If Friday’s preseason jamboree was any indication, the St. Pius X football team could be a contender for a state championship in 2024.
The Warriors dominated a jamboree that featured the defending Class 6 state champion Liberty North Eagles, Lee’s Summit and Grain Valley, which made it to the Class 5 state quarterfinals last year.
They looked sharp overall scored a total of nine touchdowns and only gave up three in three scrimmages at Moody Murray Memorial Field at Grain Valley High School.
In the jamboree each team got to run 11 plays on offense and 11 on defense against each team while starting drives from the opponent’s 35-yard line. If a team failed to get a first down, it would start over at the 35.
The St. Pius varsity defense was dominant, only giving up a passing touchdown to first-team, all-state quarterback Tillman Martin of Liberty North. Other than that, the Warriors kept every team in check on defense. Against Grain Valley, St. Pius allowed one first down.
“We dominated Liberty North,” Warriors fullback and linebacker Jackson Rotterman said. “Everyone expected us to get mopped by them. We dominated everyone.”
St. Pius head coach Anthony Simone said he was happy with how his defense performed.
“What I am proud of is that we played physical,” said Simone, whose team has made the Class 3 state championship game twice since 2020 and made it to the semifinals last year. “We’re really solid on defense but sometimes we have mental breakdowns and it’s easy to see.
“I am happy with how the defense played. As long as we are physical and run to the ball, we will be OK.”
The offense looked especially sharp under 2023 Frank Fontana award winner Hudson Bailey, who tossed five touchdown passes Friday. He found open receivers consistently and showed off his strong arm. Against Grain Valley, he threw two perfect passes over the top of the defense, which resulted in 35-yard scores on catches from Tommy Hutsler and Vinny Ross.
“(The pass offense) was really good last year,” Simone said. “We’re working to be balanced. We have two really good running backs, so we will have some success running the ball.”
The host Eagles are hoping to have similar success running the football a year after graduating Ty Williams, a Simone Award finalist who rushed for 2,485 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also had 385 yards through the air and five more scores.
Grain Valley has the unenviable task of attempting to replace that production. However, senior Robert Palmer, a transfer from North Scott High School in Iowa, could be someone who can at least provide some quality production at running back.
He looked fast and explosive for the Eagles on Friday as he had six carries for 30 yards and a TD and one catch for six yards. His big run came against Lee’s Summit as he broke a tackle on a run between the tackles and used his speed to get to the second level of the Tigers’ defense for a 20-yard gain. He ended up scoring on a 1-yard run later in the drive.
“He’s a tough runner,” Grain Valley head coach David Allie said. “He can bring the physicality when he needs to. He’s a great kid and has worked from Day 1 since he’s been here.”
He could be the team’s primary running back or could split carries with fellow senior DJ Harris. So far, the transition has been seamless after moving to Grain Valley.
“At my old school, we ran similar things as Grain Valley did,” Palmer said. “Coming into Grain Valley, I knew what I needed to get done and knew my role.”
Junior Chase Neer will start at quarterback for the first time at the varsity level and had a mixed bag of results. There were a few fumbles on offense for the Eagles two of which were recovered by the opposing defense. One came on a missed handoff exchange between Neer and Palmer.
Neer showed some flashes, though. He scored on a 12-yard scramble against Liberty North in which he got the edge on the right side and snuck into the end zone. He completed 3 of 4 passes for 18 yards and had four carries for 29 yards.
“I was impressed on that scramble,” Palmer said. “I didn’t think he was going to run it, but he did. He’s a great kid. I am excited for work with him this season.
The Eagles have up nine scores on defense.
“We had some things to work on but I am happy with our effort,” Allie said. “We were rotating some kids in and out. We didn’t play a few kids tonight because we had some bumps and bruises. But we will have some kids who will hopefully start next Friday.”
North and Lee’s Summit both scored four times in the jamboree.
