AROUND THE STATE: TOP CLASSES FEATURE FAMILIARY; ROCKHURST, CAMDENTON FAVORED

Don't look for big surprises around the state when the high school champions are decided this season.

The usual suspects look like they will again be the teams to beat.

Defending Class 5A state champion Rockhurst is ranked 19th in the nation thanks in part to sophomore sensation Tony Temple, who rushed for 1,105 yards and 18 TDs as a freshman.

The Hawklets will be the favorites to repeat this year even though no 5A team has won back-to-back state titles since Jefferson City in 1993-94.

Perhaps the second best team entering the season is Blue Springs, which lost to Rockhurst last season in the quarterfinals 20-16.

It returns Division I wide receiver Josh Barge (6 feet, 175 pounds) and quarterback Justin Whitworth.

Perennial power Hazelwood East, which hasn't won a state title since 1995, is ranked 43rd in the nation.

It is led by one of the top recruits in the Midwest in RB/LB David Richard (6-3, 220), who reneged a commitment to Tennessee. East, which went 10-0 but was shocked by CBC in the first round, returns top Division I recruit Brandon Williams at wide receiver and cornerback.

Other teams that could contend in 5A are Parkway South (12-1 last year) and Columbia Hickman (10-2). South and Hickman both soundly defeated Poplar Bluff, considered by many as Southeast Missouri's best team last year.

Class 4A

The state should be very familiar with the top two teams this year.

Camdenton (10-2) will be the favorite, returning top lineman Rocky Osborn (6-4, 228). The Lakers, who were blown out in the quarterfinals 42-0 by Webb City, are a regular contender, winning four state titles since 1986 with the last in 1999.

Also contending will be Webb City (14-0), which was hardly challenged on its way to a 41-0 romp in the Show-Me Bowl over McCluer North.

Webb City returns one of the top running backs in the state in Chris Taylor (6-0, 180), who ran for 1,648 yards and 14 TDs last year.

A sleeper team this year is Grandview. It returns one of the state's top quarterbacks in all-stater Michael Burton (6-1, 200) and solid Division I prospect Wayne Chambers 6-2, 230) at linebacker.

Washington (11-2), the team that defeated Cape Central in the quarterfinals last year, returns plenty of talent.

Class 3A

The team to keep an eye on is defending state champion Platte County.

The Pirates went 14-0 on their way to a 32-9 win over Salem in the Show-Me Bowl. No team came closer than 14 points in any game all season.

Platte County has gone 26-1 the last two years and appears ready to make another run led by several returning linemen and 5-10, 200-pound running back Zach Sherman. He rushed for 1,867 yards last season.

The team with the best chance of unseating Platte County is Odessa (10-1). It returns LB/FB Robert King and strong running back Greg Burbanks along with a tremendous defense.

O'Hara (11-2) looks to be a contender this year. The Celtics made it to the semifinals last year where they lost 35-21 to Platte County.

The Celtics averaged 300-plus yards rushing a game the past two years. They return senior Matt Patterson (5-8, 185), among the top running backs in 3A. He rushed for 2,173 yards last year.

In mid-Missouri, Boonville (8-2) returns all-state quarterback Vincent Zoeller and tailback Michael Malone. Zoeller threw for 2,138 yards and 28 touchdowns last season.

Class 2A

Only one team enters the season with virtually no question marks -- St. Pius X.

The defending state champions have become a power, reaching the Show-Me Bowl the last three years, also winning in 1998.

St. Pius X (13-1) lost just four starters from last year's team and return an abundance of talent.

Quarterback Frank Messina (5-11, 175) returns along with three all-staters -- running back Frank O'Rourke (5-10, 195), defensive lineman Anthony Cevella (6-2, 170) and linebacker Anthony Simone (6-1, 215).

St. Pius will be the heavy favorite to repeat this season which is something that hasn't happened since 1991-92 when John Burroughs pulled the feat.

A team that could challenge is Palmyra (12-2), which lost to St. Pius X in the Show-Me Bowl 34-21.

Palmyra returns senior tight end/linebacker Jeremy Snow and senior lineman John Sublette this season.

Class 1A

The 1A field appears to be wide open this year.

Defending state champion Sante Fe (14-0) is the obvious favorite. Under head coach Bill Fox, Sante Fe is 109-18. The Chiefs return senior quarterback Roger Feagan, senior running back Daniel Boland and senior tight end/safety Josh Buford.

The Indians' top returning players are linebacker Adam Bockman, lineman Matt Zoellner and RB/LB Chris Meyer.

South Harrison (10-2) will have a new head coach in Wes Croy, but it also returns plenty of talent in quarterback Cole Leazenby, running back Brandon Hunter and junior phenom Tyler Luellen, a 6-7, 265-pounder.

South Harrison lost 21-19 to Sante Fe in the semifinals last season.