HIGH SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT
Ending High School Football’s Drought at the Dome by Jim Powers
// Who will the top players be in the area in 2012? Latsch – “John Burroughs running back Ezekiel Elliott and Fort Zumwalt South running back Chase Abbington were among the top players in the area last season and then were besieged by college coaches from coast to coast in the offseason before making their college commitments to Ohio State and Missouri, respectively. O’Fallon cornerback Darius Mosely is the rare high school perimeter player who prefers defense to offense. I like that. Even though he’s a standout wide receiver and cornerback, the Illinois commitment wants to shut down opposing wideouts and try to score on defense. You have to like Rockwood Summit linebacker Eric Beisel’s work ethic. He’s a big, physical linebacker who has worked really hard in the weight room to get bigger and stronger. He’s an extremely confident kid who is working toward making an impact at Missouri in 2013 and then planning on playing in the NFL following his career in Columbia.”
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photo by paul kopsky
T
he St. Louis area’s 2011 high school football season ended on a very sour note at the Edward Jones Dome last November. All four teams that advanced to the MSHSAA State Football Championships came away on the losing end of the those games, which again brought up the question: “Is the western part of the state better?” The 2012 season begins with many questions about one of the deepest talent pools that the area has seen in many years; many want to know if one of the area’s talented teams can bring a state title back to St. Louis. High School Sports Caravan and STLhighschoolsports.com have once again partnered to bring the area’s high school football fans the most comprehensive coverage every Friday night. Each week, along with a one-hour pre-game show and games on both 590 and 1380, fans will be able to hear area sports experts break down the games and talk with the fans about what is going on in the area. Fox Sports Midwest will also help with The Prep Zone every week — four games a week will be streamed live on foxsportsmidwest.com. The writers from STLhighschoolsports.com will again help answer some of the biggest questions out there, as well as share their thoughts on the 2012 season. Nate Latsch, Greg Uptain and Joe Harris are out every Friday night covering games and will be a big part of the High School Sports Caravan every week. Here is what the experts think about the 2012 season:
Ezekiel Elliott
Uptain – “Ezekiel Elliott (John Burroughs) is the obvious one. I also really like Aarion Penton (CBC) and Chase Abbington (Fort Zumwalt South), and I am enamored with the tremendous collection of talent we have on the lines: Jack Kurzu (MICDS), Alec Abeln (SLUH), Antar Thompson (MRH), Andy Bauer (De Smet), Demarvious Loving (East St. Louis), Ben Saint (Fort Zumwalt West) and Harneet Gill (Francis Howell).” Harris – “This area is loaded with talent, so this is an impossible question to answer; but, just to name a few seniors: Fort Zumwalt South running back Chase Abbington, a Mizzou recruit who rushed for 1,459 yards and scored 26 TDs last year; Summit linebacker Eric Beisel, another Mizzou recruit who had 110 tackles last year; and O’Fallon cornerback Darius Mosely, an Illinois recruit who had 50 tackles and four interceptions last year.” Powers – “As Greg mentioned, Ezekiel Elliott is going to be one of the best running backs in the St. Louis area, but the