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Patch Exclusive: Great American Football Classic at the Dome

The season-long prep football odyssey will take an interesting turn inside the Edward Jones Dome on Saturday, including a matchup between CBC and De Smet.

The season-long prep football odyssey will take an interesting turn inside the Edward Jones Dome on Saturday with the culmination of the Great American Football Classic.

Following two games featuring Illinois-area teams on Friday night, four games are on tap on Saturday, and Patch will have exclusive coverage of each game.

The day kicks off with a Suburban North Conference rivalry, shifts to a Suburban West Conference showdown and then onto a GAC South matchup. Those three games will serve as impressive table-setters for the day’s marquee event, which features undefeated teams CBC and De Smet.

There will be star players on display throughout the day as the Dome gets warmed up for its NFL opener on Sunday. With the ideal indoor conditions and playing surface, not only will this be a dream-come-true for dozens of area student-athletes, but they will excel away from the anticipated cool, rainy conditions in the St. Louis-area on Saturday.

Great American Football Classic Rundown

The Matchup: McCluer North vs. Pattonville, 10:30 a.m.

The Breakdown: It has been a miserable season to date for Pattonville, as the Pirates have been outscored by a combined 98-0 score in two defeats to Suburban North Conference rivals, Hazelwood East and Hazelwood Central. Pattonville has not mustered any offense, though junior running back Myron Buchanan does have 81 total yards this season.

Senior linebacker Jeremiah Wilkins has been the defensive star for the Pirates with 25 tackles.

“Obviously we're going to have to struggle a little bit to get it done, but we've got to keep fighting,” said Pattonville third-year coach Steve Smith last weekend. “There's not going to be any quit. I'm not going to allow that, I know the coaches won't allow that, and I hope that these seniors don't allow that."

For McCluer North, quarterback Galen Brown is the center of attention. Brown has struggled this season, and only played offense for one half in last week’s 38-21 win over McCluer. The Stars lost, 39-7, to Jefferson City in week one.

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Brown accounted for 1,332 passing yards and rushed for 474 yards in 2010, but has just 89 combined yards this season. Backup QB Bryan Herd is likely to see action for at least a few plays for Stars coach Jim Schottmueller.

The Matchup: Eureka vs. Marquette, 1:15 p.m.

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The Breakdown: There may be a lot of points put up in this Suburban West Conference tilt. Eureka has 85 points after two games, including a 57-33 win at Mehlville last week. Though the Wildcats had four shutouts last season, their defense has allowed 68 points in two games. Eureka lost 35-28 to Lafayette in week one.

Senior running back Spencer Stein has 352 yards rushing on 48 carries and six TDs. Senior QB Seth Pratt has thrown for 478 yards and is 37-for-63. Junior defensive back Kyle Spratt has two sacks. Coach Farrell Shelton is in his 12th season at Eureka.

Marquette (1-1) coach Ryan Thornhill played linebacker and running back at Eureka in the mid-90s. He has a very young team, yet the Mustangs nearly beat Oakville last week in a 28-26 loss. Thornhill relies on his rushing attack, led by junior QB Daniel Slattery who has 150 yards on 21 carries. Freshman Jacobi Boykin has 120 yards on 18 carries. Senior linebacker Michael Cooper paces the defense with 20 tackles.

The Matchup: Holt vs. Francis Howell Central, 4 p.m.

The Breakdown: Each team is coming off an awful defeat, though Holt had a strong first half last week before losing 30-7 to Hickman. Howell Central, however, lost 64-0 to powerful CBC.

Holt (0-2) has a new coach in Ken Moore, who has featured a pair of running backs this season. Tray Mitchell has 161 yards on 33 rushes while teammate Devin Pettit has 132 on 22 carries for the Indians. For Howell Central, who beat Troy 21-20 in its season opener, the focus will be on the ground. The Spartans have attempted jus 17 passes this season.

Quarterback Chip Miller has 115 yards on 31 carries while completing just 5-of-13 passes for Howell Central.

The Matchup: De Smet vs. CBC, 6:45 p.m.

The Breakdown: This is the game everyone is buzzing about, and for good reason. CBC’s offense will be a thrill to watch in the Dome if the first two week’s are an accurate indicator. The Cadets defeated Zumwalt West, 52-49, in week one before dismantling Howell Central, 64-0 last week.

CBC (2-0) showcases a well-rounded attack led by senior QB Dalton Demos. He has thrown for 378 yards and four TDs. He is helped in the running game by senior Jonathan Parker (175 yards, 18 carries) and sophomore Antonio Brown (127 yards, 25 carries). 

CBC may the team to watch, but De Smet senior running back Durron Neal may the most exciting player. Though Neal has struggled mightily on the ground with just 18 yards on 12 carries, he has 98 receiving yards and three TDs and 84 punt return yards on just two tries.

De Smet (2-0) has victories over Hazelwood Central (28-0) and Hazelwood East (14-12), but the dominant  Spartans defense will be hard-pressed to hold down CBC in the friendly confines of the Dome.

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