Sports
St. Dominic All Set For District Football Matchup With Warrenton
Unbeaten Crusaders will host team that advanced to the Class 4 state championship game in 2010.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS – PREP FOOTBALL GAME PREVIEW
Warrenton Warriors (1-6) vs. St. Dominic Crusaders (7-0)
Friday, Oct. 14, 2011 – 7 p.m. – St. Dominic High School
Find out what's happening in O'Fallonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Missouri High School district football playoffs begin this week, with games all over the state, including an intriguing Friday night matchup at , between the host Crusaders and the visiting Warrenton Warriors.
St. Dominic has been one of the best teams in the area, with a 7-0 record, and a defense that allows just over 10 points a game.
Find out what's happening in O'Fallonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
While Warrenton is having a difficult 2011 season, with just one victory this year, after winning a school-record 11 games and advancing to the Class 4 state championship game last year.
This year, the Warriors have been led by running back/linebacker Austin Black, a senior two-way star, who rushed for 1,016 yards, scored 17 touchdowns, and totaled 140 tackles last year.
In 2011, Black continues to be a key player on both sides of the ball for Warrenton, with a team-high 447 rushing yards, five touchdowns, and 63 tackles.
At quarterback, the Warriors feature junior T.J. LaFaver, whose passed for 617 yards and five touchdowns since taking over the job three weeks ago, after starter Evan Costello got injured.
Warrenton also has a dynamic talent in junior kick returner Devin Roberts, who returned a punt and a kickoff for scores in the Warriors’ season-opening win over St. Charles.
St. Dominic has its own phenomenal player at running back in junior Jake Wilmes.
This season, 6-foot, 205-pounder has been a scoring machine for the Crusaders, with 11 touchdowns – the most in the Archdiocesan Athletic Association this year – while also ranking second in the league with 728 rushing yards.
Quarterback Jacob Mennemeier, a first-year starter for St. Dom, has a big arm, but hasn’t needed it much, with the Crusaders consistently dominating opponents on the ground.
For the year though, the senior signal-caller has passed for 351 yards and thrown three touchdowns passes.
The fearsome St. Dominic defense is led by junior linebacker Connor Flagel, who leads the Crusaders with 58 total tackles this season.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., so tune in to Patch late Friday night and early Saturday morning for full coverage of the Friday’s district playoff opener between Warrenton and St. Dominic.