Top 25 Missouri high school football rankings (11/21/2023)

Liberty North at Rockhurst highlights semifinal weekend schedule

SBLive Missouri Power 25 high school football rankings

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Missouri high school football rankings

November 21, 2023

1. Liberty North (11-1)

Previous rank: 1 Last week: Def. No. 18 Oak Park 38-7

LB Melvin Laster leads the Eagles in tackles (68), tackles for loss (16) and has four sacks.

Next game: at No. 3 Rockhurst (11-1), Nov. 24

2. Cardinal Ritter (11-0)

Previous rank: 2 Last week: Def. MICDS 60-24

Junior QB Carson Boyd has completed 80 percent of his passes and has thrown 25 touchdowns without an interception.

Next game: vs. Cape Central (10-3), Nov. 25

3. Rockhurst (11-1)

Previous rank: 4 Last week: Def. No. 3 Nixa 38-14

The Hawklets have beaten teams ranked No. 1 and No. 3 in back-to-back weeks during their playoff run. Next up is the current top-ranked team, Liberty North, in the Class 6 semifinals.

Next game: vs. No. 1 Liberty North (11-1), Nov. 24

4. Lee's Summit North (10-1)

Previous rank: 5

Since going 4-6 in the 2020 season, the Broncos have posted three straight seasons with 10 or more wins. Lee’s Summit North has won 33 games and lost just five during that span.

Next game: Season over

5. De Smet (10-1)

Previous rank: 6 Last week: Def. No. 20 Rock Bridge 23-16

The Spartans are finding a way to win close games, winning the last two against St. Louis University High and Rock Bridge by a touchdown or less.

Next game: at No. 6 CBC (10-2), Nov. 25

6. CBC (10-2)

Previous rank: 7 Last week: Def. Jackson 35-23

The Cadets will face Metro Catholic Conference rival De Smet for the 10th time in postseason play and are 5-4 in this meeting. De Smet defeated CBC 49-14 earlier this season.

Next game: vs. No. 5 De Smet (10-1), Nov. 25

7. Nixa (10-1)

Previous rank: 3 Last week: Lost to No. 4 Rockhurst 38-14

The senior class for the Eagles won 38 games over the past four years.

Next game: Season over

8. Lutheran North (11-1)

Previous rank: 9 Last week: Def. 19 Hannibal 71-60

The Crusaders will play Hillsboro for the first time since a playing game in 1981 — which they won 10-7.

Next game: at No. 11 Hillsboro (11-1), Nov. 25 

9. Blair Oaks (11-1)

Previous rank: 12 Last week: Def. Westminster 47-29

A win this week sends the Falcons back to a state title game for the fourth time in the past 6 years.

Next game: vs. Central Park Hills (9-3), Nov. 25 

10. Jackson (10-2)

Previous rank: 10 Last week: Lost to No. 7 CBC 35-23

In five of the past six years the Indians have won 10 or more games.

Next game: Season over 

Vote: Who should be SBLive's Missouri High School Athlete of the Week (11/20/2023)?

11. Hillsboro (11-1)

Previous rank: 14 Last week: Def. Pacific 48-35

The Hawks will look to stay perfect at home, where they are 4-0 this year and have lost only three games the past four years.

Next game: vs. No. 8 Lutheran North (11-1), Nov. 25

12. Francis Howell (9-3)

Previous rank: 12

The Vikings, last year’s Class 5 champions, have posted a 42-7 record over the past four seasons.

Next game: Season over

13. Seneca (12-0)

Previous rank: 16 Last week: Def. Ava 56-8

A victory would send the Indians to a state finals for the first time since 2013 and the eighth time overall.

Next game: vs. St. Pius X (KC) (11-2), Nov. 25

14. Lamar (11-1)

Previous rank: 17 Last week: Def. Lafayette County 41-7

The Tigers are one win away from a fourth straight appearance in the state title game. Lamar finished second in Class 2 the past two seasons after winning the title in 2020.

Next game: vs. No. 17 Bowling Green (13-0), Nov. 25 

15. Webb City (10-2)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. No. 13 Grain Valley 49-35

Webb City gets a rematch with Republic in the semifinal, beating them 42-21 earlier this season. The Cardinals have won 22 of the past 23 against the Tigers.

Next game: at No. 16 Republic (11-2), Nov. 25

16. Republic (11-2)

Previous rank: 23 Last week: Def. No. 11 Helias 28-21

Freshman Keiran Govan recovered two onside kicks to help the Tigers reach the semifinals for the first time since 1986.

Next game: vs. No. 15 Webb City (10-2), Nov. 25

17. Bowling Green (12-0)

Previous rank: 22 Last week: Def. No. 15 East Buchanan 50-22

The Bobcats are looking for a chance to return to the state finals for the first time since 2010. Bowling Green, which lost to Blair Oaks in the Class 2 semifinals a year ago, is 36-2 since the start of the 2021 season.

Next game: at No. 14 Lamar (11-1), Nov. 25

18. Oak Park (11-1)

Previous rank: 18 Last week: Lost to No. 1 Liberty North 38-7

The first playoff trip in 10 years ended at the hands of the top-ranked Eagles. The Northmen have won 19 games in the past two years — after winning 19 combined from 2015-2021.

Next game: Season over

19. Helias (10-2)

Previous rank: 11 Last week: Lost to No. 23 Republic 28-21

The Crusaders’ two losses this season – to Cardinal Ritter and Republic – were by a combined eight points.

Next game: Season over

20. Hannibal (11-2)

Previous rank: 19 Last week: Lost to No. 8 Lutheran North 71-60

Notre Dame-bound running back Aneyas Williams scored seven TDs in the quarterfinal loss and capped his career ranked No. 2 all-time in touchdowns (148) and points scored (937) — trailing former Wyoming running back Kellen Overstreet, from Hamilton Penney, in both categories.

Next game: Season over

21. Grain Valley (10-2)

Previous rank: 13 Last week: Lost to Webb City 49-35

Ty Williams finished the season with 33 touchdowns and more than 2,000 yards rushing.

Next game: Season over 

22. East Buchanan (11-1)

Previous rank: 15 Last week: Lost to No. 22 Bowling Green 50-22

The 34-game winning streak for the defending two-time Class 1 champions ended in the quarterfinals in the first year in Class 2.

Next game: Season over

23. Rock Bridge (9-3)

Previous rank: 21 Last week: Lost to No. 6 De Smet 23-16

For the second year in a row, the Bruins saw their season end against De Smet. Rock Bridge led 10-0 midway through the first quarter and 10-8 at halftime but couldn’t hold off the Spartans.

Next game: Season over 

24. Kearney (11-2)

Previous rank: 24 Last week: Def. Nevada 35-0

A victory this week will see the Bulldogs play in the state championship game for the sixth time since 2002.

Next game: at Jefferson City (9-4), Nov. 25 

25. St. Dominic (10-1)

Previous rank: 21

RB Thomas Pulliam broke the school record with 253 yards rushing in the district semifinals. He also finished the year with 29 touchdowns — more than the next nine scorers combined on the team.

Next game: Season over

Missouri high school football: Top standouts, best performances in Week 13 (11/18/2023)

Dakarri Hollis leads Lutheran North past Hannibal

De Smet rallies to beat Rock Bridge in Missouri Class 6 quarterfinals

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