The decade-long string of memorable playoff matchups between the Valle Catholic Warriors and Penney High School Hornets added another chapter on Saturday afternoon, with the KCI Conference champions from Hamilton dominating both sides of the line of scrimmage in a 33-19 win in Ste. Genevieve, improving Penney to 14-0 and sending the Hornets to the Class 1 state title game.
The loss is the first in the semifinal round in the history of the Valle Catholic program, dropping the Warriors to 17-1 all-time in the state semifinal round. The result avenges a 62-36 loss suffered by the Hornets to Valle Catholic last year in St. Louis. The Warriors, in the course of an 11-2 season, had their 51 game winning streak broken (in a Week 7 loss to Lamar) before falling seven weeks later to their new rivals from northwest Missouri.
Penney appeared to be highly motivated throughout Saturday’s contest to slow down the Warriors, and did just that, with the Hornets defensive line taking the Warriors running threat out of the game by the second half, while the back-end of the defense forced three interceptions, with constant pressure on Valle quarterback Mason Skaggs forcing a large number of dangerous throws into coverage.
Two of the Hornets interceptions occurred in the first quarter, but Hamilton was unable to turn the picks into points, as the game was scoreless heading into the second quarter. The defending state champion Warriors opened the scoring on a 14 yard touchdown strike from Skaggs to Cole Keeley giving Valle a 6-0 lead (9:37 2nd). On the next possession, the Hornets got on the board, as quarterback Jaran Richman scored from two yards out. The first of two long scoring runs on the day from senior halfback Brock Swindler, a 63 yard sprint with 4 minutes to go in the half, gave Hamilton the 12-6 lead at the break.
Valle Catholic showed championship pedigree to take the lead with 4:53 to go in the third quarter, with a four yard shovel pass from Skaggs to Keeley, and the successful extra point, giving the Warriors a 13-12 lead.
The Hornets dominated the rest of the contest, with a two yard scramble for touchdown by Richman, and a two-point pass from Richman to Derek Dixon, giving Hamilton a 20-13 advantage at the end of the third quarter. Richman added a quarterback sneak for a score midway through the fourth quarter, and, after the Hornets held Valle on downs, Swindler had the finishing blow, a 45 yard run down the east sideline at Father John Dempsey Field.
Valle finished the scoring with 47.5 seconds remaining, on a 5 yard touchdown catch by Carter Roth.
Swindler finished with 22 carries for 181 yards for Hamilton, now a perfect 14-0 on the season. Hamilton, on Saturday afternoon, will play the Monroe City Panthers in the Class 1 state championship game. Monroe City, in the semifinal round, beat Lincoln 34-28. The title game will be played at Robert Plaster Stadium at Missouri State University in Springfield at 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon.
In Class 2 semifinal action on Saturday, the KCI runner-up Lawson Cardinals lost for just the third time this season, with this loss ending the campaign for LHS. Trinity Catholic won at Lawson by a score of 45-29. Trinity Catholic will play #1 ranked Lamar in the state title game on Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock in Springfield. Lamar hammered Brentwood, 62-19 in Saturday’s other Class 2 semifinal.
The Maryville Spoofhounds are back into the state title game in Class 3, with the MEC champions winning big at Miller Career Academy, 42-9 on Saturday afternoon in St. Louis. The Spoofhounds, on Saturday morning at 11 o’clock, will take on the Monett Cubs in the state title game. Monett dominated McCluer South-Berkeley, winning 42-0.
In Class 4, Kearney will pay Harrisonville in an all-Kansas City metro championship game, coming up Friday night at 7 o’clock (in Springfield). Kearney survived a strong semifinal challenge from Ladue Horton Watkins to win 14-10, while Harrisonville cruised to a 32-14 win over Parkway North.
The Class 5 title game, Saturday night at 7 o’clock, will be an all-St. Louis affair, as Fort Zumwalt North takes on Vianneyh. FZN, on Saturday afternoon, won a semifinal thriller with Columbia Battle, 28-25. On Friday night, Vianney took down visiting Kansas City Staley, 34-31.
