CBC tops Liberty North for Missouri Class 6 championship
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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…
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Continue ReadingThe 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 Blair Schonhorst Blair Schonhorst 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB CBC | 2022 State MO (Ball State commit) and junior MLB Michael Teason Michael Teason 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB CBC | 2023 State MO 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 Jeremiyah Love Jeremiyah Love 6'1" | 195 lbs | RB CBC | 2023 State MO and senior WR Ayden Robinson-Wayne Ayden Robinson-Wayne 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR CBC | 2022 State MO 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 Justus Johnson Justus Johnson 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB CBC | 2022 State MO turned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown, senior K Josh Kacich Josh Kacich 6'2" | 170 lbs | P CBC | 2022 MO 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 Jeremiyah Love Jeremiyah Love 6'1" | 195 lbs | RB CBC | 2023 State MO 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 Patrick Heitert Patrick Heitert 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB CBC | 2022 State MO 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 Kendall Huston Kendall Huston 6'2" | 190 lbs | LB CBC | 2022 State MO 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 Tyler Gant Tyler Gant 6'3" | 280 lbs | DL CBC | 2023 State MO 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 Michael Teason Michael Teason 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB CBC | 2023 State MO / Kyan Franklin Kyan Franklin 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB CBC | 2023 State MO 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 Justus Johnson Justus Johnson 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB CBC | 2022 State MO 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 Cayden Arzola Cayden Arzola 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Liberty North | 2022 State MO 2022
Arzola paced the offensive output with 150 yards rushing and a touchdown on 24 carries. Arzola and sophomore Micah Jo Barnett Micah Jo Barnett 5'8" | 180 lbs | RB Liberty North | 2024 State MO (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 Matthew Hutson Matthew Hutson 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Liberty North | 2022 State MO 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 Freddie 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 Sam Van Dyne Sam Van Dyne 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Liberty North | 2023 State MO . 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 Melvin Laster Melvin Laster 6'2" | 235 lbs | LB Liberty North | 2024 State MO 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 Kaden Durso Kaden Durso 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Liberty North | 2023 State MO 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 Blake Craig Blake Craig K Liberty North | 2023 MO 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 @natelatsch.