Schools
Undefeated Football Teams Face Off Friday Night In Chesterfield
Someone has to lose, as Parkway Central Colts (5-0) host Kirkwood Pioneers (4-0).
Two teams considered among the best in the state will meet in a prep varsity football matchup this weekend, when the Parkway Central Colts (5-0) take on Kirkwood Pioneers (4-0) in PCH Stadium.
Visiting Kirkwood maintained its hold on the No. 4 slot in the statewide Class 5 rankings after knocking off Parkway North 41-0 last week.
At the same time, Parkway Central remained at No. 5 in the poll after it blew out its own rival Parkway West 41-0 last week.
Both teams have fine defenses, with Central, which is led by defensive line studs Jonathan Bonner (5 QB sacks) and Spencer Horwitz ( 4 QB sacks), and has allowed just 8.8 points a game.
But Kirkwood has been even better, allowing just 14 points all season, and an area-best 3.5 points a game.
The Pioneer “D” is led by senior linebacker Clayton Burnett (7 tackles-for-loss and 4 sacsk) and play-making junior safety J.J. Jones (16 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 defensive touchdown).
But the star players on both teams are its ESPN All-American candidates wide receivers Brandon Sheperd of Parkway Central and Mike McHugh of Kirkwood.
Both players are headed to Division I colleges next season, with McHugh already giving a verbal commitment to Northwestern, and Sheperd, who many consider the second-best wideout recruit in the state behind No. 1 national recruit Dorian Green-Beckham (Springfield Hillcrest), recently narrowed his possible choices to Mizzou or Oklahoma State.
This season, both Sheperd and McHugh have been like human highlight reels for their respective teams.
Sheperd ranks among the area leaders with 671 all-purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns, while McHugh is the area leader with an incredible 34.9 yards per catch average and nine touchdowns.
Both players also play both ways for their teams, so fans can legitimately expect to see them defending each other on nearly every play, regardless of which team has the ball.
College scouts and recruiters from all over the country are expected to be in attendance Friday night to see McHugh and Sheperd battle it out on the field.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Parkway Central's stadium. Patch.com will have Friday night game results of the showdown.