Central football team begins season ranked fourth in Class 4

The Central football team will enter the season as the fourth-ranked team in the state's Class 4 media football rankings, which were released Tuesday.

The Tigers return two key starters in senior Al Young and junior Kway'Chon Chisom from their 2014 team, which wrapped up a 12-3 season with a 48-21 loss to Webb City in the Class 4 state championship.

The Cardinals, who have won five consecutive state titles, received all 15 first-place votes to earn the top spot in Class 4. Carl Junction is ranked second, and Westminster Christian Academy is ranked No. 3. Hillsboro, which was the Class 4 District 1 runner-up last season, received nine top-10 votes.

Jackson is one of six teams that received top-10 votes but missed out on the top 10 in the Class 5 rankings.

The Indians are coming off a 10-2 season in which they dropped a 31-21 decision to Ladue Horton Watkins in the Class 5 state quarterfinals. Ladue enters the season ranked No. 7.

Jackson begins its season at 11 a.m. Saturday against defending Class 5 state champion Battle at Faurot Field on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. Battle debuts the season ranked No. 3. Fort Osage was a state quarterfinalist from last season and will begin the season as the top-ranked team in Class 5.

Defending SEMO South Conference champion Malden will begin the season ranked No. 9 in Class 2. The Green Wave are coming off a 13-1 campaign that ended with a 28-2 loss in the Class 2 state semifinals against eventual state champion Lamar, which received all 15 first-place votes to begin the season ranked No. 1. East Prairie received three top-10 votes in Class 2 but didn't make the top 10.

The rest of the top-ranked teams are defending state champions Valle Catholic (Class 1), Oak Grove (Class 3) and Christian Brothers College (Class 6).

Missouri Media football rankings

Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 15-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Sam McDowell, The Kansas City Star; Chris Geinosky, The Liberty Tribune; Dave Kvidahl, STLHighschoolsports.com; Jim Powers, High School Sports Caravan; Larry Thornton, KSDK radio; Danny Jones, The Columbia Tr ibune; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Mike Scott, Ozone Sports; Rance Burger, The Springfield News-Leader; Dave Roberts, The Rolla Daily News; Cody Thorn, The St. Joseph News-Press; J.B Connoley, KRES radio; Chris Pobst, Sikeston Standard-Democrat; Donn Adamson, The Daily Journal.

CLASS 6

Rank, team, 2014 Rec., Pts.

1. CBC (9), 13-0, 144

2. Rockhurst (6), 12-2, 140

3. Francis Howell, 11-1, 113

4. Kirkwood, 11-2, 94

5. Raymore-Peculiar, 8-3, 86

6. Jefferson City, 8-4, 77

7. Hazelwood Central, 11-1, 45

8. Blue Springs South, 5-6, 37

9. SLUH, 7-3, 24

10. Lee's Summit West, 6-4, 23

Also receiving votes: Eureka (8-2), 12; Lafayette (6-6), 10; Blue Springs (8-4), 8; Rock Bridge (4-6), 7; Kickapoo (7-4), 5

CLASS 5

Rank, team, 2014 Rec., Pts

1. Fort Osage (5), 11-1, 132

2. Park Hill (5), 12-1, 125

3. Battle (4), 11-4, 116

4. Fort Zumwalt North, 10-2, 110

5. Staley (1), 8-3, 74

6. Nixa, 10-5, 59

7. Ladue, 12-2, 44

8. McCluer North, 7-4, 44

9. Carthage, 8-4, 35

10. Liberty North, 8-4, 31

Also receiving votes: Willard (9-2), 19; Chaminade (6-4), 13; Pattonville (7-4), 12; Webster Groves (7-3), 8; Jackson (10-2), 2; Camdenton (8-3), 1

CLASS 4

Rank, team, 2014 Rec., Pts

1. Webb City (15), 15-0, 150

2. Carl Junction, 11-1, 123

3. Westminster, 11-2, 107

4. Cape Central, 12-3, 106

5. Kearney, 12-2, 84

6. Helias, 11-2, 65

7. Affton, 12-1, 61

8. Harrisonville, 11-2, 39

9. Platte County, 9-2, 31

10. West Plains, 8-3, 19

Also receiving votes: Bolivar (7-4), 14; Hannibal (8-3), 10; Hillsboro (9-3), 9; Grain Valley (5-6), 3; Smithville (9-3), 2; Mexico (9-3), 1; Sullivan (5-5), 1

CLASS 3

Rank, team, 2014 Rec., Pts

1. Oak Grove (13), 13-2, 148

2. John Burroughs (2), 13-2, 132

3. Maryville, 12-1, 122

4. Blair Oaks, 9-3, 92

5. Mountain Grove, 11-2, 82

6. Park Hills Central, 12-1, 68

7. California, 13-1, 52

8. Bishop DuBourg, 7-5, 35

9. Reeds Spring, 10-2, 33

10. Monett, 11-3, 29

Also receiving votes: Ava (9-2), 14; Hogan Prep Academy (10-1), 11; Eldon (3-7), 2; McCluer South (5-6), 2; Osage (10-3), 2; Orchard Farm (10-3), 1

CLASS 2

Rank, team, 2014 Rec., Pts

1. Lamar (15), 14-1, 150

2. East Buchanan, 12-1, 109

3. Palmyra, 9-5, 104

4. Strafford, 12-1, 94

5. Brookfield, 11-1, 87

6. Lafayette County, 11-1, 86

7. South Callaway, 14-1, 57

8. Hermann, 9-3, 46

9. Malden, 13-1, 43

10. Mt. View-Liberty, 10-2, 26

Also receiving votes: Cardinal Ritter (6-7), 12; Tolton Catholic (8-2), 7; East Prairie (7-4), 3; Lutheran North (11-2), 1

CLASS 1

Rank, team, 2014 Rec., Pts

1. Valle Catholic (15), 15-0, 150

2. Westran, 13-2, 132

3. Marceline, 9-3, 116

4. Marionville, 9-4, 81

5. Skyline, 10-4, 73

6. South Shelby, 10-3, 59

7. Cass-Midway, 12-1, 56

8. Hamilton-Penney, 11-3, 54

9. West Platte, 8-4, 49

10. Osceola, 10-2, 14

Also receiving votes: Wellington-Napoleon (7-4), 13; Lockwood (8-2), 12; Knox County (7-4), 8; Milan (11-1), 6; Crest Ridge (8-3), 2