CBC tops Liberty North for Missouri Class 6 championship

The CBC football team’s high-scoring offense fueled the Cadets run to the Missouri Class 6 championship game, but it was their defense that made the difference against Liberty North on Saturday. CBC recorded six turnovers — three interceptions and three fumble recoveries — and turned those miscues into 31points as the Cadets rolled to a 48-21 victory for their third state title in five seasons and fourth in eight years. "We always talk about defense wins championships," said CBC coach Scott Pingel, who is now 143-27 with four state titles since taking over the Cadets in 2008. The Cadets’ defense got a boost with the return of senior CB [player_tooltip player_id="37539" first="Blair" last="Schonhorst"] (Ball State commit) and junior MLB [player_tooltip player_id="103780" first="Michael" last="Teason"] from injuries that caused them to miss the semifinal win against Lee’s Summit North. In a game that was decided by turnovers, it was CBC (13-1) that turned the ball over on its first possession. But when Liberty North (11-2) couldn’t capitalize and missed a field goal, the top-ranked Cadets took over. CBC led 14-0 midway through the first quarter on touchdowns from junior RB [player_tooltip player_id="103779" first="Jeremiyah" last="Love"] and senior WR [player_tooltip player_id="171848" first="Ayden" last="Robinson-Wayne"] before Liberty North answered with a long touchdown pass. The Cadets took control of the game in the second quarter/early third quarter when they scored 24 unanswered points off of four turnovers a stretch of about 7 minutes: senior CB [player_tooltip player_id="171843" first="Justus" last="Johnson"] turned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown, senior K [player_tooltip player_id="237187" first="Josh" last="Kacich"] kicked the first of his two field goals, Love recorded his second touchdown run and Teason returned a fumble 37 yards for a touchdown. Teason’s touchdown gave CBC a 38-7 advantage with 11:44 left in the third quarter and the Cadets, who came in averaging 47.3 points per game, were able to pull away for a 48-21 victory. PLAYERS OF THE GAME CBC RB [player_tooltip player_id="103779" first="Jeremiyah" last="Love"] 2023 Love rushed for 203 yards and two touchdowns against De Smet in the district championship game and then didn’t record a carry in the next two games (though he did have two receptions in the semifinal contest). He turned 14 carries against Liberty North into 127 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He finished the season with 996 rushing yards, 1,099 total yards and 14 touchdowns — all team highs — despite sharing the backfield with two other talented juniors and missing time with injuries. The Missouri 100-yard dash champion (10.76 seconds) last spring, Love’s recruitment will continue to take off. QB [player_tooltip player_id="37608" first="Patrick" last="Heitert"] 2022 Heitert completed seven of 15 passes for 96 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception, and ran 16 times for 82 yards. He had three downfield passes dropped against tight coverage that may have doubled his passing yardage. But Heitert, as usual, did what it took to get the victory. He’s a gamer and a leader. He finished the season with 2,974 passing yards, with 22 touchdowns against six interceptions, and 461 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Southeast Missouri State and Dayton are Heitert’s top offers at this point. OLB [player_tooltip player_id="171842" first="Kendall" last="Huston"] 2022 Huston led CBC with seven tackles, including one for loss, and added an interception and a sack, a unique stat line that sums up his strong senior season well. He finished the campaign leading the Cadets in sacks (seven) and interceptions (six) to go along with 63 tackles and two fumble recoveries. He turned his eight turnovers into four touchdowns. Huston could be a steal in recruiting. He’s a two-sport athlete (basketball) who is a bit undersized (6-2, 190) for an OLB but is a playmaker on defense. DT [player_tooltip player_id="37675" first="Tyler" last="Gant"] 2023 Gant finished with five tackles and an interception, his second of the season, and made his presence as a defensive lineman who had to be accounted for on every snap. Gant finished his breakout junior season with 73 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions. The 6-foot-4, 270-pounder has several Division I offers already and will be a hot prospect this offseason as a high-academic student in addition to his football ability. LBs [player_tooltip player_id="103780" first="Michael" last="Teason"] / [player_tooltip player_id="103437" first="Kyan" last="Franklin"] 2023 Teason finished with five tackles and the fumble recovery he returned for a score. Franklin, a 6-3, 225-pounder, finished tied with Huston for the team lead with seven tackles. The two juniors were difference-makers for CBC’s defense all season as first-year starters. Franklin finished with a team-high 89 tackles. Teason recorded 64 tackles, four fumble recoveries, two sacks and two interceptions. Both have the size and skills to be Division I prospects. CB [player_tooltip player_id="171843" first="Justus" last="Johnson"] 2022 One of the most underrated players in the state, Johnson finished with three tackles, his game-turning interception return for a touchdown and another pass break-up. He finished the season with 39 tackles and three interceptions. He scored four touchdowns, including three on returns -- punt return, kick return and interception return. He has good size (6-2, 170), long arms, great speed (4.5 40) and his best football is ahead of him. He has an offer from Murray State. LIBERTY NORTH RB [player_tooltip player_id="217659" first="Cayden" last="Arzola"] 2022 Arzola paced the offensive output with 150 yards rushing and a touchdown on 24 carries. Arzola and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="185380" first="Micah" last="Jo Barnett"] (54 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries) helped the Eagles rush for 203 yards. Arzola was a difference-maker all season long but particularly in the playoffs. He finished the season with 1,318 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. CB [player_tooltip player_id="96763" first="Matthew" last="Hutson"] 2022 Huston snagged the interception on CBC’s first series and finished with another pass break-up on a long downfield pass, which was almost his second interception of the game. CBC’s leading receiver was held without a catch and we’re going to give the 6-2, 175-pounder some credit for that. WR [player_tooltip player_id="240310" first="Freddie" last="Lavan"] 2024 The Liberty North passing game struggled throughout the game, but Lavan was productive and impressive with three receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown — which was a beautiful throw downfield by junior QB [player_tooltip player_id="172248" first="Sam" last="Van Dyne"]. He nearly hauled in a second touchdown on a leaping attempt. A 6-1, 175-pounder, Lavan should attract some attention from colleges this offseason. Lavan finished the season with 25 catches for 481 yards and five touchdowns. LB [player_tooltip player_id="172304" first="Melvin" last="Laster"] II 2024 The Eagles’ standout middle linebacker impressed on the big stage. He finished with nine tackles, including two for losses, and recorded one of his team’s two sacks. For the season, Laster recorded 79 tackles, nine sacks and two interceptions. One of the top prospects in the sophomore class, Laster already has a few Division I offers but he figures to have a busy offseason with all the attention he’ll get from colleges. LB [player_tooltip player_id="233158" first="Kaden" last="Durso"] 2023 Durso had a clutch performance in the Eagles’ semifinal win at Troy Buchanan and played well again in the title game. He finished with eight tackles, including three for losses. A 6-0, 195-pounder, he recorded 64 tackles, six sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles this season. CB Trey Snyder 2024 Another sophomore to keep an eye on, Snyder recorded a game-high 10 tackles, including 1.5 for losses. K [player_tooltip player_id="240313" first="Blake" last="Craig"] 2023 Craig missed his lone field goal attempt — a 46-yarder that sailed wide right — but he averaged 53.2 yards on his four kickoffs, including two that went for touchbacks. He kicked a 56-yard field goal this season, according to North’s stats, and had made 13 of his 14 attempts. He’s a kicker to watch in the junior class. You can follow Nate Latsch on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/natelatsch">@natelatsch</a>.