5 high school football games to watch: Week 12
Kirkwood Pioneers at CBC Cadets
What: Missouri Class 6 District 2 final.
When:
Records: Kirkwood 7-2; CBC 9-1.
Series history: CBC has won all three meetings between the programs — state semifinals in 2014, district semifinals in 2022 and district opener last year.
Up next: Winner will play either Seckman (10-0) or Jackson (8-2) in the quarterfinal round.
Last week: Kirkwood 42, Francis Howell 14; CBC 48, Marquette 0.
Did you know?: CBC has won three successive district titles. ... Kirkwood is in a district final for the first time since 2018 and looking for its first district title since 2016.
On Kirkwood: Senior quarterback Owen Nesslage threw five touchdowns and 446 yards in district semifinal win over Francis Howell. Nesslage is second in the area with 2,738 passing yards and 28 touchdowns to just eight interceptions. ... Junior Collin Griffin has rushed for 723 yards and nine scores. ... Senior Tyson Sanders has seven rushing touchdowns. ... Seniors Chris Potter (705) and Larry Robinson (703) have combined for 1,408 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. ... Junior Jacob Eberhart has a team-high nine receiving touchdowns. ... Senior Carson Lindquist has a team-high 74 tackles and five sacks. ... Eberhart has three interceptions to go with 36 tackles.
On CBC: Junior quarterback Nick McClellan was a perfect 5-for-5 passing for 208 yards and three touchdowns in victory over Marquette. McClellan has passed for 21 touchdowns and 1,882 yards to go along with 778 yards and 11 TDs on the ground. ... Junior Courtney Rivers has nine rushing touchdowns with 480 rushing yards. ... Senior AJ Morris (446), junior Vic Williams (424) and senior AJ Johnson (338) have combined for 1,208 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. ... McClellan's favorite target, senior Corey Simms, leads team with 563 receiving yards and nine TDs. ... Junior Cortlaan Collins has a team-high 67 tackles. ... Senior Triston Abram leads team with six sacks.
Rock Bridge Bruins at Troy Buchanan Trojans
What: Missouri Class 6 District 4 final.
When:
Records: Rock Bridge 9-1; Troy 10-0.
Series history: Rock Bridge leads 3-0, all since 2012 and all in the postseason.
Up next: Winner will play either De Smet (8-2) or SLUH (7-4) in the Class 6 state quarterfinal round.
Last week: Rock Bridge 35, St. Dominic 14; Troy 70, Francis Howell Central 25.
Did you know?: This is a rematch of last year's district title game, which Rock Bridge won 38-7.
On Rock Bridge: Senior quarterback Brady Davidson tossed two touchdowns in the Bruins victory over St. Dominic. ... After a season-opening loss, Rock Bridge has rattled off nine successive victories. ... Quentin Lea blocked a St. Dominic punt. ... Donovan Taylor and Derrick Young both rushed for touchdowns last week. ... Bruins last won a district title in 2013, when they reached the Class 6 state final and finished as runner-up to Blue Springs.
On Troy: Junior Carter Dowell ran wild in a semifinal victory over Howell Central, totaling 274 rushing yards on 11 carries. Dowell is fifth in the area with 1,629 rushing yards on 140 carries and 26 scores. ... Junior Hunter Humphrey has 693 rushing yards and eight TDs to go along with 1,138 passing yards and 15 touchdowns. ... Senior Jackson Trower has 20 receptions with 455 receiving yards and five scores. ... Senior Brady Eulinger has 214 receiving yards on 19 catches and two TDs. ... Junior Talan Rowland leads team with 100 tackles and three interceptions. ... Senior Mark Beckwith has a team-high four sacks with 40 tackles. ... Junior Chris Wenger has 86 tackles to go with two interceptions.
Pacific Indians at Gateway STEM Jaguars
What: Missouri Class 4 District 2 final.
When:
Records: Pacific 6-5; Gateway STEM 10-0.
Series history: Pacific won the only meeting between the programs last season 31-12 in a district semifinal.
Up next: Winner will play either Festus (8-2) or Perryville (10-1) in the quarterfinal round.
Last week: Pacific 42, Sullivan 20; Gateway STEM 14, Union 13.
Did you know?: Jaguars are seeking first quarterfinal appearance since 2011.
On Pacific: Pacific rolled up 338 rushing yards on 29 attempts in a victory over Sullivan, avenging a 50-36 loss from Sept. 27. ... Junior Colton Kossuth leads team with 938 rushing yards and 13 scores. ... Junior Seth Stack has 867 rushing yards and nine scores. Stack also has thrown for 1,278 yards and 21 touchdowns. ... Senior Kade Collins has 31 receptions for 380 yards and three scores. ... Senior Trey Kullick has 10 receptions for 114 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He also has a team-high 102 tackles with one sack. ... Senior Brock Webb has 91 tackles with three interceptions. ... Freshman Gavin Haddox has five interceptions with 56 tackles.
On Gateway STEM: Senior Anthony Rayner led team with 90 rushing yards on 13 carries in victory over Union last week. Rayner has a team-high 751 rushing yards with 11 touchdowns this season. ... Junior Shawn Robinson has 422 rushing yards with six touchdowns. ... Senior Marquis Sutherlin has thrown for 790 yards and four scores. ... Junior Maqel Campbell leads team with 340 receiving yards on 18 receptions and five scores. ... Senior Terrence Mitchell leads the team with 43 tackles and two sacks. ... Senior Cornell Jeffery has team-high 10 sacks to go along with 28 tackles.
Orchard Farm Eagles at Parkway North Vikings
What: Missouri Class 4 District 4 final.
When:
Records: Orchard Farm 10-1; Parkway North 8-2.
Series history: First meeting.
Up next: Winner will play either Lutheran North (9-1) or Miller Career (6-5) in the quarterfinal round.
Last week: Orchard Farm 39, Westminster 0; Parkway North 42, Fort Zumwalt East 20.
Did you know?: Orchard Farm is looking for first district title since 2014, while North is looking for its first since 2016.
On Orchard Farm: Senior Jorden Matlock had two interceptions in shutout victory over Westminster. Matlock has a team-high five interceptions this season to go along with 46 tackles. He also has 525 receiving yards on 41 receptions with six touchdowns. ... Junior Tyson Bronson leads team with 139 tackles and three sacks. Bronson also has 638 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns. ... Junior Collin Sinclair has thrown for 2,138 yards and 26 touchdowns to just four interceptions. He leads team with 817 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. ... Senior Jon Kennedy has a team-high 579 receiving yards with seven touchdowns.
On Parkway North: Senior quarterback Dakarri Hollis combined for 311 yards and four throwing touchdowns in a victory over Fort Zumwalt East. Hollis has thrown for 974 yards and 14 scores to go along with 698 rushing yards and nine touchdowns this season. ... Senior Messiah Smith surpassed Aaron O'Neal's career rushing total last week. Smith has 3,494 career rushing yards. ... Junior Antoine Gunn has 578 yards on the ground with 10 TDs. ... Senior Jordan Morgens-Clark has team-high 332 receiving yards and four scores. ... Senior Colin Griffin has 331 receiving yards on 19 receptions with six TDs. ... Senior Will Mauger has a team-high 60 tackles. ... Junior Tyler Baur has five sacks.
Mt. Zion Braves at Breese Central Cougars
What: Illinois Class 4A quarterfinal.
When:
Records: Mt. Zion 8-3; Breese Central 11-0.
Series history: Breese Central has beaten Mt. Zion in playoff games the last two seasons, 21-18 in 2022 and 16-13 last season.
Up next: Winner will play either Cahokia (9-2) or Normal University High (9-2) in the semifinal round.
Last week: Mt. Zion 43, Peoria Notre Dame 29; Breese Central 34, Murphysboro 7.
Did you know?: Breese Central is in the quarterfinals for the third time in four seasons (2021, 2023) and also reached 2004 quarterfinals but looking for first trip to semifinals.
On Mt. Zion: Senior receiver Brayden Trimble is committed to the University of Illinois. ... Junior tight end JC Anderson (6-foot-6, 230 pounds) is a four-star recruit and has offers from 35 NCAA Division I programs. ... Braves are in the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season and eighth time since 2014, including twice in Class 5A.
On Breese Central: Senior quarterback Preston Baker threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns against Murphysboro. Baker has thrown for 2,405 yards and 32 touchdowns this season with only four interceptions. ... Senior Kaden Rakers has rushed for 640 yards on 96 carries and 13 scores. ... Cole Davis has 69 carries for 393 yards and eight TDs. ... Baker's favorite target, senior Carter Deien, has 962 receiving yards on 39 catches with eight touchdowns. ... Senior Griffen Becker has a team-high 853 receiving yards on 38 receptions and 14 touchdowns. ... Junior Jackson Kampwerth has a team-high 101 tackles and four sacks. ... Senior Owen Schomaker has 99 tackles and three sacks.
