Top 25 Missouri high school football rankings (10/4/2023)

Rockwood Summit enters this week's Power 25 rankings

Paul Halfacre | Oct 4, 2023

Top-ranked Lee's Summit North continues to dominate while rival Liberty North's defense suffocates another opponent.

Perennial power Lamar takes on Nevada in a clash of Top 20 teams, while Lutheran North travels to Chillicothe for a matchup with Maryville.

SBLive Missouri Power 25 high school football rankings

PREVIOUS RANKINGS: PRESEASON | AUG. 30 | SEPT. 7 | SEPT. 14 | SEPT. 20 | SEPT. 27

Top 25 Missouri high school football rankings

October 4, 2023

1. Lee's Summit North (6-0)

Previous rank: 1 Last week: Def. Raymore-Peculiar 35-14

Lee's Summit North cruised to a homecoming victory behind Elijah Leonard's 215 passing yards. Isaiah Mozee continued to torch defenses with 11 receptions for 106 yards and a score. Williams Nwaneri, the University of Missouri commit, picked up two sacks. It's the second time in the last three years that the Broncos have started the season 6-0.

Next game: vs. Liberty (4-2), Oct. 6

2. Liberty North (5-1)

Previous rank: 2 Last week: Def. Blue Springs 40-0

Liberty North picked up its second shutout of the season. The Eagles' stingy defense has only given up 28 points in their five victories.

Next game: vs. Blue Springs South (0-6), Oct. 6

3. De Smet (6-0)

Previous rank: 3 Last week: Def. No. 17 St. Louis U. High 42-13

De Smet rolled past rival SLUH in a Metro Catholic Conference game. DJ White and Jayden McCaster combined to rush for 302 yards and four scores in the conference victory.

Next game: vs. St. Mary's (2-4), Oct. 6

4. Cardinal Ritter (6-0)

Previous rank: 4 Last week: Def. Borgia 70-7

Junior QB Carson Boyd completed 15 of 17 pass attempts for 266 yards and four touchdowns as the Lions rolled over visiting Borgia. Junior running back Jamarion Parker, a University of Arkansas commit, rolled up 208 rushing yards on just 10 carries.

Next game: vs. Lift for Life (3-3), Oct. 6

5. Nixa (6-0)

Previous rank: 5 Last week: Def. Carl Junction 47-0

Nixa picked up its first shutout since a 28-0 win over Lee's Summit West in the 2021 season.

Next game: vs. Willard (3-3), Oct. 6

6. Lutheran North (6-0)

Previous rank: 8 Last week: Def. MICDS 46-21

Junior quarterback Dakarri Hollis flashed his dual-threat skills in a 25-point win over rival MICDS. He passed for 310 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 55 yards on 16 carries.

Next game: vs. Maryville (5-1) at Chillicothe, Oct. 6

7. CBC (4-2)

Previous rank: 6 Last week: Def. Lipscomb Academy (Tenn.) 48-21

CBC rolled past Lipscomb Academy on the road, rolling up 309 yards of offense on the ground. Jeremiah McClellan, an Ohio State commit, rolled up 123 yards on the ground while Alex Morris tallied 129 yards on the ground. Both scored two touchdowns each.

Next game: vs. Vianney (2-4), Oct. 6

8. Rockhurst (5-1)

Previous rank: 10 Last week: Def. St. Thomas Aquinas (Kansas) 45-44

Rockhurst came back from a 23-point deficit in the final quarter to pull off an improbable win over St. Thomas Aquinas. After the Hawklets' recovered an onside kick, Ethan Hansen found Mason Tunley streaking down the sideline for a TD to cut the deficit to just eight points before Aidan Ryan scored with 24 seconds left in regulation to tie the score. Mitch Forbes blocked the game-tying field goal in overtime to secure the victory.

Next game: at Blue Springs (2-4), Oct. 6

9. St. Dominic (5-0)

Previous rank: 7 Last week: Def. Springfield Central 43-6

Senior running back Thomas Pulliam scored three times in the first half as the Crusaders romped past Springfield Central.

Next game: vs. Duchesne (1-5), Oct. 6

10. Hillsboro (6-0)

Previous rank: 9 Last week: Def. Windsor (Imperial) 69-12

Preston Brown rolled up more than 300 yards of offense and five touchdowns as the Hawks ran past Windsor. Brown went 10-for-12 for 209 yards and four scores while running the ball five times for 83 yards.

Next game: vs. De Soto (1-5), Oct. 6

11. Francis Howell (4-2)

Previous rank: 11 Last week: Def. Fort Zumwalt West 43-10

Francis Howell rolled up 308 yards on the ground with Maddox Duncan leading with way with 116 yards on nine carries. He also scored three touchdowns.

Next game: at Timberland (1-5), Oct. 6

12. Grain Valley (5-1)

Previous rank: 15 Last week: Def. Belton 43-7

Ty Williams continues to steal the show for the Eagles, running for 191 yards and a touchdown in the win over Belton. Sal Caldarella went 7-for-9 for 143 yards and tossed two touchdowns to go along with 29 yards and two scores on the ground.

Next game: at Hickman (0-6), Oct. 6

13. Blair Oaks (5-1)

Previous rank: 14 Last week: Def. Seaman (Kansas) 63-28

Blair Oaks survived an offensive outburst by Seaman (Kansas) in the first quarter before running past the visitors from Kansas.

Next game: vs. Eldon (2-4), Oct. 6

14. East Buchanan (6-0)

Previous rank: 13 Last week: Def. West Platte 48-13

East Buchanan pushed its winning streak to an impressive 19 games. The Bulldogs look to break a school record when it travels to St. Michael the Archangel next week.

Next game: at St. Michael the Archangel (5-1), Oct. 6

15. Lamar (5-1)

Previous rank: 12 Last week: Def. McDonald County 49-21

Lamar got a blowout homecoming win over McDonald County in its final tune-up before facing unbeaten Nevada. The Tigers rolled up 241 yards on the ground in the first quarter.

Next game: at No. 17 Nevada (6-0), Oct. 6

16. Jackson (5-1)

Previous rank: 16 Last week: Def. Sikeston 56-0

Jackson pitched its second consecutive shutout, rolling past Sikeston in a conference win.

Next game: vs. Confluence (2-4), Oct. 6

17. Nevada (6-0)

Previous rank: 21 Last week: Def. Cassville 44-21

Nevada rolled up 374 yards on the ground, burying Cassville early. Jack Cheaney ran for two scores while rushing for 199 yards on 23 carries. Dezmon Robinson rolled up 100 yards on nine carries with one touchdown.

Next game: vs. No. 15 Lamar (5-1), Oct. 6

18. Lebanon (6-0)

Previous rank: 18 Last week: Def. Glendale 44-21

Lebanon continued to use its option attack to great effect, rolling past Glendale on the road. It's the third consecutive season that the Yellow Jackets have started the season 6-0.

Next game: vs. West Plains (3-3), Oct. 6

19. Lee's Summit West (6-0)

Previous rank: 20 Last week: Def. Blue Springs South 41-28

A collision course with Lee's Summit North seems inevitable as Lee's Summit West handled Blue Springs South for its sixth win to start the season. It's the first time since 2012 that the Titans have started the season 6-0.

Next game: at Raymore-Peculiar (3-3), Oct. 6

20. Rockwood Summit (6-0)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. McCluer 57-12

Elijah Stevens ran for 182 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries and added a touchdown reception. The senior running back now has 15 TDs through the first six weeks of the season.

Next game: vs. Oakville (4-2), Oct. 6

21. Helias (5-1)

Previous rank: 19 Last week: Def. Def. Capital City 43-17

Starting quarterback Sam Wyrick suffered a season-ending injury last week and Austin Weaver stepped in and shined in his first start for Helias at quarterback. The defense stole the show as the Crusaders forced three fumbles that ended in touchdowns for Helias.

Next game: vs. Jefferson City (4-2), Oct. 6

22. Webb City (5-1)

Previous rank: 22 Last week: Def. Willard 43-16

Webb City continued its climb up the rankings with another lopsided victory over Willard.

Next game: at Carthage (3-3), Oct 6

23. Seneca (6-0)

Previous rank: 25 Last week: Def. Reeds Spring 54-21

Senior running back Jackson Marrs carried the show as Seneca pounded Reeds Spring in a Big 8 Conference blowout. Marrs scored five times while rolling up 204 yards on the ground. Quarterback Gavyn Hoover rushed for 119 yards and scored twice.

Next game: at East Newtown (2-4), Oct. 6

24. Oak Park (6-0)

Previous rank: 23 Last week: Def. Lee's Summit 43-35

Travon Pankey's late touchdown helped save the unbeaten season for the Northmen. Pankey scored four total touchdowns in the win, including one in the final minute of the game to push Oak Park to an eight-point win.

Next game: at North Kansas City (2-4), Oct. 6

25. South Shelby (6-0)

Previous rank: 24 Last week: Def. Highland 69-6

South Shelby crushed Highland in a blowout homecoming victory.

Next game: at Macon (0-6), Oct. 6

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- Paul Halfacre | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveMiz

Published Oct 4, 2023

PAUL HALFACRE