Field Notes: From The Hunted to The Hunters
The Jr. Bills are learning what it takes to be champions in a historic start to the year
Edition 1
Saint Louis University High School (SLUH) senior Kendall McNutt (11) glances at the opposing sideline during warm-ups on August 28, 2025 less than an hour before kicking off the season against St. Ignatius Prep. SLUH beat St. Ignatius, 22-3.
For years, a win against a rival like De Smet was a dream. Now, it's just the first chapter.
Saint Louis University High School (SLUH) football is on a historical run, starting the season 5-0 for the first time since 2005.
That perfect record includes a major victory over Metro Catholic Conference (MCC) rival De Smet—a team the Jr. Bills hadn't beaten in eight years.
If you're a SLUH alum or current student, you're savoring every moment of this long-awaited success. But for the players on the field, the celebration is already over.
"We can't afford to look ahead, or worry about our press clippings," says head coach Adam Cruz. "Because in the MCC, if you do that you'll get smacked in the mouth."
SLUH is one of the best stories to follow this year.
SLUH Head Coach Adam Cruz
In fact, they’ve been one of the best stories to follow since I started filming games in 2021.
They’re a storied program that’s trying to make their way back to the top of the hill; a place that’s primarily been held by CBC and De Smet for more than two decades.
And so far, their march up that hill has been nothing short of impressive.
They beat St. Ignatius, a hard-nosed triple option team from Chicago, by 19 points in Week One
They beat Hillsboro by 21 points on the road in Week Two
They handled De Smet by 20 points in another road win the following week
And they recently outlasted an unrelenting Lift for Life program for their fifth win
Their roster is full of playmakers, regardless of their role, and an impressive group of seniors including but not limited to linebackers Keenan Harris and Kendall McNutt, running back Jordan Taylor, lineman Albert Reinberg, receiver & returner Zach Allen, and quarterback Kyren Eleby.
SLUH’s taking on a new identity: a team that knows how to close out games.
It takes some getting used to.
“But just like for me, this is a new experience for them, so we have to make a conscious effort every week adjusting to being "the hunted" as opposed to the ones trying to pull off the upset,” Cruz said. “Whether it’s our words of the week or how we practice, we have to keep the eye on every Friday.”
This week, SLUH takes on Vianney, a wild-card program that’s trying to make the shift to being the hunters, too. Their quarterback, Sam Deen, is one of the best quarterbacks in the region and most recently threw for 532 yards and 6 touchdowns in a wild loss to De Smet last week.
SLUH players break the huddle during a joint-practice with St. Mary’s and Hazelwood East on July 10, 2025.
And the schedule only gets harder for SLUH after that, especially in the final two weeks of the season as they host undefeated CBC before traveling to Kansas City to face Rockhurst, who’s currently on their own 5-0 start.
“It’s always special to do something new, especially in a program with the rich history of ours,” Cruz said. “It speaks to the work these guys put in in the spring and the summer.
“It invigorates the community, which is neat. But at the end of the day, it is about winning our last five, not our first five. We have to keep building from here.”
Kirkwood is the best example of what “reloading” looks like.
Roster turnover is a necessary evil. When a team like Kirkwood benefits from a large and talented senior class, they eventually have to pay for it.
That usually means a difficult season the following year, as newcomers try to fill the shoes of those who came before. It’s a brutal pill to swallow. And I thought this would be the case for Kirkwood.
And I was wrong. Very wrong.
Eleven different guys have scored touchdowns this year. Their new quarterback, Cooper Owens, also has 12 touchdowns and 1 interception, plus 1,255 passing yards.
Collin Griffin is averaging nearly 5 yards a carry, Jacob Eberhart is still earning the title as the “best receiver in the state”, and the new guys are stepping up in big ways.
Randall Richardson is a dawg. He leads the team with in tackles (49), sacks (6), and tackles for loss (9). If you have the ball in your hands, #8 has you in his sights. Guaranteed.
Travis Shores Jr is second on the team with 410 receiving yards and ties Eberhart with 3 receiving touchdowns.
The Kirkwood vs. Ladue game will be a big one to watch on October 17th.
University City is 4-1 — their best start since 2015.
That 2015 season was a rollercoaster ride for University City.
After the 4-1 start, the Lions ended the season with a 4-game losing streak.
And just when you thought they were finished — they won three straight games and make it to the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs (they eventually lost to Westminster Christian Academy).
I reached out to second-year head coach Will Franklin to find out more about the program’s resurgence.
“This season, expectations were high,” Franklin said. “We had a great off-season; getting bigger, faster, and stronger while learning the game of football.”
Franklin knew this year would be different, and the Lions would be better than last year.
“But how good can we be? I’m not sure yet,” he said.
Only time will tell. And in that time, U-City will remain focused on the task at hand.
“I teach (them) daily that we have to focus on ‘the now’,” he said. “As long as we focus on getting better, we will be good.”
What caught my attention to University City was the fact that they have a sophomore named Dart Barber who has a comfortable lead at the sack leader with 11 (Grant Lott of Fort Zumwalt South and Carter Davison for Fort Zumwalt East are tied at second with 7).
“He has the potential to be an important player to our team today and in the future,” Franklin said.
Barber’s in his second varsity season, and Franklin said he’s made a jump no one around the program thought he would make this early in his career.
Barber is definitely on my watch list for the rest of the year, and I recommend he be on yours, too.
Quick Bits
Northwest has a dual-threat quarterback named Cohenn Stark. He’s not only the driving force of that offense but he’s the top scorer in the area (92 points) and 6ths in total yards (874). He also punts. The kid can do it all.
Seckman is really good. Again. Dylan Lappe has 60 total tackles and 5 sacks, both of which leads the team. The guy’s a menace.
Ozark beat Waynesville 71-0. Nothing else to add, just an unreal score.
Brennan Czeschin is a name you need to know. He’s a quarterback from St. Dominic. He’s thrown for over 1,000 yards in 5 games and has a 15:1 TD-INT ratio. The region has quite a few great quarterbacks, and he’s one of them.
Sam Deen of Vianney is another quarterback you need to know. He has a leading 1,553 passing yards on the year with 14 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.
Rockwood Summit’s Jasahn Tiller is nearing the 500 yards receiving mark (17 catches, 484) and leads the team with 6 touchdowns. Mason Casso also has a leading 5 interceptions on the year.
Games I’m following in Week Five
Father Tolton Regional Catholic (4-1) at St. Francis Borgia (4-1)
University City (4-1) at Madison (Ill)
SLUH (5-0) at Vianney (2-3)
Chaminade (3-1) at De Smet (2-3)
MICDS (3-2) at Lutheran North (3-1)
Troy Buchanan (4-1) at Francis Howell (3-2)
Blue Springs South (5-0) at Lee’s Summit North (4-1)
Ritenour (3-2) at Oakville (3-2)
Blue Springs (3-2) at Rockhurst (5-0)
