The Gateway Ritter football team sets a new standard as they charge towards the playoffs with unmatched determination and skill.
Left to right: Veteran coach Jason Dulick have the surprising Gateway Jaguars cruising along with a 7-0 record and a cinch to claim the Public High League title next week and make a deep run into the playoffs. Meanwhile, Gateway defender Cornell Jefferey (number 17 in the blue jersey) seen here harassing Career Academy quarterback Tyler Stockard earlier this season, has one of the area’s top pass rushers. Speaking of ‘rushing’, Cardinal Ritter running back Jamarian Parker (in dark jersey carrying the ball against Jackson) has averaged more than 11 yards per carry for the two-time, defending champion Lions led by coach Brennan Spain (far right.) Photos by Leon Algee
Few, if anyone saw this coming, with the Gateway Jaguars being undefeated and dominant in area high school football. The Jaguars are a perfect 7-0 and have outscored their opponents 217-21(!) as they host Madison (2-5) in a Friday night game Oct.18. Should the Jaguars beat Madison and Soldan the following week, they will become the first Public High League team since the 2013 Career Academy Phoenix to finish a regular season undefeated.
The Jaguars signature win, which likely will eventually be the determining factor in their claiming the PHL title next weekend, was a 16-2 conquest of perennial contender Career Academy in the fourth week of the season.
“I was proud of the guys,” said veteran coach Jason Dulick afterwards. “It wasn’t always pretty. We had turnovers, but we pulled together and played a good second half.”
Indeed, Career Academy came up with two fumble recoveries (by Gavin Bryant and Joshua Moore) and an interception (by Mauri Mitchell), but couldn’t capitalize on those turnovers on the way to the defeat. Gateway has since rolled by Crystal City (41-0), Lutheran St. Charles (31-6) and Confluence Academy (31-6) on the way to the 7-0 mark, Defensively, the Jaguars boasts two of the area top sack leaders in Lamar McCurry (nine) and Cornell Jefferey (eight), trailing only Quincy Byas of DeSmet with 12. But offensively, it’s been a modestly balanced attack, with Anthony Rayner the leading rusher with just under 500 yards and quarterback Marquis Sutherlin with 612 yards passing.
Meanwhile, across town at Cardinal Ritter, the Lions are dominating as many expected, befitting the defending Missouri Class 5 state champion. The Lions are 6-0 and have outscored their opponents 248-69, on their pursuit of a third straight state title. Their victories include a 44-7 rout of perennial state title contender Jackson, Mo., a 28-10 win over a reigning Illinois state champion Rochester and a 38-20 win at New Orleans St Augustine, a Louisiana powerhouse.
Much like the last two seasons, this year Ritter team also has some players producing some prolific numbers: Senior quarterback Carson Boyd has completed 123 of 153 passes for 1,863 yards. Running back Jamarian Parker has rushed for 985 yards on just 88 carries, for a robust 11.2 yards per carry, which means he is averaging more than a first down per carry. Defensively, Bryce Gray has a club-high 52 tackles and eight sacks, while defensive backs Jayden McGhee, Antonio Parker and Vinaz Cobb all have 35 or more total tackles.
Cardinal Ritter travels to DeSmet (6-1) to take on the always-tough Spartans on Friday Oct. 18, where the vaunted Lions offense will go up against two of the best defensive standouts in the area in defensive lineman Byas and linebacker Jason King, who has 48 solo tackles. In addition to Parker, that DeSmet defense will also have to deal with Ritter’s passing attack behind Boyd, whose trio of receivers all-state D. J. Miller (32 catches for 622 yards), DeShaun Stevenson (24-244 yards) and Elijah Abdullah (25 for 555) all have big-play capabilities.
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