SBLive Missouri Power 25 Week 9 High School Football Rankings: Troy Buchanan moves back into Top 10
By Chris Geinosky
Week 9 of the Missouri high school football campaign brought the regular season to a close. All ranked teams played on Friday night, and there were no shortages of both great performances and surprising results.
Camdenton and Seneca failed to complete undefeated seasons. Lee’s Summit North had to go double overtime to extend its win streak to eight in a row, while Kearney and MICDS needed late comebacks to pull out wins.
Red-hot Troy Buchanan cracks Top 10 for the first time since early season. Hillsboro joins the Top 25 heading into the postseason.
• PREVIOUS RANKINGS: PRESEASON | WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5 | WEEK 6 | WEEK 7 | WEEK 8
SBLIVE MISSOURI POWER 25 FOOTBALL RANKINGS:
Oct. 25, 2022
1. Christian Brothers College (8-1)
Last week: 1
Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Vianney (0-9)
Ranking rationale: No team in the state of Missouri has more offensive firepower than the Cadets. Quarterbacks Jason Wiley Jr. and Cole McKey have both played well this season, combining for nearly 1,900 passing yards and 27 touchdowns. Star running back and Notre Dame commit Jeremiyah Love ranked THIRD on the team in rushing yards until the final week of the regular season when he passed teammate Ralph Dixon, who caught a 77-yard touchdown pass in a convincing 44-17 victory against Edwardsville (Ill.) in a battle of ranked teams. Dylan Van leads the three-headed running back monster with more than 600 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Jeremiah McClellan and Dakotah Mayo combine to form one of the top sets of receivers in the Show-Me State.
2. Liberty North (9-0)
Last week: 2
Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Blue Springs (3-6)
Ranking rationale: For most of the season – and for good reason – the Eagles’ defense has stolen the show. Liberty North has not surrendered more than 14 points in any game and has allowed a grand total of 80, the fewest by any Class 6 team in the state. But give the offense some kudos as the Eagles have scored at least 34 points in six straight games. Starting running back MichahJo Barnett has been lost to a season-ending knee injury, but backup Hayden Davidson rushed for 103 yards on 22 carries in his stead last week. Quarterback Sam Van Dyne has been fantastic, throwing 18 touchdowns without an interception this season. He also has a new target in Jay Ross, who started the year at St. Pius X (Kansas City) but has been cleared eligible by MSHSAA to make a midseason transfer.
3. Lee’s Summit North (8-1)
Last week: 3
Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Lee’s Summit (4-5)
Ranking rationale: As expected, the Broncos won their eighth straight game to close out the regular season, but it wasn’t easy as they had to pull out a 40-34 overtime victory against feisty Park Hill last week. Lee’s Summit North (43.55 strength of schedule points) has to settle for the No. 2 seed in the Class 6 District 3 tournament, finishing with the same 8-1 overall record as Nixa (44.56) but falling just short in the tiebreaker by one point. The seeding sets up an interesting first-round district game for North, which will have to take on crosstown rival Lee’s Summit. These two teams played back in Week 4, and the Broncos took that one, 38-16.
4. St. Mary’s (7-2)
Last week: 4
Next game: Bye
Ranking rationale: Several weeks ago, it was reported that St. Mary’s could close its doors at the end of the school year. If that’s the case, this will be the program’s final opportunity to add to its legacy. The Dragons reached the Class 4 state semifinals in 2019, and then after having the 2020 season ruined by COVID, they captured the program’s first-ever state championship by winning the Class 3 title in 2021. Mizzou recruit Jamal Roberts has been one of the most explosive running backs in the state this season, rushing for 1,053 yards on only 82 carries, a heaping average of 12.8 yards per rush. Receiver/punt returner Chase Hendricks gives the Dragons another dangerous weapon.
5. Francis Howell (9-0)
Last week: 5
Next game: Bye
Ranking rationale: When the Vikings found out they would compete at the Class 5 ranks this year, they had to be licking their chops. A winning program at the larger Class 6 level over the years, Francis Howell has taken care of business as expected by running through the regular season undefeated. In the past month, the Vikings have posted four consecutive running-clock victories (by 35 points or more). Howell stands as a heavy favorite to win the Class 5 District 3 tournament, as the field features only one other team with a winning record: 5-4 Francis Howell North, who lost big to Howell, 56-14, back in Week 4.
6. Carthage (8-1)
Last week: 6
Next game: Bye
Ranking rationale: Since coming up short in last year’s district championship game against eventual state champion Webb City, Carthage looks like a team on a mission. Six of the Tigers’ eight wins have been by 30 points or more, and by claiming the top seed in the Class 5 District 6 tournament, now they have a week off to get healthy before making a postseason run.
7. Cardinal Ritter (9-0)
Last week: 7
Next game: Bye
Ranking rationale: Has any team in the state been more dominant than Cardinal Ritter? It’s hard to say otherwise. In nine regular season games, the Lions defense posted five shutouts and allowed a mere 40 points. Only one game was decided by less than three touchdowns. Expect more blowouts in the upcoming weeks as Ritter probably will not even be tested in Class 2 District 2 play.
8. Kearney (9-0)
Last week: 8
Next game: Bye
Ranking rationale: With the No. 1 seed in the Class 4 District 8 bracket already locked up, the Bulldogs had only one thing to play for in Week 9 – complete the regular season with an undefeated record for the first time since the early 2000s. Kearney got the job done with a comeback victory at Belton and will now enjoy a week off before beginning the postseason journey.
9. Nixa (8-1)
Last week: 10
Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Ozark (2-7)
Ranking rationale: Led by quarterback Connor Knatcal and running back Ramone Green Jr., the Eagles’ high-flying offense has scored at least 49 points in five of the last six games. Nixa blasted Ozark, 51-7, last week, and ironically enough, they will play Ozark again in the first round of the Class 6 District 3 tourney.
10. Troy Buchanan (7-2)
Last week: 12
Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Hazelwood West
Ranking rationale: Five weeks into the season, the Trojans owned a mediocre 3-2 record and didn’t appear to be a team ready to build on last year’s state semifinal appearance. Fast forward a month, and the view is much different. Winners of four straight games, Troy Buchanan has landed the No. 1 seed in the Class 6 District 2 tourney.
Vote now: Who should be SBLive's Missouri High School Athlete of the Week (Oct. 17-22)?
Top standouts, best performances in Week 9 of the Missouri high school football season
Photos: Grain Valley takes control late in win over visiting Raytown
Photos: Father Tolton holds off visiting Fayette for seventh victory of the season
Photos: Francis Howell routs Rock Bridge to finish regular season undefeated
11. Smithville (8-1)
Last week: 11
Next game: Oct. 28 vs. East (Kansas City)
Ranking rationale: Riding a six-game win streak where they have outscored their opponents 293-29, the defending Class 4 state champion Warriors look ready to make another deep run in the state playoffs. Smithville, the No. 2 seed in Class 4 District 8, will start the postseason against winless East.
12. Blair Oaks (9-0)
Last week: 14
Next game: Bye
Ranking rationale: Quarterback Dylan Hair and Co. have been simply unstoppable this season, racking up 508 points in nine games (56.4 per contest). Blair Oaks has won every contest so far this year with the turbo clock in effect and enters the postseason as the favorite to capture the Class 2 state championship.
13. Joplin (7-2)
Last week: 13
Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Raymore-Peculiar (5-4)
Ranking rationale: A team on the rise in recent weeks, Joplin could play spoiler in the Class 6 District 3 tournament and beyond. The Eagles exploded for a season-high 68 points in the regular-season finale and will look to build on that performance in the postseason opener against a Raymore-Peculiar defense that has been shredded lately.
14. Camdenton (8-1)
Last week: 9
Next game: Bye
Ranking rationale: A shocking overtime loss against Glendale in the regular-season finale brought the Lakers’ undefeated run to an end. However, the full body of work, including a key head-to-head victory over Lebanon, has Camdenton sitting on the No. 1 seed line in the Class 5 District 5 bracket.
15. Lebanon (8-1)
Last week: 15
Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Branson (1-8)
Ranking rationale: Lebanon’s victory against Rolla combined with Camdenton’s loss against Glendale in Week 9, meant the top teams in the Ozark Conference finished as co-league champions. The Yellowjackets have one of the top ground games in the state and will open district play against Branson.
16. Valle Catholic (9-0)
Last week: 16
Next game: Bye
Ranking rationale: The offensive-minded Warriors have piled up 501 points in nine games this season, scoring at least 40 in every contest. Valle Catholic has earned the top seed in Class 3 District 1 tournament and has already defeated five of the teams in the field.
17. Holt (8-1)
Last week: 17
Next game: Bye
Ranking rationale: Last year’s Class 5 state runner-up has been on a roll, winning eight games in a row. The Indians edged Helias Catholic and Capital City for the top seed in Class 5 District 4, a tournament that sports five teams with winning records.
18. Eureka (8-1)
Last week: 23
Next game: Bye
Ranking rationale: As it turned out, a shocking Week 7 loss to rival Lafayette (Wildwood) cost the Wildcats a perfect regular season. Despite that, Eureka still earned the top seed in the Class 5 District 2 tournament and now receives a free pass to the semifinals.
19. MICDS (8-1)
Last week: 18
Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Chaminade College Prep (3-6)
Ranking rationale: Steven Hall (28 touchdowns) and Winston Moore (20) rank among the top scorers from the St. Louis area this season. That dynamic duo has carried the Rams to the No. 2 seed in the Class 5 District 2 tournament.
20. Lamar (8-1)
Last week: 22
Next game: Bye
Ranking rationale: Small-class power Lamar has been playing at its usual high level all season. The Tigers stand as a heavy favorite to win the Class 2 District 5 tournament and may be the only team capable of stopping Blair Oaks in the playoffs.
21. Seckman (8-1)
Last week: 25
Next game: Oct. 28 vs. St. Louis University High (3-6)
Ranking rationale: It’s arguable that Seckman has been one of the biggest surprises of the season. Not only have the Jaguars won a program record eight games this season, they have won six of those eight games by at least 35 points.
22. Rock Bridge (7-2)
Last week: 20
Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Hickman (2-7)
Ranking rationale: Rock Bridge lost the first and last games of the regular season but won all seven contests in between. Last week’s loss against highly regarded Francis Howell leaves the Bruins as the No. 2 seed in the Class 6 District 2 tournament.
23. Hillsboro (8-1)
Last week: NR
Next game: Bye
Ranking rationale: Say what you want about the Hawks’ schedule (they have defeated only two teams with winning records), but the bottom line is that they won every time out except for a respectable 26-13 loss against undefeated Cardinal Ritter in Week 8. Kansas State commit Austin Romaine is an impact player on both sides of the ball at linebacker and running back.
24. Kickapoo (7-2)
Last week: 25
Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Lee’s Summit West (2-7)
Ranking rationale: Led by its dominant defense, the Chiefs finished the regular season on a six-game win streak. Kickapoo surrendered only 86 points in nine games, the second lowest total among Class 6 teams behind only Liberty North.
25. De Smet (4-5)
Last week: 19
Next game: Oct. 28 at Ritenour (5-4)
Ranking rationale: Will the toughest schedule in the state pay dividends? The battle-tested Spartans might be the most dangerous No. 5 seed in any district tournament across the state. If they can beat Ritenour this week, they will meet Troy Buchanan in the Class 6 District 2 semifinals.
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