SBLive’s Missouri Top 25: Teams brace for district championship contests; playoff berths on the line

Our Week 12 power rankings for Missouri high school football

By Chris Geinosky

Our Week 12 power rankings for Missouri high school football

1. Christian Brothers College (10-1)

Thanks to a stunning blowout of rival De Smet in what was deemed as the St. Louis game of the year, CBC has earned the right to play No. 25 St. Louis University High for the Class 6 District 1 championship. These two teams played back in Week 5 this season with the Cadets running away with a 59-27 victory.

2. Jackson (10-0)

After earning a first-round bye in the Class 5 District 1 tournament, the Indians looked rested and ready as they played their best game in a month. It’s good timing for Jackson, which looks to extend both its state-best, 24-game winning streak and three-year run of state playoff appearances.

3. Liberty North (9-1)

Despite not playing their best in the previous two games, the Eagles looked more like themselves in a convincing victory against crosstown rival Liberty last week. Liberty North actually enters the Class 6 District 4 title game as an “underdog” as they play on the road at undefeated Park Hill South.

4. Lee’s Summit North (10-1)

Needing a second-half comeback to knock off defending Class 6 state champion Raymore-Peculiar last week, Lee’s Summit North has advanced to the finals of the Class 6 District 3 tournament. The Broncos will meet No. 11 Joplin in what could turn into a high-scoring shootout.

5. Carthage (10-0)

A team that has been on the rise all season long, the Tigers crack the Top Five for the first time this season. Carthage advances to the Class 5 District 6 championship for a rematch against longtime rival Webb City, a team the Tigers handled, 42-14, back in Week 4.

6. Smithville (9-0)

Only three teams have scored more than once in a game against Warriors, and none of them have surpassed 14 points. Upstart Excelsior Springs, winners of four in a row, will be the next team to try to solve the Smithville defense in the Class 4 District 8 championship.

7. Holt (10-0)

The high-powered Indians have not been challenged in a month. That trend will change this week in the Class 5 District 4 title game against No. 19 Helias Catholic in what appears to be one of the top district championships matchups in the state.

8. MICDS (10-0)

Since Week 2, the Rams have won every game by at least three touchdowns, and six of those eight victories have been by 34 points or more. MICDS enters the Class 4 District 3 championship game as a heavy favorite against Parkway North.

9. Francis Howell (10-1)

During a current five-game winning streak, the Vikings have been as hot as anyone in the state. In the Class 6 District 2 title game this week, Francis Howell will rematch No. 22 Troy Buchanan, a team it defeated in a 41-38 thriller back in Week 5.

10. De Smet Jesuit (8-3)

The Spartans’ season came to an end after last week’s district semifinal defeat against top-ranked Christian Brothers. De Smet suffered two losses against CBC this year, and the other was against Illinois powerhouse East St. Louis.

11. Joplin (10-1)

Credit the Eagles for their perseverance as they have won two district games despite dealing with off-the-field issues. However, it’s worth noting that Joplin has scored nearly 20 points under its season average the past two weeks.

12. Hannibal (10-0)

After lighting up the scoreboard with a season-high 76 points last week, the Pirates have scored 522 points on the year. Next up for Hannibal in the Class 4 District 5 final is a rematch with Jefferson City, a team it beat 40-13 in Week 2.

13. West Plains (9-1)

In the past month, the Zizzers have outscored their last four opponents by an eye-popping margin of 221-19. A red-hot West Plains team advances to the Class 4 District 6 championship against McDonald County in a battle of one-loss clubs.

14. Lamar (10-0)

Only two football games in the state of Missouri this week will feature a matchup of undefeated teams. One of them will be in the Class 2 District 4 championship game where Lamar (10-0) will take on Fair Grove (11-0).

15. St. Mary’s (St. Louis) (8-1)

Arguably, this could have been the state championship game: No. 15 St. Mary’s (St. Louis) vs, No. 18 Valle Catholic. Unfortunately, because they both reside in Class 3 District 2, only one will advance to the state playoffs.

16. Park Hill South (11-0)

Interestingly enough, the Panthers have played only two Class 6 teams this season, but they’re 2-0 against those teams in the past two weeks. The real test for the undefeated club comes this week against No. 3 Liberty North.

17. Lebanon (9-1)

Back in Week 5, the Yellowjackets hung on for a 31-28 road victory at Glendale. Advancing to the district championship round for the fifth year in a row, Lebanon earns a rematch with Glendale, this time at home, in the Class 5 District 5 final.

18. Valle Catholic (10-0)

Bryce Gielser has put up huge rushing numbers this season: 1,692 yards and 26 touchdowns. The Warriors will need another big week from their junior running back in a district championship showdown with No. 15 St. Mary’s (St. Louis).

19. Helias Catholic (9-1)

Winners of nine straight games, the Crusaders – last year’s Class 4 state champion who moved up to Class 5 this season – has the chance to prove their worth this week against undefeated Holt with a state playoff berth on the line.

20. Rockwood Summit (10-0)

It’s been six years since Rockwood Summit has captured a district championship. The Falcons have the opportunity to end the drought this week when they meet Eureka in the Class 5 District 2 title game.

21. Platte County (9-2)

Winners of six straight games where they have outscored their opponents 239-34, the Pirates will play in a district championship game for the seventh consecutive year – this one against Fort Osage in the Class 5 District 8 final.

22. Troy Buchanan (9-2)

Dual-threat quarterback Charos Sutton has been fantastic this season, completing 84-of-138 passes for 1,778 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushing for another 832 yards and 15 touchdowns.

23. Nixa (8-3)

Rival Joplin brought Nixa’s 2021 campaign to a close in the district semifinals last week. The Eagles lost to Joplin twice this season, and their other loss came at the hands of Class 5 state championship contender Carthage.

24. Raymore-Peculiar (8-3)

Despite losing a talented senior class after winning the 2020 state title, the Panthers put together a solid season where their only losses came against highly ranked No. 3 Liberty North and No. 4 Lee’s Summit North (twice).

25. St. Louis University High (8-3)

On the watch list all year long since the preseason, the Junior Billikens finally crack the SBLive Missouri Top 25 on the strength of strong play down the stretch that has featured three straight wins against teams with winning records.