By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
For the first time ever, all six classes of high school football, along with 8-man, will battle for a championship in St. Joseph at Spratt Stadium on the Missouri Western State University campus.
St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esley says there will be a high level of football played this weekend, and says look no further than down the road in Platte City
"They play in the Class 5 championship game at 7’o clock Friday night, they play Carthage another very good team, 13-0 against 12-1,” Esely says on the KFEQmunnity show. “Their quarterback is a division one signee in Rocco Marriott.”
Marriott originally signed with James Madison, but just last week flipped his commitment, signing with UCF in the Big 12.
"That’s all to say very, very high-level talent that will be here in St. Joseph and at Spratt Stadium at Missouri Western this coming week,” Esely says. “And Rocco’s story is just one of a number of student athlete’s that will compete here this week.”
Esely says it's exciting to have teams coming from all over the state.
"They come from anywhere as close as our 8-man teams in Rock Port and Worth County which will be a great championship game on Thursday night, to Platte County which is right down the road, to Kearney, to Lift for Life Academy which is in St. Louis, to Carthage, to Tipton, to Seneca, to Hannibal,” Esely explains. “So, this championship really encompasses all facets, all areas of the state that will come to St. Joe the spotlight will be on here.”
The championships had been hosted in Columbia at the home of the Missouri Tigers, Faurot Field, for the last decade, after leaving St. Louis.
Esely, says the event will bring 14 of the best teams from across the state to Missouri Western to compete
"I know we have a lot of people in this community who like football, that support high school football, that travel to watch high school football,” Esely says. “Uh, you don’t have to travel anywhere to watch high school football this weekend, the best seven games are right here beginning this Thursday.”
The football championships kickoff with the 8-man championship game tomorrow (THU) between Worth County and Rock Port.
Kickoff is at 7pm. We will have the game streamed on St. Joseph Post and Maryville Post. Matt Pike and Nathan Stuedle will be on the call with pregame at 6pm.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.