The Missouri State High School Activities Association, on Friday, updated its classification system for the 2018 football season, with Trenton remaining in District 8, a northwest Missouri group of eight that could be even stronger this October, with the addition of the Macon Tigers and the Richmond Spartans.
The “meat” of the district remained unchanged, with traditional power Lawson joined by recent strong teams from Lathrop and Lexington. Along with Trenton, Richmond, and Macon, the remainder of the group has the Brookfield Bulldogs and the Carrollton Trojans. Bishop LeBlond, a Midland Empire Conference program that had been in Class 2, dropped to Class 1 in the most recent cycle.
LeBlond will find itself in Class 1, District 7, joined by East Buchanan, Mid-Buchanan, North Platte, Plattsburg, Polo, Wellington-Napoleon, and West Platte. As in past years, District 8 will have a strong Grand River Conference feel, however, the loss of Polo to District 7 has shifted one of the powerhouse programs in northern Missouri to District 8, with the Marceline Tigers rolling in. The Penney Hornets remain in District 8, joined by Princeton, Milan, South Harrison, Gallatin, Maysville, and Putnam County.
The Chillicothe Hornets will be led by a new “field boss” this fall, with Tim Rulo’s team again in Class 3, District 8. Six of the eight spots in that district will be taken by MEC teams, including the newest member, St. Pius X of Kansas City, replacing Smithville in 2018. Other MEC teams in District 8 are defending state champion Maryville, Benton, Cameron, Savannah, Central Academy of Excellence, and Kansas City Northeast.
In eight-man football, Pattonsburg will be in District 3, joined by Braymer, King City, North Shelby, Southwest Livingston, and Stewartsville. District 1 looks particularly daunting, with Stanberry and Worth County in the same group, joined by Albany, North-West Nodaway, Rock Port, and East Atchison. Recent power North Andrew is in District 2, along with DeKalb, Mound City, South Holt, Platte Valley, and St. Joseph Christian, while District 4 will feature five schools to the sound of Highway 36, in Chilhowee, Norborne/Hardin-Central, Northwest of Hughesville, Orrick, and Osceola.
The regular season begins this Friday night, August 24th, with Trenton at Lathrop on Hot Country Z 101.7 and Plattsburg at Milan on KTTN FM 92.3.
