Week 6 games to watch
We’ve reached second half of the 2019 high school football season with Week 6 kicking off this weekend. Here's a look at some of the top matchups in the region.
Edwardsville Tigers at East St. Louis
East St. Louis' Richard Williams (10) runs with the ball during a football game at Clyde C Jordan Stadium on Saturday, September 21, 2019 in East St. Louis, Ill. Paul Halfacre, STLhighschoolsports.com
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Records: Edwardsville 4-1 overall, 2-0 Southwestern Conference; East St. Louis 5-0, 2-0
Rankings: Edwardsville No. 5 large school STLhighschoolsports.com, No. 10 Class 8A Illinois AP; East St. Louis No. 1 large school STLhighschoolsports.com, No. 1 Class 5A Illinois AP
Last week: Edwardsville 22, Belleville East 16; East St. Louis 54, Alton 7
On Edwardsville: Rallied past Belleville East in final two minutes of regulation. Lost star junior running back Justin Johnson Jr. on the first play of the game-winning drive. Johnson rushed for 136 yards and scored once before leaving the game. Junior quarterback Ryan Hampton scored the go-ahead touchdown. ...Johnson has rushed for 702 yards and scored seven times. Hampton has completed 28 of 58 passes for 361 yards, three touchdowns and been intercepted once. He's rushed for 192 yards. ...Senior linebacker Jacob Morrissey leads the team with 24 tackles. Junior safety Grant Matarelli has made two interceptions.
On East St. Louis: Has won its last three against Edwardsville. Over the last seven seasons, the winner of this game has gone on to claim the Southwestern Conference crown. ...Junior quarterback Tyler Macon remains the most lethal dual-threat in the area. Macon has completed 68 of 109 passes for 1,517 yards with 16 touchdowns and two interceptions. He's rushed for 223 yards and five touchdowns. Junior receiver Dominic Lovett has caught 23 passes for 528 yards and six scores. Junior receiver Keantez Lewis has 17 catches for 391 yards and five touchdowns. Senior running back DeMonta Witherspoon has rushed for 633 yards and nine touchdowns. ...After giving up 48 points to Neuqua Valley, the Flyers defense has solidified and allowed just seven points combined to Belleville West and Alton. Senior defensive end Kendrick Scarbrough has 52 tackles and eight sacks. Senior linebacker Darius Walker has 58 tackles, one sack and one interception. Senior defensive back Jemarionte Burgess has made 38 tackles and two interceptions.
Lutheran St. Charles at Trinity Titans
Lutheran North's Itavyion Brown (4) attempts to drag down Trinity's Reggie Love during a football game on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, at Lutheran North High School in North St. Louis County, Mo. Randy Kemp | Special to STLhighschoolsports.com
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Records: Lutheran St. Charles 5-0 overall, 2-0 AAA Division II; Trinity 3-2, 3-0
Rankings: Lutheran St. Charles No. 7 small school STLhighschoolsports.com, No. 9 Class 3 Missouri Media; Trinity No. 3 small school STLhighschoolsports.com, No. 3 Class 3 Missouri Media
Last week: Lutheran St. Charles 54, St. Charles 0; Trinity 48, Duchesne 0
On Lutheran St. Charles: Sophomore quarterback Aaron Coffey has completed 51 of 71 passes for 875 yards, 12 touchdowns and been intercepted once. Sophomore running back Arlen Harris Jr. has rushed for 962 yards and 14 touchdowns. Junior receiver Seth Tucker has 15 receptions for 285 yards and five touchdowns. ...Defense has three shutouts this season including back-to-back victories over Duchesne and St. Charles. Has allowed 19 total points this season. Junior defensive lineman Gabriel Rubio has made 49 tackles and nine sacks. Senior lineman Jack Grzeskowiak has 36 tackles and six sacks. Junior linebacker Joseph Mechlin has 46 tackles and four sacks.
On Trinity: Lost first two games to Lutheran North and East St. Louis. Installed John Randle as interim coach after 90-6 win over DuBourg in Week 3 then posted shutout wins over O'Fallon Christian and Duchesne. Titans have won three in a row over Lutheran St. Charles and 12 of their last 14 meetings since 2006. ...Freshman quarterback Chris Cotton has completed 29 of 47 passes for 390 yards and six touchdowns. Junior running back Thomas Mimes has rushed for 205 yards and five touchdowns. He's taken over for Illinois recruit Reggie Love, who suffered an ankle injury against East St. Louis in Week 2 and has not played since. Senior running back Lake Wilson has 250 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Senior receiver James Frenchie has 17 receptions for 240 yards and three touchdowns. He's rushed for another three scores. ...Junior linebacker Jonathan Joshua has 24 tackles and a sack. Senior defensive lineman Darion Smith has 16 tackles and three sacks. Sophomore defensive back Chris Moore has two interceptions.
Chaminade Red Devils at De Smet Spartans
De Smet's Darez Snider (4) carries the ball against CBC, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, at Christian Brothers College High School in Town and Country, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Records: Chaminade 4-1 overall, 2-1 Metro Catholic Conference; De Smet 5-0, 3-0
Rankings: Chaminade No. 7 large school STLhighschoolsports.com, No. 3 Class 5 Missouri Media; De Smet No. 2 large school STLhighschoolsports.com, No. 1 Class 6 Missouri Media
Last week: Chaminade 50, Jefferson City 21; De Smet 52, Vianney 14
On Chaminade: Scored 50 or more for the second time this season in last week's win over Jefferson City. Senior quarterback and Missouri recruit Brady Cook has completed 79 of 129 passes for 1,402 yards with 15 touchdowns and three interceptions. Senior running back Lauren Fortune Jr. has rushed for 370 yards and six touchdowns. He's caught 25 passes for 573 yards and six touchdowns. Junior running back Amar Johnson has rushed for 502 yards and six touchdowns. Sophomore receiver Elijah Griffin has 17 catches for 388 yards and four TDs. ...Senior safety Luc Nichols has made 42 tackles. Junior defensive back Ryan King has 48 tackles. Senior defensive back Jabin Johnson has three interceptions and senior linebacker Kevin Re has 31 tackles and two interceptions.
On De Smet: Won last year's matchup 34-16 to break four-game losing streak to Chaminade. A win will clinch the Spartans' first MCC championship since 2009. Has outscored its MCC opponents 143-35. ...Trio of junior running backs Rico Barfield, Taj Butts and Darez Snider have combined to rush for 1,112 yards and 17 touchdowns. Senior quarterback Michael Wheeler has completed 32 of 47 passes for 500 yards, seven touchdowns and been intercepted once. Senior quarterback AJ Fraser has completed 25 of 35 passes for 373 yards and seven touchdowns. Junior receiver Ra'shod Smith-Harvey has caught 17 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns. Senior receiver and Notre Dame recruit Jordan Johnson has 10 receptions for 228 yards and four scores. ...Defense has yet to allow an opponent to score more than 14 points. Junior linebacker Carter Edwards has 49 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions. Senior defensive end and West Virginia recruit Lannell Carr has a team-high four sacks. Senior defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo has 37 tackles.
Cardinal Ritter Lions at St. Mary's Dragons
Borgia's Tyler Stieffermann grabs St. Mary's Daimond Casseus during a football game on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, at St. Francis Borgia High School in Washington, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to STLhighschoolsports.com
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Records: Cardinal Ritter 5-0 overall, 2-0 AAA Division I; St. Mary's 3-2, 1-1
Rankings: Cardinal Ritter No. 1 small school STLhighschoolsports.com, No. 1 Class 2 Missouri Media; St. Mary's No. 10 small school STLhighschoolsports.com
Last week: Cardinal Ritter 72, Tolton 14; St. Mary's 33, St. Dominic 14
On Ritter: Outscored its last three opponents 171-42. Has won back-to-back games with St. Mary's and four of the last five. ...Senior quarterback Mekhi Hagens has completed 91 of 138 passes for 1,526 yards and 20 touchdowns with two interceptions. Junior running back Bill Jackson has rushed for 496 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore receiver Luther Burden III has 34 receptions for 654 yards and 12 touchdowns. Junior receiver Keavion Long has 27 receptions for 392 yards and three scores. ...Senior defensive end Joe Moore has 25 tackles and four sacks. Sophomore linebacker Dorian Stone has 38 tackles. Senior defensive back Latrezz Shelton has five interceptions.
On St. Mary's: Senior quarterback Cam'Ron McCoy has completed 77 of 145 passes for 1,250 yards, 15 touchdowns and been intercepted three times. Sophomore receiver Kevin Coleman has caught 34 passes for 739 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior receiver Timmy Muxo has 14 receptions for 334 yards and three touchdowns. No one on the roster has rushed for 100 yards total this season. ... Senior defensive end Patrick Harris has 42 tackles and four sacks. Sophomore defensive back DeShawn Fuller, sophomore linebacker Achille Kpeya Jr. and Muxo each have 41 tackles. Kpeya and Muxo each have two interceptions. Coleman leads the team with four interceptions. The Dragons have 13 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries.
Francis Howell Vikings at Fort Zumwalt West Jaguars
Fort Zumwalt West's Jake Murphy struts in for the Jaguars first score during a football game on Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at Hazelwood East High School in Spanish Lake, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to STLhighschoolsports.com during a football game on Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at Fort Zumwalt North High School in O'Fallon, Mo. Gordon Radford | Special to STLhighschoolsports.com
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Records: Francis Howell 4-1 overall, 2-0 GAC Central; Fort Zumwalt West 4-1, 2-0
Rankings: Francis Howell No. 8 large school STLhighschoolsports.com, No. 8 Class 6 Missouri Media
Last week: Francis Howell 42, Troy 24; Fort Zumwalt West 45, Francis Howell North 6
On Francis Howell: Won regular season and district games with rival Fort Zumwalt West last season. Has won three of the last four against the Jaguars. Has won four games in a row since season-opening loss to Fort Zumwalt North. ...Junior quarterback Alex Pipes has completed 37 of 70 passes for 690 yards with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions. He's rushed for 447 yards and five touchdowns. Senior running back Gideon Niboh has rushed for 546 yards and six touchdowns. Senior receiver Jackson Hetzel has caught nine passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns. Junior receiver Red Weber has 16 receptions for 170 yards and four touchdowns. ...Senior defensive lineman Jack Larkin has 58 tackles and two sacks. Senior linebacker Charlton Watson Jr. has made 54 tackles. Junior defensive back Gus Hetzel has 29 tackles and two interceptions.
On Fort Zumwalt West: Only loss this season came in Week 2 to Fort Zumwalt North, 37-20. ...Senior quarterback Jake Murphy has completed 58 of 108 passes for 879 yards, 11 touchdowns and been intercepted five times. Senior running back James Strauss has rushed for 526 yards and six touchdowns. Senior receiver Max Koviak has caught 28 passes for 542 yards and six touchdowns. He returned a punt for a touchdown last week. ...Senior linebacker Ulysses Ross has 47 tackles and two sacks. Junior linebacker Nick Matyiko has 40 tackles and three sacks. Senior defensive lineman Kaden Solverud has 19 tackles and three sacks.
