Missouri Media Rankings, Sep. 9: Local teams all rising with strong performances

Jackson's Brock Reagan celebrates his forced fumble during a Saturday, September 7, 2024 game between the Jackson Indians and the Cahokia Comanches at East St. Louis Senior High School in East St. Louis, Ill. Jackson defeated Cahokia, 49-26.

Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com

The Missouri Media Rankings have been released following Week 2 action across the Show-Me State, and the representation for the Bootheel has only increased in the past week.

Each team that appeared on last week’s poll rose in the past week, with the most notable rise being that of the St. Vincent Indians.

After the Indians marched into Valle Catholic and knocked off the reigning Class 2 runner-ups in a 24-7 victory, St. Vincent rose to No. 2 in Class 1.

Not just that, but the Indians were a mere three points from tying reigning state champion Marionville for the No. 1 spot in the state.

St. Vincent accrued three first-place votes – three less than the Comets that ended the Indians’ season last year, but still a major accomplishment for the up-and-coming St. V’s.

Joining the Indians in the rankings are Caruthersville at No. 8 in Class 2, Dexter at No. 6 in Class 3 and Cape Central at No. 9 in Class 5.

Cape Central wasn’t ranked last week, being just one point out from the No. 10 spot but not enough to exit the “Receiving Votes” category.

After another shutout against St. Charles West in Week 2, the Tigers got enough clout to earn the No. 9 spot to become the newest team in the official top 10.

Caruthersville and Dexter both rose, with the Bearcats rising an impressive three spots after a monster win against Sikeston on Homecoming night while Caruthersville improved a spot after a big win at Malden.

Still receiving votes, Jackson is the first team left off in Class 6 while Portageville continues to receive votes in Class 2 after a big win over Hayti.

Locally, Hillsboro dropped down to No. 10 in Class 4 while the famed Valle Catholic Warriors slipped down to No. 5 in Class 2 after defending their spot at No. 2 last week.

Park Hills Central worked its way up to the No. 4 spot in Class 4, tying the Southern Boone Eagles (who Dexter will see later this season) as the reigning state champs look to regain their footing after some big personnel losses.

While most classes have one or two teams vying for the No. 1 spot, Class 6 is something of a nightmare. Five teams receiving first-place votes after Liberty North lost to archrival Liberty over the weekend.

Here’s how the rankings shake up going into Week 3 action around the state.

––––––––––––

Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star-Journal; Anthony Crane, KQ2 St. Joseph; J.B. Connoley, NEMOPressbox.com; Cole Lee, semoball.com; Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

First-place votes in parenthesis.

––––––––––––

CLASS 6

Rank, team, Rec., Pts., LW

1. Rockhurst (3), 2-0, 82, 3

2. DeSmet (3), 2-0, 71, 4

3. Lee’s Summit North (1), 2-0, 70, 5

4. CBC (1), 1-1, 67, 2

5. Nixa (1), 2-0, 56, 6

6. Liberty North, 1-1, 41, 1

7. Lee’s Summit, 2-0, 31, NR

8. Liberty, 1-1, 30, NR

9. Joplin, 2-0, 16, 10

10. Blue Springs South, 1-1, 14, 8

Dropped out: No. 7 Marquette, No. 9 Oak Park

Also receiving votes: Jackson (1-1), 7; Park Hill (2-0), 4; Seckman (2-0), 3; Kirkwood (2-0), 2; Columbia Rock Bridge (1-1), 1

––––––––––––

CLASS 5

Rank, team, Rec., Pts.

1. Cardinal Ritter (9), 2-0, 90, 1

2. Platte County, 2-0, 80, T2

3. Jefferson City Helias, 2-0, 64, 4

4. Carthage, 2-0, 61, 6

5. St. Pius X, 1-1, 55, 5

6. Webb City, 1-1, 43, T2

7. Capital City, 2-0, 34, 8

8. Eureka, 2-0, 29, T9

9. Cape Central, 2-0, 18, NR

10. Branson, 2-0, 9, NR

Dropped out: No. 7 Camdenton, No. 8 Grain Valley

Also receiving votes: Hazelwood East (2-0), 6; Grain Valley (1-1) 4; Camdenton (1-1), 2

––––––––––––

CLASS 4

Rank, team, Rec., Pts.

1. Lutheran North (6), 1-1, 86, 2

2. Kearney (3), 2-0, 84, 1

3. Smithville, 2-0, 72, 3

4. Hannibal, 1-1, 64, 4

5. Warrensburg, 2-0, 37, 8

6. Kirksville, 2-0, 29, 10

7. Nevada, 2-0, 27, 9

8. Pleasant Hill, 1-1, 25, 6

9. Savannah, 1-1, 19, NR

10. Hillsboro, 0-2, 15, 5

Dropped out: No. 7 Mexico

Also receiving votes: Warrenton (2-0), 13; Mexico (1-1), 12; Parkway North (1-1), 6; School of the Osage (2-0), 5; McDonald County (0-2), 1

––––––––––––

CLASS 3

Rank, team, Rec., Pts.

1. Blair Oaks (5), 1-1, 86, 1

2. Seneca (4), 2-0, 85, 2

3. Maryville, 1-1, 69, 3

T4. Park Hills Central, 2-0, 52, 6

T4. Southern Boone, 2-0, 52, 7

6. Dexter, 2-0, 38, 9

7. Mt. Vernon, 1-1, 35, 5

8. Lift for Life, 1-1, 31, 4

9. St. Francis Borgia, 2-0, 25, 10

10. Chillicothe, 1-1, 10, 8

Also receiving votes: Strafford (2-0), 8; Knob Noster (2-0), 3; Forsyth (1-1), 1

––––––––––––

CLASS 2

Rank, team, Rec., Pts.

1. Lamar (9), 2-0, 90, 1

2. Fair Grove, 2-0, 75, 3

3. Bowling Green, 2-0, 67, 4

4. Lafayette County, 2-0, 66, 5

5. Valle Catholic, 1-1, 50, 2

6. Ava, 2-0, 48, 7

7. South Shelby, 2-0, 25, 8

8. Caruthersville, 2-0, 24, 9

9. Warsaw, 2-0, 18, NR

10. East Buchanan, 1-1, 14, 6

Dropped out: No. 10 Mid Buchanan

Also receiving votes: Mid Buchanan (2-0), 12; Portageville (2-0), 5; Jefferson (1-1), 1

––––––––––––

CLASS 1

Rank, team, Rec., Pts.

1. Marionville (6), 2-0, 87, 1

2. St. Vincent (3), 2-0, 84, 3

3. Adrian, 1-1, 69, 2

4. Tipton, 2-0, 62, 4

5. Marceline, 2-0, 48, 5

6. Windsor, 2-0, 41, 6

7. Milan, 1-1, 40, 7

8. Van-Far, 2-0, 29, 8

9. Ash Grove, 2-0, 13, 10

10. Salisbury, 2-0, 12, NR

Dropped out: No. 9 North Platte

Also receiving votes: Scotland County (2-0), 8; Penney (1-1), 2