Hillsboro Hawks at Fort Zumwalt West Jaguars
It’s time to face facts – the Hillsboro Hawks haven’t been all that great against tough out-of-conference opponents for the last, eh, maybe 5-10 seasons. In fact, the lack of HHS victories in regular-season OOC play stands alongside 2020 and 2021’s District playoff bugaboo as the Hawks’ biggest weak point.
But if you look at early-season outcomes against big-shots from out of town (notwithstanding Jackson and Saint Louis U. High), Hillsboro has fared markedly better on those nights. Like the former favorite in the I-55 Conference rivalry previewed next on scroll, Fort Zumwalt West’s timing could be erroneous in trying to take the Blue & White down. Especially with FZW fielding a workmanlike, beatable defense in ’22 while Hillsboro comes in having outplayed 2 forecasts in a row. PREDICTION: HAWKS 38, FZW 32
Jefferson Blue Jays at Herculaneum Blackcats
The kickoff at Dunklin R-5 must be weighed between 2 extreme possibilities. MSHSAA fans knew the phenomenon of watching a “ghost” team in familiar jerseys show up as a patsy on a field they’re used to winning on, such as in Festus High’s losing streak to Herculaneum prior to HC Joel Critchlow rebuilding the Black & Gold. But as “ghostly” as the JHS attack may have looked against Fredericktown in Week 1, it’s not time to put that label on the Blue Jays yet. Jefferson looks so well-stacked with numbers in ’22 that progress on the gridiron could simply be a matter of time.
On the other side, Herky has shined against a common opponent, and clearly has more big-play firepower than Jefferson brings to the table. But can the Blackcats get past the mental hurdle of a losing streak in the rivalry?
If the Felines win going-away tonight, it will simply be because the game is in Week 3. The Geek expects Herky and JHS to boast about the same strength going into the postseason, which would still be quite a thrill for Herky, especially if the ‘Cats can corral a higher District seed than the Blue Jays in spite of toiling in C3. PREDICTION: BLACKCATS 27, BLUE JAYS 21
Grandview Eagles at St. Pius Lancers
The Gridiron Geek has finally begun to spell “Dabrein” Moss correctly, no thanks to the needlessly creative parents of 21st century athletes. (C-yle Schaumburg? MichEal Keller? D’Brickashaw Ferguson?) Tonight, Moss’ grammar-rebel name spells “4th quarter,” since Mississippi Magazine believes SPX-GHS could go a lot like Herculaneum’s memorable fight vs Fredericktown, with Lancers coughing-up fur balls and scratching behind ears with their swords in postgame. PREDICTION: LANCERS 27, EAGLES 16
Bayless Bronchos at Crystal City Hornets
Bayless has looked way-too-much like Perryville over the past 2 years, a program with bolstered numbers, coaching, and enthusiasm that still suffers from a lack of team speed. Running back Mark Patton is threatening to change that, galloping for over 200 yards against Grandview last Friday.
Patton will be a load for Crystal City’s defense to tackle whether or not the Bronchos get another surge of momentum in the 2nd half. But the Bronchos are still a team that struggles with fast opposing players. CCHS shouldn’t try to overwhelm Bayless with power, but just work to stalemate a unit that’s got 1 really fast kid next to Crystal City’s 4 or 5 speed-burners. PREDICTION: HORNETS 35, BAYLESS 24
Seckman Jaguars at Northwest Lions
Seckman can begin gobbling-up District points – and potentially stay ahead of the troubled 2022 CBC Cadets if not the temporarily-hot Oakville Tigers – with a 13+ point win over a fellow Class 6 school as opposed to the lower-tier opponent from last weekend. PREDICTION: JAGUARS 55, LIONS 13
Festus Tigers at Windsor Owls
An FHS secondary that was overtaxed in Weeks 1-2 would be very dangerous to fire 25+ passes at on a more favorable evening, which means that Jeff Funston’s hosts will probably try to eke-out 1st downs and control the pigskin through what could be another dull opening half for the Black & Gold in Owlville. PREDICTION: TIGERS 44, ALBINO BIRDS 14
Fox Warriors at Lindbergh Flyers
Much like the Grandview Eagles, the Fox Warriors need only 1 or 2 upsets to turn what looks like a dagger of a schedule into an impressive W/L record. PREDICTION: LINDBERGH 29, WARRIORS 16
DeSoto Dragons at North County Raiders
If North County’s defense is at least as athletic as the ’22 Sullivan Eagles near the line-of-scrimmage, the Green Gang is in for a bad night in Good Earth. PREDICTION: NORTH COUNTY 42, DRAGONS 0