Missouri high school football districts 2022

Missouri State High School Activities Association

The MSHSAA promotes the value of participation, sportsmanship, team play, and personal excellence to develop citizens who make positive contributions to their community and support the democratic principles of our state and nation.

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1 N. Keene Street, Columbia, MO 65201-6645
P.O. Box 1328, Columbia, MO 65205-1328

(573) 875-4880 (Office)
(573) 875-1450 (Fax)
MSHSAA Contact Information

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Missouri State High School Activities Association

1 N. Keene Street, Columbia, MO 65201-6645
P.O. Box 1328, Columbia, MO 65205-1328

(573) 875-4880 (Office)
(573) 875-1450 (Fax)
MSHSAA Contact Information

Font generated by flaticon.com. Under CC: Yannick, Freepik
Font Awesome by Dave Gandy - http://fontawesome.io

By Nate Latsch | Photo by Nate Latsch

When the Missouri State High School Activities Association releases its new football classifications every August, just hours before the start of the regular season, it’s like Christmas Day throughout the Show-Me State.

Some get surprisingly nice presents. Some get lumps of coal.

The full list of class-by-class and district assignments can be found on the MSHSAA website — link to Class 6, link to Class 5, link to Class 4, link to Class 3, link to Class 2 and link to Class 1 — but we are taking a quick look here at some of the moves.

CLASS 6

One of the big stories in the state’s largest class is the separation between Metro Catholic Conference rivals Christian Brothers College and De Smet, which CBC staying in District 1 and De Smet moving to District 2.

Those schools have combined to win four of the last five championships in Missouri’s largest classification with CBC winning in 2021, 2018 and 2017 and De Smet winning in 2019. Raymore-Peculiar won the Class 6 title in 2020 by beating De Smet and thwarting the Spartans’ repeat bid.

Taking De Smet’s place in District 1 is Seckman. Joining De Smet in District 2 will be Rock Bridge, which had previously been in a District 4 group that included all Kansas City area schools.

One of the big surprises is Staley moving up to Class 6 and landing in the District 4 group with Blue Springs, Blue Springs South, Liberty, Liberty North, Park Hill, Park Hill South and Rockhurst. The Falcons went 4-6 a year ago, but have a strong history that includes state championships in 2011 and 2017 and a stretch of four consecutive district titles from 2016-2019.

CLASS 5

Two of the big movers in Class 5, Francis Howell and MICDS, have been among the better programs in Missouri the past few years and should be strong contenders to make a run at the state championship.

Francis Howell moves down from Class 6 and is now in District 3 with Howell Central, Howell North, Zumwalt North, Zumwalt South, Zumwalt West and Riverview Gardens.

The Vikings are 29-6 over the past three years, but lost in the district championship game in each of those seasons. Howell lost to Troy Buchanan 23-21 last fall and lost to De Smet in 2020 and 2019 as the Spartans advanced to the state championship game in both seasons.

MICDS moves up from Class 4 and is now in District 2 with Chaminade, Eureka, Ladue, Lafayette, Parkway South and Parkway West.

The Rams are 19-2 over the past two seasons, with their only losses coming deep in the state playoffs. MICDS lost to eventual champion Smithville 40-36 in the Class 4 semifinals a year ago after opening the season with 12 straight wins and finished as the runner-up in Class 4 (to Helias) in 2020 after beginning the COVID-shortened campaign with seven straight victories.

CLASS 4

Last year’s Class 3 champion, St. Mary’s moves up into Class 4 and is now in a District 2 grouping with Affton, Gateway, Pacific, Rockwood Summit, Union and Windsor (Imperial). The Dragons went 12-1 a year ago, including a dominant 56-0 victory over St. Pius X (Kansas City) in the state championship game.

Rockwood Summit moves down from Class 5 after a record-setting season that saw the Falcons go 11-1, losing only to powerhouse Jackson.

St. Mary’s and Rockwood Summit moving into Class 4 District 2 moved Vashon into District 3, essentially taking the place of MICDS. The Wolverines went 9-2 last season and advanced to the quarterfinals, where they lost to North County.

CLASS 3

St. Mary’s moving out of Class 3 opens the door for a new state champ this fall.

Lutheran St. Charles, which won the Class 2 title last season for its first football championship in school history, moves up into Class 3 and is now in District 3 with Lutheran North. The Cougars went 12-2 a year ago, 6-2 in 2020, 10-3 in 2019 and 8-3 in 2018.

Cardinal Ritter and Lutheran North figure to be two of the top contenders in Class 3. They were both in District 3 a year ago, but now Ritter has moved into District 2.

Maryville moves back into Class 3 and is now in District 8 with St. Pius X (Kansas City), which finished as the runner-up in Class 3 a year ago. The Spoofhounds won at least 10 games for eight straight seasons – 2011 to 2018 – and are 27-11 in the three years since.

CLASS 2

One of the most dominant programs in Missouri football history, Blair Oaks has moved down to Class 2.

The Falcons, who have won 14 state championships, were the Class 3 champions in 2020 and the Class 2 champions in 2018. The school previously won Class 2 titles in 2004 and 2006.

Blair Oaks went 9-3 a year ago, losing to Mexico in the playoffs, after going 13-1 in 2020, 12-1 in 2019, 15-0 in 2018, 13-1 in 2017, 11-1 in 2016 and 13-1 in 2015.

CLASS 1

Duchesne moves down from Class 2 and joins a District 2 field that includes Brentwood, Crystal City, Grandview (Hillsboro), Louisiana, St. Pius X (Festus) and Van-Far. The Pioneers have a new head coach this season in Vince Morris.

Duchesne went 8-3 a year ago, including two losses to Class 2 champ Lutheran-St. Charles. The Pioneers’ only other loss came against Quincy Notre Dame (Ill.). Duchesne went 9-2 in 2020 and 8-3 in 2019.