Football Friday Marquee Matchup in the Gateway

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The slate for this week in Missouri contains a few Top 25 matchups, but only one of those resides in the Top 10 as De Smet Jesuit heads over to take on Cardinal Ritter on Friday evening.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>*** Use code <strong>StopPRZ30</strong> to slash 30% off your subscription to Prep Redzone ***</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>*** Follow your favorites along with us all football season with <a href="https://prepredzone.com/missouri/high-schools/scores/"><strong>PRZ SCORES</strong></a><strong> </strong>***</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">De Smet Jesuit vs Cardinal Ritter</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If last year is any indication, this matchup has potential to be electric. With offensive explosion and over 100 points scored between the two sides, Ritter ultimately ended up with a 66-47 win in this barnburner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In that matchup, Ritter 2029 QB [player_tooltip player_id='1591178' first='Rhylan' last='Moore'] was a perfect 12-12 for 341 yards and 3 TD passes, one of which to elite receiver prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1598550' first='Ryan' last='Richmond-McDavis'], and a score on the ground. De Smet 2028 RB Cam Sharp put up 322 yards of total offense with 3 explosion scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of these playmakers come into this one having productive outings in their respective wins a week ago. Moore completed 15 of 22 for 208 yards, 3 TD and no picks. Sharp carried the ball 14 times for 124 yards and 2 TD. De Smet shut out their first opponent of the season, defeating Lift For Life last week 20-0. Ritter pulled off a competitive win against Lutheran North 30-18.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Where De Smet is going to need to excel to make the game winnable is by controlling the game on the ground and creating explosives to move the sticks and score points. If they can get the passing game working, PRZ Number One 2028 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1294184' first='Ridge' last='Janes'], and seniors [player_tooltip player_id='419226' first='Royce' last='Searcy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1726889' first='Michael' last='Chapo'] are weapons at their disposal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, Ritter's stallions ought to be able to circle the wagons around an offensive attack centered on the ground game. Senior linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1188358' first='Marshaun' last='Ivy'] (Arizona State commit) and [player_tooltip player_id='749581' first='Darron' last='Boone, Jr.'] are nasty and physical. Against the pass, junior [player_tooltip player_id='1229495' first='Dayon' last='Ross'] and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1590172' first='Jeremy' last='Williams'] provides air defense from the secondary. Ross looked great in coverage drills at Lindenwood in June and has been earmarked as one with big rising potential for the new 2028 rankings release.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assuming Moore continues to perform with seemingly inevitable efficiency for Ritter, he has two of the top retrievers in the State of Missouri to connect with - [player_tooltip player_id='1598550' first='Ryan' last='Richmond-McDavis'] and Oklahoma commit [player_tooltip player_id='1160667' first='Malahn' last='Green']. How well the De Smet secondary led by sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1221278' first='Kolby' last='Dotson'] can contain this attack will be big, as well as how well the De Smet pass rush can disrupt the Ritter backfield. De Smet's first and second level combined for 12 sacks last week against LFL - senior [player_tooltip player_id='1188329' first='Braylon' last='Hollomon'] was the sack leader with 3, followed by juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1609281' first='Ty' last='Veltrop'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1601128' first='Reece' last='Merriweather'] with 2. Ritter left tackle and Western Kentucky commit [player_tooltip player_id='2048703' first='Kevin' last='Gilyard, Jr.'] will have his say on that end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ritter is multi-dimensional with it's attack, and their ground game is a game changer with the ponies they have in the stable. Current PRZ Number One in the 2029 class is tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1741240' first='Terrance' last='Jones']. He is paired up with dangerous all purpose back and newcomer [player_tooltip player_id='1282833' first='Amir' last='Tillman'], who transferred in from 2025 Illinois Class 6A State Runners-Up East St. Louis for his senior year. It was actually Tillman that led the offensive production in week 1 for Ritter with 127 rushing yards, 34 receiving yards, 1 TD and a pair of 2 point conversions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bottom Line:</strong> This one is primed to be another high voltage matter as it was last year, in which case, bank on Ritter being able to outscore De Smet in a game that can get wild with big plays. If De Smet wins, they will have done so with ground game domination, controlling the clock, generating sustained drives, and finding success through the air with the perimeter weapons. If the passing game isn't there, I see Ritter running away with it. With multiple highly ranked prospects on both sides, including both underclassmen Number One prospects, this game will be highly competitive, and can go a multitude of ways.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Pick: Let's call it Ritter by two scores. </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Week 2 Contests</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Platte County @ Blue Springs South</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saint Louis University @ Christian Brothers</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lee's Summit North @ Millard South (NE)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liberty @ Liberty North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lee's Summit @ Omaha Westside (NE)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kansas City St. Pius X @ St. Michael</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockhurst @ Manhattan (KS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ray-Pec @ Blue Springs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson @ Ballard (KY)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lift For Life @ Christ Prep Academy (KS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grain Valley @ Kearney</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nixa @ Joplin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Park Hill @ Lee's Summit West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Helias @ Hickman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hannibal @ Eureka</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pleasant Hill @ Maryville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blair Oaks @ Lutheran North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kickapoo @ Republic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smithville @ Savannah</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneMO/status/2095588417358749952","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneMO/status/2095588417358749952 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->