Tim Rulo and the Helias Crusaders will host Warrenton in the Class 4 District 7 semifinals Friday night at Adkins Stadium.

Oct. 25, 2016

CLASS 6

DISTRICT 3

Jefferson City (6-4, No. 4 seed) at Blue Springs (8-2, No. 1 seed)

The Jays are ranked T-10th in the state, while the Wildcats are ranked third ... Jefferson City snapped a three-game losing streak with its 46-28 win over defending state champion Blue Springs South in the district opener. ... Blue Springs bounced back from a surprising 26-21 home loss to Raymore-Peculiar in the regular-season finale to rout Francis Howell Central 49-8 on Friday. Ray-Pec had entered that game a modest 4-4. ... Blue Springs beat Blue Springs South 31-17 on Oct. 7. ... The Jays and Wildcats have had one other common opponent, Rockhurst --- the Jays lost to the Hawklets 49-6, the Wildcats beat the Hawklets 24-7. ... If the Jays win, they'd either play at Ft. Zumwalt West (6-4) or Francis Howell (8-2) for the district title.

Prediction: Blue Springs 45, Jefferson City 21

CLASS 5

DISTRICT 6

Battle (9-0, No. 1 seed) vs. Raytown (3-7, No. 4 seed)

Second-ranked Battle received a first-round bye last week, while Raytown ripped two-win Ruskin, 44-19. ... The second-ranked Spartans are coming off the first unbeaten regular season in school history --- although that history only spans four years of varsity football. ...  Senior quarterback Brevinn Tyler has accounted for a 41 touchdowns (21 rushing, 20 passing) this season, an average of more than four scores per game. ... The Spartans have given up 184 points in their last six games after allowing only 19 in their first three. ... Battle is averaging 48.6 ppg. ... With a win, the Spartans will host either Belton (7-3) or Smith-Cotton (5-5).

Predictions: Battle 49, Raytown 19; Belton 38, Smith-Cotton 14

CLASS 4

DISTRICT 7

Helias (6-4, No. 2 seed) vs. Warrenton (6-4, No. 3 seed)

Moberly (5-5, No. 4 seed) at Hannibal (8-2, No. 1 seed)

Helias and Warrenton have had one common opponent, Kirksville, and both beat the Tigers --- Helias by a margin of 44-7 on Oct. 8, Warrenton in a 52-20 decision in its district opener last week... The Warriors have given up an average of 16 ppg. in their last six games after giving up 27 ppg. in their first four. They're averaging 29.3 ppg. ... The Crusaders, who are riding a three-game winning streak, are averaging 38.6 and giving up 23.6. ... With a win, Helias will either host Moberly or play at second-ranked Hannibal. If it's the latter, it will be the Crusaders' fourth trip to Hannibal in the past 14 months. They've lost the previous three, including 19-14 to open this season. ... In a wild one Sept. 30, Hannibal outscored Moberly 54-32.

Predictions: Helias 45, Warrenton 34; Hannibal 52, Moberly 27

CLASS 3

DISTRICT 6

Fulton (5-5, No. 4 seed) at Blair Oaks (9-0, No. 1 seed)

Southern Boone (8-2, No. 3 seed) vs. Christian (2-8, No. 7 seed)

The second-ranked Falcons received a first-round bye last week, while the Hornets disposed of Winfield 50-28. ... Blair Oaks beat Fulton 48-29 in last year's district championship game. The Falcons also topped Fulton in district play in 2014, 52-14. ... The teams have had three common opponents this season. Blair Oaks has beaten Versailles (36-0), Kirksville (35-0) and Osage (40-16); Fulton beat Versailles (56-12), but lost to Kirksville (13-12) and Osage (28-21). ... With a win, Blair Oaks will host either Southern Boone, a team the Falcons beat 42-13 on Sept. 23, or O'Fallon Christian, which stunned No. 2 seed Mexico 28-25 last week. Fulton would either host Christian or play at Southern Boone. ... The Eagles, who's only other loss was to Osage, dusted Wright City 49-0 in their district opener.

Predictions: Blair Oaks 54, Fulton 22; Southern Boone 35, Christian 14

DISTRICT 3

Owensville (10-0, No. 1 seed) vs. Sullivan (5-5, No. 4 seed)

Eldon (6-4, No. 6 seed) at Osage (9-1, No. 2 seed)

These teams met just three weeks ago in Sullivan, with the Dutchmen rallying from a 26-19 deficit in the final 110 seconds to pull out a thrilling 29-26 win. Owensville tied it on a 17-yard pass from Wyatt Ellis to Robert Weirich with 1:49 left, forced a punt, and won it on Grant Steever's 27-yard field goal with 29 seconds left. ... That's the only loss in the last six games for the streaking Eagles, who beat Logan-Rogersville 46-30 in their district debut. ... With a win, Owensville will host either Eldon or Osage. ... This is a rivalry rematch between the Mustangs and Indians, as Osage got past Eldon 32-6 on Oct. 7 at Osage. ... Last week, Eldon blanked Springfield Catholic 32-0, while eighth-ranked Osage edged past St. James 28-25.

Predictions: Owensville 27, Sullivan 20; Osage 28, Eldon 16

CLASS 2

DISTRICT 5

Hermann (7-3, No. 3 seed) at South Callaway (10-0, No. 2 seed)

Tolton (5-5, No. 5 seed) at Brentwood (8-1, No. 1 seed)

This is a scary game for the ninth-ranked Bulldogs, who are coming off the second unbeaten regular season in school history. The Bearcats opened the season 4-0 before losing at Owensville 45-44 and at home to Sullivan 28-8 in consecutive weeks. Those two teams will meet in the Class 3 District 3 semifinals Friday night. Hermann's other loss was also to a bigger school, Class 4 Union, 32-23, which is in the semifinals of its district. ... South Callaway has scored 239 points in its last four games, an average of 59.8 ppg. ... The Bulldogs blasted Montgomery County 60-12 last week, while Hermann hammered Hallsville 42-7. ... Tolton pulled off a mild upset last week with its 31-14 win over No. 5 seed North Callaway. ... While the Bulldogs are unbeaten and state ranked, one-loss Brentwood is not ranked and isn't even receiving votes. ... Brentwood's loss is the Class 3 Orchard Farm 27-21 in overtime. 

Predictions: Hermann 35, South Callaway 34; Brentwood 51, Tolton 20

DISTRICT 6

Centralia (7-3, No. 2 seed) vs. Clopton (7-3, No. 3 seed)

Centralia crushed Clark County 44-0 last week, while Clopton brushed aside Van Far 44-9. ... The Panthers lost three of their last four to end the regular season after starting 5-0 with three shutouts. ... The final loss was a narrow 24-23 decision to unbeaten Macon, which is this district's top seed and ranked eighth in the state. ... The story is similar for Clopton, which started 6-1 before dropped its final two games of the regular season. ... With a win, Centralia will either host Palmyra (7-3) or play at Macon (10-0) for the second time in three weeks.

Prediction: Centralia 34, Clopton 21

CLASS 1

DISTRICT 6

Fayette (6-4, No. 4 seed) at Marceline (10-0, No. 1 seed)

Westran (7-3, No. 2 seed) vs. Sweet Springs (6-4, No. 3 seed)

Predictions: Marceline 41, Fayette 19; Westran 34, Sweet Springs 22

District semifinal matchups,

game notes and predictions

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