(Photos by Leon Algee)
The two-time defending Missouri Class 5 state champion Cardinal Ritter Lions don’t have time now to dwell on a regular loss from a couple weeks ago to former rival Lutheran North, even though the Crusaders 50-48 conquest ended Ritter’s epic 35-game winning streak. By the same token, the Crusaders can’t rest on those laurels, since that won’t count as a playoff victory, as they began their pursuit of a Missouri Class 4 state title. In fact, if the perennial powerhouse Crusaders are to capture a state title they may have end another more modest streak in the process, in the upstart Gateway Jaguars (10-0) of the Public High League.
Indeed , Ritter (9-1), Lutheran North (9-1) and Gateway (10-0) have carried the banner proudly for the city and North County area this fall on the gridiron, as the action shifts into the third round this weekend (November14-15). If the second-round games were any indication, Cardinal Ritter is back in prime postseason form, after dispatching of the visiting St. Mary’s Dragons 38-0 last Friday night, showing no lingering effects of the home loss to Lutheran North.
“We’re not worried about loss now,” said Lions coach Brennan Spain after the rout of St, Mary’s (4-7) behind all-around dominant offensive and defensive performance. “We knew when we loaded our schedule up with top competition (from beyond the state and region) we knew there was a chance we could have a regular season loss. But our goal is to win another state title. Our goal all along was to get back to state and win another state title.”
The Lions are bidding to become the first team from city to capture three straight football state titles. The old Sumner Bulldogs won back-to-back state titles in 1990 and 1991 and very recently, the St. Mary’s Dragons won consecutive state titles in 2021 and 2022, but no program from the city has converted the “three-peat” feat. Interestingly enough, before last weekend, Cardinal Ritter and St. Mary’s hadn’t played each other since that 2021 season, which jump-started the Dragons’ consecutive state Class 4 titles. St Mary’s played rude hosts to Cardinal Ritter that afternoon, in winning 42-0. Last Friday night, Cardinal Ritter returned the favor with a 38-0 thumping.
In rolling by the Dragons, the Lions showed just how deep they are, as running back Manny Ellis, who usually plays second-fiddle to fellow back Jamarion Parker, broke out for 182 yards on 14 carries, while Parker still added 144 yards on 16 carries.
Meanwhile, All-State quarterback Carson Boyd accounted for 326 yards passing and four touchdowns, including a spectacular 14-yard pick, push and fake touchdown run late in the first quarter off a broken down pass play to give the Lions a comfortable 20-0 shutout lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“I take pride in making big plays and making something happen in space when the pass isn’t there,” said Boyd. “I take what the defense gives me and I know I have playmakers who can make plays in space, too.”
Likewise Boyd noted that the bye week following the regular season loss to Lutheran North, merely gave them more fuel to rebound with a vengeance. In fact, key members of Ritter defense returned to the field of play, instead of exclusive reserves to stymie what could have been a final desperation scoring drive by St. Mary’s in the closing minutes.
“It was very important to keep the shutout and show how dominant we can still be coming off that loss,” said star defensive back Antonio “JuJu” Parker
Cardinal Ritter plays host to Cape Girardeau Central (10-1) in a 7 pm kickoff on Friday.
Meanwhile as far as Lutheran North is concerned, which hosts Career Academy/ Vashon (6-5) in a 6 pm contest on Friday night, overwhelmed Jennings 52-0 last weekend, behind three touchdown passes by Jonathan Moore, two touchdowns by Mike Clark and five interceptions by the defense, including pick-six touchdown returns by Darius Jones and Kyren Evans. Clark opened the game with a 96-yard kickoff return and the Crusaders never looked back.
But even though it was merely a regular season triumph, the Crusaders can’t completely forget the breakthrough win over Cardinal Ritter. If anything, it can be used a motivating spark for the postseason.
“As far what the game means for the postseason….it gave us trust in some guys that stepped up and further proved that preparation works-with great players playing with a purpose can be unstoppable,” said Lutheran North coach Kyle Wagner. “We feel like we are the best team in the state of Missouri (in any classification) . We felt that in Week 1.”
Lutheran North’s only defeat came in that first week, but on the road in Alabama, to Phenix City Central 301-2. Since then the Crusaders have cruised, crushing rival Lutheran South 80-0, Lutheran St Charles 71-7 and Westminster Christian 67-3, among the most lopsided routs. The Crusaders are averaging over 50 points per game and quarterback Jonathan Moore has passed for 29 yards, while Martez Stephenson has rushed for over 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns. At the same time, Mike Clark has been a dual threat as a receiver and kick returner. In addition to his kickoff return for a touchdown to start the Jennings rout, he also had an 88-yard kickoff return to open the third quarter against Cardinal Ritter. He averages over 33 yards on kickoff runbacks and has caught 26 catches for 644 yards and 10 touchdowns as a receiver.
But as noted, if Lutheran North is get deep into the Class 4 state bracket it will have to end Gateway’s unbeaten season-long streak. Unlike the couple of other Gateway powerhouse teams of the distant pasts, which had an all-purpose superstar quarterback like Paul Rice, who on the club’s 2011 state quarterfinalist team, became the first Public High League quarterback in the league’s once-storied history to at least pass for 2,000 yards and rush for over 1,500 yards. In years prior to that Gateway had produced mega talents like running back Anthony Pierson, a future Kansas star and Sheldon Richardson, a future Mizzou and NFL star.
However, on this 2024 edition, Gateway boasts a bevy of good , contributing players, whose numbers don’t overwhelm you. Three players have decent rushing numbers, including Anthony Raymer with nearly 800 yards on an 8.5 average But defensively, Cornell Jefferey and Lamar McCurry have combined for 22 sacks and kicker Angelo Nunez has converted 32 extra points and three field goals, including the go-ahead field goal to beat rival Career Academy in the game, which eventually decided the league title.
“You can’t just key on one player like some of our previous teams,” said Gateway coach Jason Dulick. “We don’t depend on one guy. We have a trio of backs who can run the ball. We have a number of guys who can get the job done on defense, any given game.
Gateway hosts Pacific(6-5) in a 7pm game on Friday night.
