Dominic rushing attack as Cross rushed for 144 with Pulliam adding another 139 yards on the ground.
Here is a list of the local district final scores from the weekend. We will have the matchups in the Friday edition of the Friday Fast Break.
Class 6:
- CBC over Marquette 42-7
- De Smet over Rock Bridge 44-21
Class 5:
- MICDS over Eureka 34-14
- Howell over Fort Zumwalt North 42-7
- Timberland over Helias 41-24
Class 4:
- Hillsboro over Festus 55-6
- St. Mary’s over Summit 48-3
- Parkway Central over Vashon 17-7
- St. Dominic over Hazelwood East 31-12
Class 3:
- Park Hills Central over Valle Catholic 30-21
- Cardinal Ritter over University City 54-8
- St. Charles West over Lutheran North 24-7
- Sullivan over St. Clair 14-13
Class 2:
- Lift for Life over New Madrid Central 66-26
- Blair Oaks over Borgia 54-14
Class 1:
- Duchesne over Brentwood 38-18
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
