“This is why you play the game,” Jefferson City coach Ted LePage said. “It’s Hickman, the last game and if you win, you’re in. “How much more exciting could that be?”
 |
| 09-21-2010 Powder Puff and Bonfire Click Pic for More |
 |
| 09-22-2010 Homecoming Parade Click Pic for More |
 |
| 09-24-2010 Jays vs Park Hill Homecoming Game Click Pic for More |
 |
| 2010 Homecoming Dance Click Pic for More |
 |
| 09-05-2010 A few pics from the Simeon (Chicago, IL) vs Imagine College Prep (STL, MO). Click Pic for More |
 |
| 09-05-2010 Jays vs St. Rita - Warmup Click Pic for More |
 |
| 09-05-2010 Jays vs St. Rita - Game Click Pic for More |
 |
| 09-05-2010 Jays vs St. Rita-Trophy Presentation Click Pic for More |
The East St. Louis (IL) City of Champions Classic was created by two former student-athletes (Dana Howard and Julyon Brown) that were inspired to showcase inner city football talent in a big stage atmosphere.
Recognizing the inability of inner city schools to travel and play in the game, Howard and Brown developed the City of Champions Foundation that will finance the travel of all participants to East St. Louis, Illinois for an exiting day of football.
Sunday, September 5, 2010 will mark the inaugural games of an annual series that will take place in East St. Louis, Illinois during Labor Day weekend, with the participants being East St. Louis Senior High School, Dillard High School (Florida), .St Rita High School (Chicago), Jefferson City (Mo.) High School, Chicago Simeon High School and Imagine College Prep Charter School (St. Louis, Mo.)
Next up the Jays will travel to East St. Louis to play St. Rita from Chicago.
As of Thursday, the NWI Times had Portage as the #1 team in Indiana after moving up from #4 the week before.
A 1-0 start and a perch atop our rankings. Jeromy Flowers is livin' large in P-Town. If they can make it 2-0 with a trip to St. Rita on Saturday, now we're really talkin'..
Well, they’re not really talkin anymore, as St. Rita, from Chicago, IL, dropped Portage’s record to 1-1 on the season by beating them 22-0 on Friday night.
From the SouthTown Star:
It's been four long years since one of our own has hoisted a state football title trophy - St. Rita turned t he trick against Lake Zurich in 2006 - a championship drought of massive proportions when you consider the amount of talent the Southland has developed during that period.
But we've had to settle for the role of bridesmaid four times the past two years, including twice last season.
However, a region drowning in championship tradition, not to mention NFL talent, should never get accustomed to second-best.
"Hopefully this is the year someone wins one," St. Rita coach Todd Kuska said. "There's so much competition throughout the state, as well as right here on the South Side. You have to beat so many quality teams to just qualify for the playoffs. But it does prepare you for what's ahead in the playoffs."
For the second consecutive season, St. Rita grabbed the top spot in the SouthtownStar's preseason poll.
Another SouthTown Star article (08-24-2010):
Mustangs welcome challenge of being Southland's top team heading into season.
The Mustangs lost some elite talent to graduation from last season's squad, which finished 11-3.
Coach Todd Kuska, however, has St. Rita in a position to reload, not rebuild.
"We like being No. 1," said Kuska, beginning his 13th season. "We don't care about having targets on our back. What kid doesn't want to open up the newspaper and see themselves as the top team in the area? It's an honor."
Last year: 11-3
Keep an eye on: Brandon Johnson, QB; Scott Thomas, QB; Nick Dachota, OL.
Coach Todd Kuska: "We have a strong unit back on offense and defensively, we lost some big guys, but we like the kids we have stepping up. We love our senior class - it's one of the best classes we've ever had, and our junior class is solid. We just need to stay healthy and make sure we keep the fire under everybody all season."
Key to success: Quarterback. With Akui, who rushed for 1,652 yards and 27 touchdowns, and Starks in the backfield and an offensive line capable of moving buildings, the QB battle between Johnson and Thomas takes center stage. Both young men are athletic and can run. The major question is which QB can produce a passing attack when necessary.
Preseason
No. 3 St. Rita
Last season: 11-3 overall, 3-2 Catholic League, lost in 7A state quarterfinals, ranked No. 12 in final 2009 poll
Season ahead:Returning running backs Jahwon Akui and Travis Starks likely will get all the headlines again this season. They’ll be the ones having 100-yard – probably 200-yard -- games and scoring multiple touchdowns.
"The linemen, that’s the best," Kuska said. "It’s great to have your tailbacks back. That’s phenomenal, but it starts with the guys up front. To have five of our front six, that’s huge. Those five guys I believe are the most important on any football team across the country at any level. It’s a good sigh of relief to know we have some leaders back who can get the job done."
Akui and Starks deserve some recognition as well. They combined for nearly 3,000 yards rushing last season and scored 46 touchdowns. St. Rita also returns wide receivers Bob Gallagher and Mitch Saffold and fullback Matt Mullen. The starting quarterback will either be senior Brandon Johnson or junior Scott Thomas.
Defensively, the Mustangs don’t have as much returning and will have some huge holes to fill with the graduation of defensive lineman Bruce Gaston and linebackers Ron McNamara and Joe Campagna. Defensive lineman Joe Maes, linebacker Will McNamara and defensive backs Charles Elmore and Starks are the returning starters.
08-28-2010
Chicago Tribune Preps Plus
Jahwon Akui is the first name people usually mention when talking about St. Rita, but the Mustangs' defense had something to say for itself in the team's opener Saturday night.
The No. 3 Mustangs' defense led the way in a 22-0 victory against Portage (Ind.) at Pat Cronin Field. The longest run by either team came after an interception by St. Rita senior Jake Pikowski that helped put the game away.
"We're a smashmouth football team," Pikowski said. "We're a total team. We work for each other. We work for the offense and the offense works for us. We just do our jobs."
The offense wasn't as explosive as expected. Akui was held to 83 yards on 27 carries. Travis Starks added 52 yards on five carries.
"Portage is a good football team, and our defense … I'll tell you, they're pretty athletic," St. Rita coach Todd Kuska said.
Kody Walker rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns and Brad Turner threw for two scores and ran for another as the Jefferson City Jays thumped the McCluer North Stars 41-10 Friday night at Adkins Stadium.
The Jefferson City Jays started off strong against the McCluer North Stars Friday night. After scoring two touchdowns in their first two possessions- the Jays never looked back.
 |
| 08-27-2010 Jays vs McCluer North Click Pic for More |
 |
| 08-14-2010 Picture Day - The Facebook Shots Click Pic for More |
 |
Sikeston, making their first semifinal appearance in school history, fell behind early to the Crusaders. On Helias' first offensive play, running back Brad Wilson took an option pitch and raced 67 yards to the end zone, giving the Crusaders an early lead.
The Bulldogs looked as if they were right back in the game when Trey Lewis intercepted a Clint Distler pass with 1:30 remaining in the first half, however, momentum changed quickly as Helias recovered a Sikeston fumble on the following play. The Crusaders took advantage as Distler hit Wilson for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds remaining in the first half, giving Helias a 23-8 lead at halftime.
The Helias Crusaders followed a familiar formula Saturday afternoon - big plays on offense, stifling plays on defense.
“It was a complete effort by everyone,” Helias coach Chris Hentges said. “The guys who were asked to step up, stepped up.”
“Kearney is obviously a very talented football team, but when you get to this point, you can expect to play a very talented football team,” Hentges said.
Posts
All Comments
