Can Hannibal Slow Down Kingston Miles? Class 4 Semi-Final Preview

Whenever you get to the final four of a tournament, the teams that remain are battle-tested. Excellent individual talent, mixed with quality players who know their roles and perform. Coaches that understand their team’s strengths and weaknesses, and know what to call, for which player in any given situation. The squads still standing are well- oiled machines, finely tuned. They are family, breathing, moving, and acting as one. With the sole focus being raising that championship trophy.

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Saturday afternoon at Missouri Baptist University in Creve Coeur, Missouri, the Hannibal Pirates line up across from the St. Mary’s Southside Dragons in the Class 4 football semi-final. The game has been moved from the St. Mary’s Southside campus to the Mo. Baptist facility due to the expected large contingent of Pirate fans who will require the extra space.

Spartan Field at Missouri Baptist University

The Dragons are fueled by junior running back Kingston Miles. Miles has racked up over 2000 yards rushing this season, averaging over 8 yards per carry. He has offers from several Big Ten and Big 12 schools, and Mizzou and Ole Miss have jumped in to the mix this month. Miles isn’t the only threat when the Dragons have the ball, but he is the main one. Senior quarterback Riley Smith spreads the ball around and has thrown 15 touchdown passes this season. The Pirates will key on stopping Miles, but must keep Smith’s options contained too.

St. Mary's Southside Catholic High School -St. Louis

Hannibal will lean on its line creating holes for running backs Darrion Washington and Kade Hoskins. Wyeth Dorsey will keep the Dragons from loading the tackle box by looking for Tre Hoskins and Reid Holliday. The Pirates will need to account for Dragon senior middle linebacker Elijah Stuekel, who ranks 2^nd in the St. Louis metro area in solo tackles with 110.

Hannibal High School

Post-Thanksgiving high school football is special. This semi-final is set to live up to that term. Ultimately, as with many high-profile matchups, it may come down to turnovers and special teams play. Hopefully the weather won’t be a determining factor. Pregame at 12:30 p.m. on 97.9 KICK-FM.