Missouri High School Football Class 5 Semifinal Preview

Written by Charlie Beuttel

Twitter: @charlie_cds3

It is time for the semifinals in the Missouri Class 5 playoffs with four teams battling for a chance to capture the state championship.

Last Friday in the quarterfinals, there were three exciting games and all four road teams won staying in the hunt for a state title. Chaminade squeaked past Summit 14-7, Carthage narrowly escaped past Nixa 48-46, and Battle got past Fort Zumwalt North 17-10. The only team to win in blowout fashion was Fort Osage as they easily handled Park Hill, 42-10.

The two semifinal games this week will provide exciting action with great talent on all roster and just two teams advancing to play for the state title on Nov. 28th in St. Louis.

Carthage Tigers (11-1) at Chaminade Red Devils (11-1)

Carthage will take the 300 mile ride from the southwest corner of the Show Me State to St. Louis to battle Chaminade.

Carthage’s offense scores 36.9 points a game on average and scored 48 in their incredible quarterfinal win. The Tigers have three leaders on offense including senior quarterback Alex Darryberry (6’0”, 180 pounds), senior running back Jess Hettinger (5’11”, 176), and tight Tyler Ralston (6’0”, 213 pounds). Darryberry led his team to a victory last week when he threw for 170 yards, ran for 229 and had six total touchdowns.

The Tigers hold opponents to just 20 points a game but gave up 46 last week against Nixa. The defense has a great front seven led by senior defensive tackle Walter Gilstrap (6’2”, 300 pounds) and senior defensive end Andrew Moore (6’2”, 205 pounds).

Chaminade’s offense is scoring just over 39 points a game. The Red Devils are led by junior quarterback Michael McGovern (6’0”, 185 pounds) who has thrown for 1,084 yards and 14 touchdowns. Other offensive weapons include junior running backs Darius Davis (5’9”, 190 pounds) and Bryce Johnson (5’6”, 190 pounds). Davis has 800 rushing yards while Johnson has 764.

The Red Devils have a great defense, especially their secondary. Chaminade only gives up on average 17.25 points a game. Senior defensive backs Roderick Campbell (5’11”, 180 pounds), a Northwestern commit, and Taylor Jeffries (6’0”, 191 pounds) both have the athleticism to come up with big plays for Chaminade anywhere on the field and at any time.

Fort Osage Indians (11-1) at Battle Spartans (10-2)

Fort Osage is taking the 120 mile trip to Columbia on Friday night to take on the Spartans in a highly anticipated showdown.

The Indians score just over 34 points a game and is led by senior dual-threat quarterback Skylar Thompson. Thompson, a Kansas State commit, has thrown for 1,742 yards with 20 touchdowns and has ran for 822 yards and 15 more scores. Another offensive weapon is sophomore running back Isaiah Iloilo (6’2”, 220 pounds) who has ran for 919 yards and eight touchdowns.

Fort Osage’s defense only allows opponents to score on average 15.6 points a game. The two leaders are senior linebackers Jesse Reser (6’2”, 175 pounds) and Alec Chavez (5’11”, 210 pounds). Reser has 108 tackles and eight sacks while Chavez has 94 tackles and one interception.

Battle scores just over 39 points a game but scored just 17 in their quarterfinal game against Fort Zumwalt North. Junior quarterback Brevinn Tyler (5’11”, 185 pounds) and junior wide receiver Jaevon McQuitty (6’2”, 190 pounds) are the two major weapons in this Spartan offense. Tyler had 199 passing yards, 68 rushing yards, and two total touchdowns in their win last week.

The Spartans allow opponents to score 23 points a game on average this season but limited Fort Zumwalt North to 10 points last week. Battle has a great front seven led by senior defensive ends Jerrion Nelson (6’2”, 245 pounds), Plais Dow (6’6”, 230 pounds), and senior linebacker Darion Hall (6’2”, 233 pounds). Nelson and Dow are two of the top uncommitted high school recruits in the state of Missouri.

All four of these teams have the ability to capture the state championship but only two will be playing for that chance next weekend in St. Louis.

Photo credit: columbiatribune.com; Battle defensive end Jerrion Nelson tackles a Ladue player