Top 25 Missouri high school football rankings (10/11/2023)

Lee's Summit West at Lee's Summit North highlights Week 8 schedule

Cody Thorn | Oct 11, 2023

Top-ranked Lee's Summit North will host undefeated Lee’s Summit West Friday in a battle for city bragging rights. That is one of a handful of showdowns with undefeated teams.

Cardinal Ritter will entertain Hillsboro on Saturday — moved from Friday night — in another showdown of 7-0 squads. No. 24 South Shelby will face off against fellow undefeated squad Centralia with a share of a conference title on the line. Lebanon could wrap up the Ozark Conference crown with a win against Camdenton.

SBLive Missouri Power 25 high school football rankings

PREVIOUS RANKINGS: PRESEASON | AUG. 30 | SEPT. 7 | SEPT. 14 | SEPT. 20 | SEPT. 27 | OCT. 4

Missouri high school football rankings

October 11, 2023

1. Lee's Summit North (7-0)

Previous rank: 1 Last week: Def. Liberty 38-20

Lee's Summit North had nearly 500 yards of total offense in a win against the Blue Jays, pulling away late after the lead shrunk to three early in the third. Isaiah Mozee had nine catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Elijah Leonard threw for 258 yards and three scores.

Next game: vs. No. 18 Lee’s Summit West (7-0), Oct. 13

2. Liberty North (6-1)

Previous rank: 2 Last week: Def. Blue Springs South 38-26

The Eagles got a solid 1-2 punch from running back Micah Jo Barnett (138 yards, 1 touchdown) and JaCorey Love (137 yards, 2 touchdowns) in a win against the Jaguars.

Next game: vs. Ray-Pec (3-4), Oct. 13

3. De Smet (7-0)

Previous rank: 3 Last week: Def. St. Mary’s 26-0

Caleb Redd, a Kentucky pledge, had eight tackles and four sacks in a win against the Dragons. The Spartans finished with 10 sacks in the contest. De Smet is off this week before a big out-of-state showdown against Edwardsville (Ill.) to wrap up the regular season.

Next game: vs. Edwardsville (Ill.) (7-0), Oct. 20.

4. Cardinal Ritter (7-0)

Previous rank: 4 Last week: Def. Lift for Life Academy 32-0

The Lions have now won 21 in a row dating back to the start of the 2022 season. This was the seventh shutout in the past two seasons for Cardinal Ritter’s defense. The Lions have a big matchup against undefeated Hillsboro on Saturday afternoon.

Next game: vs. No. 10 Hillsboro (7-0), Oct. 14

5. Nixa (7-0)

Previous rank: 5 Last week: Def. Willard 47-14

Due to an injury, Keivon Flint moved into the slot receiver spot and secured his first career touchdown, a 61-yard strike from Nate Uber. Flint had three catches for 97 yards.

Next game: vs. Republic (6-1), Oct. 13

6. CBC (5-2)

Previous rank: 6 Last week: Def. Vianney 56-7

Jeremiah McClellan, an Ohio State commit, scored twice on five catches. Quarterback Cole McKey threw four touchdowns for the Cadets and tallied 212 yards passing.

Next game: at Warren Central, Ind. (3-5), Oct. 13

7. Rockhurst (6-1)

Previous rank: 8 Last week: Def. Blue Springs 14-10

Kelly Donohue improved to 4-0 against his former squad with a win on Friday, holding off a late charge by the Wildcats. Next up is a rival from across the state on senior night.

Next game: vs. St. Louis University High (5-2), Oct. 13

8. St. Dominic (6-0)

Previous rank: 9 Last week: Def. Duchesne 45-7

Quarterback Brennan Czeschin spread the ball around to 10 different receivers while completing 13 of 20 passes. He finished with 215 yards in the air and three touchdowns and now has 16 passing touchdowns this season.

Next game: at MICDS (6-1), Oct. 14

9. Lutheran North (6-1)

Previous rank: 8 Last week: Lost 19-14 to Maryville

In a neutral-site contest on Saturday, the Crusaders saw their winning streak come to an end against now No. 25 Maryville. Lutheran North played without Dakarri Hollis and Jonathan Moore passed for 105 yards and ran for another 72 in the loss. Michael Clark had a 74-yard touchdown run and 158 yards on the ground.

Next game: vs. Lutheran St. Charles (3-4), Oct. 13.

10. Hillsboro (7-0)

Previous rank: 10 Last week: Def. DeSoto 42-0

Quarterback Preston Brown completed 10 of 14 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns against DeSoto while the defense recorded its second shutout of the season.

Next game: at No. 4 Cardinal Ritter (7-0), Oct. 14

11. Francis Howell (5-2)

Previous rank: 11 Last week: Def. Timberland 42-14

In four out of five wins this season, the Vikings have scored 40 or more points — and even that mark once in a loss as well. Francis Howell had an interception return and a block punt recovery for scores against Timberland.

Next game: at Francis Howell Central (3-4), Oct. 13

12. Grain Valley (6-1)

Previous rank: 12 Last week: Def. Hickman 42-18

Grain Valley forced four fumbles – recovering two of them – in a big road win in Columbia last week. One of the fumble recoveries happened in the end zone and kept the Kewpies from scoring late in the first half.
Next game: vs. William Chrisman (4-3), Oct. 13

13. Blair Oaks (6-1)

Previous rank: 13 Last week: Def. Eldon 55-0

The Class 3 top-ranked Falcons rolled to a win over Eldon as quarterback Tyler Bax had a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another one.

Next game: at Hallsville (4-3), Oct. 13

14. East Buchanan (7-0)

Previous rank: 14 Last week: Def. St. Michael the Archangel 40-24

With the win last week, the Bulldogs set the school record for the longest winning streak at 20 games, breaking a tie with the 1952 squad. RB Trevor Klein ran for 145 yards, while rushing, passing and catching a touchdown, and also added two sacks and a forced fumble on defense.

Next game: at Mid-Buchanan (5-2), Oct. 13

15. Lamar (6-1)

Previous rank: 15 Last week: Def. No. 17 Nevada 14-0

Special teams got the ball rolling for Lamar— in a battle of unbeaten teams last week — on a 68-yard punt return by Ian Ngugi. The win over then No. 17 Nevada helped Lamar retain the Silver Tiger Trophy in the rivalry game between local foes.

Next game: vs. Cassville (4-3), Oct. 13

16. Jackson (6-1)

Previous rank: 16 Last week: Def. Confluence Prep Academy 70-0

In a lopsided win over Confluence Prep, a lot of players saw game action and recorded stats. The JV and freshmen combined for 42 of the team’s 70 points in the win. Third-string quarterback Nolan Bartels led the Indians in rushing with 67 yards.

Next game: vs. Holt (5-2), Oct. 13

17. Lebanon (7-0)

Previous rank: 18 Last week: Def. West Plains 52-14

The Yellowjackets ran for six touchdowns in the blowout conference win against West Plains. Junior Jax Glendenning (94 yards) and Abe Allen (141) both had two touchdowns on the ground. Lebanon can win the Ozark Conference title with a win this week.

Next game: vs. Camdenton (6-1), Oct. 13

18. Lee's Summit West (7-0)

Previous rank: 19 Last week: Def. Raymore-Peculiar 31-7

A win last week matched the win total for the past two years combined and it marked the first time since 2012 that the Titans opened the year with seven straight victories. Devin Wilson had two interceptions in last week’s win, including returning one for a score.

Next game: at No. 1 Lee’s Summit North, Oct. 13

19. Rockwood Summit (7-0)

Previous rank: 20 Last week: Def. Oakville 49-7

Elijah Stevens had four touchdowns and ran for 194 yards on 17 carries and added 75 yards on two catches. This is the second time in the past three years that the Falcons have won their first seven games.

Next game: vs. McCluer North (1-6), Oct. 13

20. Nevada (6-1)

Previous rank: 17 Last week: Lost 14-0 to Lamar

The Tigers were shut out for the first time since the regular-season finale in 2019, a 49-0 loss to Monett. Nevada was averaging 47 points per game this season prior to the setback.

Next game: at Monett (0-7), Oct. 13

21. Helias (6-1)

Previous rank: 21 Last week: Def. Jefferson City 24-6

The Crusaders retained the Mayor’s Cup with a win against the Jays on Friday. Alex Marberry had a 7-yard touchdown catch and a 6-yard run as Helias raced out to a 21-0 lead last week.

Next game: at Sedalia Smith-Cotton (1-6), Oct. 13

22. Seneca (7-0)

Previous rank: 23 Last week: Def. East Newton 50-14

The Indians have outscored their opponents 331-49 this season. This is the second straight season the Indians are 7-0. Seneca won its first eight games a year ago before losing.

Next game: vs. McDonald County (4-3), Oct. 13

23. Oak Park (7-0)

Previous rank: 24 Last week: Def. North Kansas City 43-6

Travon Pankey and Evan Braxton provided the 1-2 punch in the win against NKC. Pankey ran for 154 yards and two scores on the ground and caught a 45-yard touchdown pass. Braxton had 126 yards and two touchdowns rushing and also had a 45-yard touchdown reception.

Next game: at St. Joseph Central (6-1), Oct. 13

24. South Shelby (7-0)

Previous rank: 24 Last week: Def. Macon 42-0

The Cardinals scored three touchdowns in an 88-second span in the second quarter to pull away from Macon. Kendal Hammond had 11 carries for 227 yards and scored four times. A win this week will give South Shelby a share of the Clarence Cannon Conference title.

Next game: Centralia (7-0), Oct. 13

25. Maryville (6-1)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. No. 6 Lutheran North 19-14

Playing in a neutral site game in Chillicothe, QB Derek Quinlin passed for a touchdown and ran for two in the fourth quarter to help the Spoofhounds pull off the upset. The win was the sixth in a row and the one loss came against No. 13 Blair Oaks in the season opener. Next up is the battle to keep the traveling the Highway 71 Sign for the 12th year in a row.

Next game: vs. Savannah (6-1), Oct. 13

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- Cody Thorn | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveMiz

Published Oct 11, 2023

CODY THORN

Cody Thorn is a veteran journalist who covers high school sports across the state of Texas and Missouri. He is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and has covered sports and news since 1999.