Ladue, MICDS Football Game of the Week This Saturday

Ladue (5-2) is at MICDS (7-0) and the start of districts and the first step towards the Show Me Bowl football playoffs.

This is kind of a good news-bad news situation for two teams with lofty ambitions of being in the Edward Jones Dome the weekend after Thanksgiving.

It would be less than risky to go out on a limb and say the Rams will win. That’s Rams in Ladue and Rams in MICDS. These are two schools located on different ends of Warson Road in Ladue. The two schools are just 1.5 miles apart.

The two have met a couple of times in the past 50 years. The good news is that two teams survive and move on in each playoff district.

Ladue at MICDS, 1 p.m. Saturday

Ladue has run off five consecutive wins after tripping at Parkway Central and St. Louis U. High. The Rams have won all seven challenges dating back to the opening game of the season. MICDS knocked Burroughs from the undefeated ranks with a 45-20 whipping.

MICDS’ coach Josh Smith says this indeed an exciting way to start district play.

“Ladue presents a challenge for us defensively because of their team speed and stars at the skill positions including quarterback."

Deavin Edwards is the single biggest threat to MICDS. “We re spending this whole week emphasizing team defense,” said Smith. “Ladue has been very strong on defensive and have done a nice job of forcing other teams into mistakes,” said Smith.

Mistakes are few and far between for the MICDS Rams. Thomas Militello has been on target all year long, connecting on 94 of 136 for 69 percent for 1,428 yards and 18 TDs. He loves to throw to Jackson Howell (533 yards, 11 TDs) and Foster Bundy (419 yards and 4 TDs).

Ladue’s senior quarterback Brandon Carr has shown steady improvement since game No. 1. Carr is a 50 percent passer (89 for 177) for 1,169 yards and 11 TDs. He loves to throw to Jehu Chesson 1,402 yards but just 2 TDs. That number has perplexed many observers.

Edwards is one of the top running-backs anywhere. He’s rambled for 1,152 yards and 16 TDs on the ground and three more from returns and catches.

"This isn't a game you have to do anything special to get the kids up for," said Ladue's coach Mike Tarpey. "The kids know each other. It's like our game with Clayton."

Tarpey expects MICDS to be an incredible opponent. "They are 7-0 for a reason. They are a talented group."

Tarpey knows plenty about No. 38 for MICDS. "Michael Scherer is a downhill runner. They (MICDS) have great confidence in what they do."

"I like the way we are playing. We've cleaned up a lot of things. We played a very solid game against Duchesne," said Tarpey.

Michael Scherer, two-way star at MICDS could be the difference maker. He leads the rush attack with 574 yards and 11 TDs on the ground. Scat-back A.J. Washington has rushed for 479 yards and 6 TDs.

Scherer leads the defensive side of the attack with 37 tackles, 15 assists for 52 total points.

The difference on the game might well come on defense. MICDS has steady linebackers in Joe Goley and Cole Sigmund while Ladue has hard-hitting linebackers Michael Horton-Loftn and Habtamu Workineh.

Confluence Prep at John Burroughs, 1 p.m.

The Bombers should roll over the 2-4 visitors. Ezekiel Elliott has rushed for 915 yards and 16 TDS while senior quarterback Davey Holmes has passed for 1,078 yards and 18 TDs, connecting on 67 percent of his passes. He aims for Nathan Adams (454 yards and 7 TDs) and Foye Oluokin (343 yards and 5 TD).

Defensively, the Bombers are led by rugged back Christian Bledsoe and linebackers Sam Hefler and Bear Kaminer.