Photo Credit: Cole YoungWith less than two weeks until the first high school football game kick-off across Missouri, the schedule immediately provides some intriguing matchups.
St. Pius X at Rockhurst
Perhaps the most intriguing Week 1 matchup is between a pair of local parochial schools. Just three years ago, St. Pius X was playing in Class 2. With the reconstruction of classes last season, plus the success factor, the Warriors could very well be in Class 5. The Warriors will immediately get a taste of big class football when they face Rockhurst, one of the proudest teams in the metro? The Hawklets finished 11-2 last season, with both losses coming to the eventual state champion, Liberty North.
Oak Park at Staley
What better way to start the regular season than with a rivalry game? The Northmen ended Staley’s season last year in the first round of the postseason, with a 28-21 win for Oak Park. The Northmen return a pair of all-staters in running back Travon Pankey and running back Jalen Williams. Staley, meanwhile, will have a new look with new head coach Drew Hudgins, who previously was the head coach at Blue Valley North.
Pleasant Hill at Savannah
These are the kind of early season games that are great— a non-conference matchup between two evenly matched teams that normally wouldn’t play each other. Both teams had strong regular seasons last year, with Pleasant Hill’s only loss in the regular season coming to Warrensburg. Last year, Savannah lost four games to teams with a combined 44-8 record. While this game won’t matter in terms of conference races, it could provide valuable district points for both teams as they jockey for positioning in their respective districts.
Maryville at Blair Oaks
This season-opening matchup has been a regular fixture in recent years. Blair Oaks has dominated the series recently, winning the last seven matchups between the two. Both teams return all-state talent in what could be one of the most interesting games of the first week.
