The final weekend of the high school football regular season is here, bringing several important matchups as teams gear up for postseason play.
The big game in the Metro East comes on Friday night as nationally-ranked IMG Academy from Bradenton, Florida pays a visit to East St. Louis to take on the undefeated Flyers. IMG Academy enters the game ranked No. 6 in MaxPrep and No. 7 in the USA Today Super 25 rankings. East St. Louis is currently 8-0 with impressive victories over Imotep (PA) and Illinois Wilmette Academy this season. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
A huge matchup on the Missouri side features state championship contenders Cardinal Ritter and Lutheran North, who will meet on Friday night at Ritter. Ritter is ranked No. 1 in Class 5 and currently riding a 35-game winning streak while Lutheran North is ranked No. 1 in Class 4. Both teams feature tremendous talent on both sides of the ball.
One more big game of note will feature a Missouri vs. Illinois matchup as DeSmet visits Edwardsville. Both teams are strong postseason contenders in their respective large-school classes. Both teams are coming off losses against formidable opponents last weekend. DeSmet lost to Missouri power Cardinal Ritter last week while Edwardsville is coming off a tough 14-7 loss to Southwestern Conference rival East St. Louis.
Week 8 standouts
Running back Madden Irving of Chaminade rushed for 315 yards on 35 carries and a school-record seven touchdowns in the Red Devils 62-35 victory over Hillsboro.
Quarterback Carson Boyd of Cardinal Ritter rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass in the Lions’ 28-3 victory over DeSmet.
Receiver Dekari Weaver of Chaminade had six receptions for 172 yards and a touchdown in the Red Devils 62-35 victory over Hillsboro.
Quarterback Zion Taylor of Cahokia completed 12 of 17 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns in the Comanches 26-9 victory over Collinsville.
Running back Martez Stephenson of Lutheran North rushed for 246 yards on 11 carries and five touchdowns in the Crusaders’ 71-7 victory over Lutheran St. Charles
Running back Jordan Taylor of SLUH rushed for 281 yards on 28 carries and three touchdowns in the Jr. Bills 31-3 victory over St. Mary’s
What’s on tap for Week 8
Thursday, October 24
Kirkwood at Hazelwood Central, 6 p.m.
Jennings at University City, 6 p.m.
Timberland at Fort Zumwalt North, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 25
Parkway West at Hazelwood East, 6 p.m.
Rockhurst at SLUH, 6 p.m.
Summit at Ritenour, 6 p.m.
Rock Bridge at Francis Howell, 7 p.m.
St. Mary’s at CBC, 6 p.m.
Eureka at Pattonville, 7 p.m.
Webster Groves at Seckman, 7 p.m.
Ladue at Fox, 7 p.m.
MICDS at Mexico, 7 p.m.
Lafayette at Marquette, 7 p.m.
Warrenton at Fort Zumwalt South, 7 p.m.
Festus at Jackson, 7 p.m.
Chaminade at Hickman, 7 p.m.
Lindbergh at Mehlville, 7 p.m.
Saturday, October 26
Clayton at Riverview Gardens, 11 a.m.
Gateway STEM at Solda n, noon
Roosevelt at Miller Career Academy, noon
Confluence at John Burroughs, 1 p.m.
St. Dominic at Westminster, 1 p.m.
Earl’s World
Several St. Louis area football standouts were front and center in Mizzou’s big come-from-behind 21-17 victory over Auburn last Saturday in Columbia. First and foremost was starting quarterback Brady Cook (Chaminade) who injured his ankle in the first quarter, went to the hospital, then came back in the fourth quarter to lead the Tigers back from a 17-6 deficit. Receiver Mookie Cooper (Trinity Catholic) had a 78-yard reception to set up a touchdown. Running back Jamal Roberts (St. Mary’s) scored the winning touchdown in the closing seconds. Defensive back Marvin Burks Jr. (Cardinal Ritter) had a team-high 10 tackles while defensive back Toriano Pride had a big fumble recovery. Receiver Luther Burden III (East St. Louis) had a team-high six receptions…St. Louisan Napheesa Collier had a historic postseason run in leading the Minnesota Lynx to a runner-up finish in the WNBA playoffs. The former Incarnate Word star had 22 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks in the Lynx’ loss to the New York Liberty in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. The 6’1” Collier’s playoff resume included most points scored in a single postseason, most points in a playoff game (42), most steals in a WNBA Finals series, most stocks (steals and blocks) in a single postseason. Collier was the only player in WNBA history to average 40 points in a series, which she did in the first round against Phoenix.
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