The Gridiron Geek gave a loooooong-winded excuse for temporarily handing off Herculaneum’s Class 3 beat to Pete’s Predictions. In Class 5’s case, it’s very simple to tell our dear readers why TGG isn’t making a prediction (today, at least). It’s because … wait for it … he’s got NO IDEA what’s going to happen! Class 5’s district tourney that impacts Mississippi Magazine was easy to overlook during 2025’s regular season as Fox slumped so badly and Farmington went bananas. Now you turn around in Week 10, and looky-looky – it sure seems like an even-handed, free-for-all kind of District 1 from the #5 seeds up if you don’t count a what-the-heck #3 seed for the 3-5 Webster Groves Statesmen.
We’re counting on Pete to make a fresh forecast on an inscrutable bracket. He has made one, touting a familiar team that couldn’t have dreamed of winning a Class 5 event of any variety as of not that many years ago. But you’ll notice Fox has a larger role in the blog’s outlook for C5D1 than it did prior to Week 9’s tremendous upset of Ladue.
Kudos to Chandler Price and the Fox Warriors for beating the proud Rams. Arnold’s boys pulled themselves out of the doldrums with the 26-20 triumph, earned a home-field quarterfinal game, and reestablished Fox as a contender in a district field that’s got -zero- unbeatable lineups in it. If the Warriors can scrape past the Mules of Poplar Bluff in this Friday’s fracas by the Water Tower, they’ll have an old rivalry rumble with the #1 seed Farmington Black Knights that could go either way. Work your way into a final against Cape Central, and anything can happen. Fox is, after all, a little bit bigger campus than the #1 or #2 seed schools. More importantly, Price’s pack looks recommitted to the game plan.
Oh, and if Price keeps fooling defenses (and Gavin Pecoraro keeps getting loose) like this every so often, you can scratch out an “OR” or two below and circle the Warriors:
Class 5 District 1 Playoff Preview: Pete’s Predictions on a Crowded Bracket
I was amazed to discover this is the only Class 5 district with just two teams above a .500 winning percentage. However, remember that the Fox Warriors have kept most of their losses within one score this regular season. Fox High could provide some other District 1 teams with unexpected early trips to the mall to buy basketball shoes.
Class 5, District 1 District Quarterfinal Matchups (October 31)
#1 Farmington Knights (bye)
#2 Central (Cape Girardeau) Tigers vs #7 Mehlville Panthers
#3 Webster Groves Statesmen vs #6 Miller Career Phoenix
#4 Fox Warriors vs #5 Poplar Bluff Mules
Farmington enters the district playoffs with a 7W-2L record to earn a first-round bye.
My view is that we have a total toss up with the Fox vs Poplar Bluff playoff game, since we don’t know if the Fox Warriors of Weeks 5-8 or the rejuvenated team from Week 9 is going to show up. However, I fully expect the Cape Girardeau Central Tigers and the Webster Groves Statesmen to progress to the next round.
Week 11 District Semifinals (November 7):
#1 Farmington Knights vs #4 Fox Warriors OR #5 Poplar Bluff Mules
#2 Central (Cape Girardeau) Tigers OR #7 Mehlville Panthers vs #3 Webster Groves Statesmen OR #6 Miller Career Academy Phoenix
(The Geek’s note: This round is academic unless Fox and Farmington play in Week 11, in which case it’s nice of Pete to let TGG have dibs on that bad boy.)
Week 12 District Finals (November 14)
I may be taken the easy route by picking the two programs with winning records. However, after comparing the division’s records and opponents played, I feel the Farmington Knights and Central Tigers will be meeting in the finals. I also predict that the C5D1 finals are going to be close (within one touchdown) and either team could claim victory.
Pete’s Predictions: Class 5 District 1 Championship Game
Winner: Farmington Black Knights
Runner Up: Central (Cape Girardeau) Tigers
Photo Credit: Wildcat Photography Facebook