January 25, 2008
COLUMBIA – Football district assignments for the next classification cycle were released Friday by the Missouri State High School Activities Association, aligning schools for round-robin district play for the 2008 and 2009 football seasons.
The enrollment breaks for the new classification cycle are as follows:
8-man 20 schools 47-134
Class 1 64 schools 92-248
Class 2 64 schools 262-454
Class 3 64 schools 456-769
Class 4 64 schools 770-1319
Class 5 45 schools 1325-1793
Class 6 32 schools 1797-3030
Only schools with enrollments of 200 or less may choose to play in the 8-man division. In 11-man football, the largest 32 schools based on student enrollment in grades 9-12 are classified in Class 6, while the smallest 64 schools are assigned to Class 1. The next-largest 64 schools are then classified in Class 2, the next 64 in Class 3, and the next 64 in Class 4. The remaining schools are assigned to Class 5. CLICK HERE for a 20-year summary of football classification breaks.
Schools are grouped into districts within each classification based on geographical location and conference affiliation. The ability for all schools in a particular conference to complete a conference schedule takes priority in making football assignments. However, in instances where all schools in a conference cannot complete a full league schedule (every school plays every other school once), geography takes priority. The latter scenario occurs occasionally in conferences with more than eight members who also compete across multiple classifications.
The upcoming cycle will also mark the debut of Missouri’s new football playoff qualifying system whereby the top two teams from each district will advance to the MSHSAA Football Championship playoffs. Previously, just the top team from each district advanced to the state playoffs. Under the new format, the MSHSAA playoffs will include an eight-team bracket in the 8-man classification, 32-teams in Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, and Class 4, 22 schools in Class 5, and 16 playoff qualifiers in Class 6.
Due to the net increase of nine football schools for the new cycle, Class 5 was expanded from eight districts to 11 to better accommodate the 45 schools that will play in that division for the next two years. The 11-district format was selected by the MSHSAA Board of Directors on Thursday as a better alternative to accommodating those 45 schools in eight districts, each with five or six teams. In the 11-district setup in Class 5, just one district will include five schools, and the other 10 districts will have four schools. The revised Class 5 playoff bracket will be released at a later date.
District play for all four-team districts will begin in Week 8 (October 17 in 2008) of the regular season, while five-team districts in the 8-man classification and the one Class 5 district will begin in Week 6 (October 3 in 2008). CLICK HERE for the district scheduling format.
Due to the addition of one playoff round in all classifications, the first-allowable practice date for 2008 will be on Monday, August 11. The preseason interscholastic scrimmages (jamborees) will take place August 22-23, and the first-possible contest date will be Friday, August 29.
Ten schools are entered in football districts for the first time, including: Heartland (Belton) and Chilhowee in 8-man; Sacred Heart (Sedalia) in Class 1; Hallsville, Clopton, Carnahan (St. Louis) and Transportation & Law (St. Louis) in Class 2; Missouri Military Academy (Mexico) and E.H. Lyle Charter (St. Louis) in Class 3; and Staley (Kansas City) and Fort Zumwalt East (St. Peters) in Class 4. One school, Southeast (Kansas City), formerly of Class 3, has dropped football.
In 8-man football, there are two new programs with Heartland and Chilhowee joining the division. Fairfax has dropped its stand-alone program to co-op with Craig.
Changing to Class 1 for 2008 and 2009 are former Class 2 schools St. Mary’s (Independence), Schuyler County, and Cabool. Former 8-man program Northwest (Hughesville) along with newcomer Sacred Heart also join Class 1.
In Class 2, the following schools move up from Class 1: South Shelby, Brentwood, South Harrison, Diamond, and Lathrop, while Cleveland NJROTC moved down from Class 3 and Van Horn move down from Class 4. Hallsville, Carnahan, Transportation & Law, and Clopton are all new programs. Clopton is hosting a cooperative sponsorship with Elsberry.
In Class 3, eight schools move up from Class 2, including: California, Springfield Catholic, Lutheran (St. Peters), Herculaneum, Mountain Grove, Versailles, Holden, and East Newton. Moving down to Class 3 from Class 4 are Soldan, Lutheran South, and Mexico, while newcomers E.H. Lyle Charter and Missouri Military Academy also join Class 3.
Moving up to Class 4 from Class 3 are 11 schools: Center (Kansas City), MICDS, Nevada, Bolivar, Grain Valley, Bishop DuBourg, Westminster Christian Academy, Kirksville, Platte County, Westport, and three-time champion Harrisonville. Moving down to Class 4 from Class 5 are Beaumont and Gateway. New programs Staley and Fort Zumwalt East also will play in Class 4.
In Class 5, a total of 11 schools move up from Class 4: Parkway Central, Northeast (Kansas City), Fort Zumwalt North, Central (Cape Girardeau), Rockwood Summit, Webster Groves, Ozark, Nixa, Parkway North, Timberland, and 2007 champion Lee’s Summit West, while four programs move down from Class 6, including Oak Park, Vianney, Pattonville and Fort Zumwalt South.
Four programs move up to Class 6 from Class 5 with Seckman, Lee’s Summit, Troy Buchanan, and McCluer North slated to compete in the state’s largest classification.
There as 12 schools hosting cooperative sponsorships in the sport of football for the next classification cycle. In 8-man football, Craig will host former stand-alone program Fairfax, while newcomer Chilhowee is hosting Leeton. Also in 8-man, Norborne will coop with Stet, Stewartsville hosts Osborne and Southwest (Ludlow) hosts Breckenridge. In Class 1, Northwest (Hughesville) will coop with LaMonte, Sweet Springs hosts Malta Bend, Lockwood hosts Golden City, Rich Hill coops with Hume, and Princeton will coop with Mercer. In Class 2, newcomer Clopton will host a cooperative sponsorship with Elsberry, while Windsor will host Green Ridge. Cooperative sponsorships permit smaller schools to collaborate in sponsoring a program to create more participation opportunities for students. The enrollments of the two cooperating schools are combined for classification purposes.
The 2008 and 2009 seasons conclude with the annual MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. The state championship dates for 2008 are November 28-29, while the event will be held November 27-28 in 2009.
CLICK HERE for the complete 2008 and 2009 Football District Assignments list in PDF format.
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8-Man
DISTRICT 1
Chilhowee (Mid States)
Hardin-Central (Indep)
Heartland (Indep)
Miami (Indep)
Norborne (Indep)
DISTRICT 2
DeKalb (Platte Valley)
Southwest (Ludlow) (Platte Valley)
Stewartsville (Platte Valley)
St. Joseph Christian (Indep)
Union Star (Platte Valley)
DISTRICT 3
Craig (275)
Mound City (275)
Nodaway-Holt (275)
South Holt (275)
West Nodaway (275)
DISTRICT 4
North Andrew (Platte Valley)
North Nodaway (275)
South Nodaway (Platte Valley)
Stanberry (275)
Worth County (275)
CLASS 1
DISTRICT 1
Chaffee (SEMO South)
Hayti (SEMO South)
Portageville (SEMO South)
St. Vincent (MAFC Blue)
DISTRICT 2
Louisiana (Clarence Cannon)
Paris (Lewis/Clark)
Valle Catholic (MAFC Blue)
Van-Far (EMO)
DISTRICT 3
Cabool (South Central)
Marionville (Mid-Lakes)
Miller (SRVC)
Thayer (South Central)
DISTRICT 4
Jasper (SRVC)
Lockwood (SRVC)
McAuley Catholic (Indep)
Sarcoxie (SRVC)
DISTRICT 5
Greenfield (SRVC)
Liberal (SRVC)
Osceola (WEMO)
Rich Hill (WEMO)
DISTRICT 6
Adrian (WEMO)
Appleton City (WEMO)
Archie (WEMO)
Drexel (WEMO)
DISTRICT 7
Crest Ridge (I-70)
Lone Jack (Crossroads)
Midway (WEMO)
University Academy Charter (Indep)
DISTRICT 8
Northwest (Hughesville) (Indep)
Sacred Heart (Indep)
Sweet Springs (I-70)
Tipton (Mid-MO)
DISTRICT 9
Fayette (Lewis/Clark)
Salisbury (Lewis/Clark)
Slater (Lewis/Clark)
Westran (Lewis/Clark)
DISTRICT 10
Concordia (I-70))
Santa Fe (I-70)
St. Paul Lutheran (I-70)
Wellington-Napoleon (I-70)
DISTRICT 11
Marceline (Lewis/Clark)
Milan (Tri-Rivers)
Princeton (Grand River)
Putnam County (Tri-Rivers)
DISTRICT 12
Knox County (Tri Rivers)
North Shelby (Tri-Rivers))
Schuyler County (Tri-Rivers)
Scotland County (Tri-Rivers)
DISTRICT 13
Braymer (Indep)
Orrick (I-70)
St. Mary’s (Independence) (Crossroads)
Wentworth Military Academy (Indep)
DISTRICT 14
Gallatin (Grand River)
Maysville (Grand River)
Penney (Grand River)
Polo (Grand River)
DISTRICT 15
East Buchanan (KCI)
Mid-Buchanan (KCI)
North Platte (KCI)
West Platte (KCI)
DISTRICT 16
Albany (Grand River)
King City (Grand River)
Rock Port (Indep)
Tarkio (Grand River)
CLASS 2
DISTRICT 1
Caruthersville (SEMO Central)
Charleston (SEMO-Central)
East Prairie (SEMO-South)
Malden (SEMO-South)
DISTRICT 2
Crystal City (MAFC-Blue)
Grandview (Hillsboro) (MAFC-Blue)
Scott City (SEMO-South)
St. Pius X (Festus) (MAFC-Blue)
DISTRICT 3
Carnahan (PHL Div II)
Cleveland NJROTC (PHL Div II)
Maplewood-Richmond Hts. (MAFC-Blue)
Transportation & Law (PHL div II)
DISTRICT 4
Brentwood (Indep)
Clopton (EMO)
Orchard Farm (EMO)
Principia (ABC)
DISTRICT 5
Centralia (Clarence Cannon)
Hermann (Four Rivers)
Montgomery County (EMO)
Wright City (EMO)
DISTRICT 6
Blair Oaks (Tri-County)
Hallsville (Mid-MO)
South Callaway (Mid-MO)
Southern Boone County (Mid-MO)
DISTRICT 7
Mark Twain (Clarence Cannon)
Monroe City (Clarence Cannon)
Palmyra (Clarence Cannon)
South Shelby (Clarence Cannon)
DISTRICT 8
Brookfield (Tri-Rivers)
Clark County (Tri-Rivers)
Highland (Clarence Cannon)
Macon (Clarence Cannon)
DISTRICT 9
Cuba (Indep)
Houston (South Central)
Liberty (Mountain View) (South Central)
Willow Springs (South Central)
DISTRICT 10
Ash Grove (Mid-Lakes)
Fair Grove (Mid-Lakes)
Pleasant Hope (Mid-Lakes)
Strafford (Mid-Lakes)
DISTRICT 11
Diamond (SRVC)
Lamar (Big 8)
Pierce City (SRVC)
Stockton (Mid-Lakes))
DISTRICT 12
Cole Camp (Indep)
El Dorado Springs (Indep)
Skyline (Mid-Lakes)
Warsaw (Tri-County)
DISTRICT 13
Butler (Indep))
Hogan Prep (Indep)
Sherwood (Crossroads)
Windsor (I-70)
DISTRICT 14
Carrollton (MRVC East)
Knob Noster (MRVC East)
Lafayette County (MRVC East)
Lexington (MRVC East)
DISTRICT 15
Lathrop (KCI))
Lawson (KCI)
Plattsburg (KCI)
Van Horn (Indep)
DISTRICT 16
Bishop LeBlond (Indep)
Maryville (MEC)
South Harrison (Grand River)
Trenton (Indep)
CLASS 3
DISTRICT 1
Central (New Madrid Co.) (SEMO Central)
Dexter (SEMO Central)
Kennett (SEMO-Central)
Perryville (MAFC-White)
DISTRICT 2
Central (Park Hills) (MAFC-White)
Fredericktown (MAFC-White)
Potosi (MAFC-White)
Ste. Genevieve (MAFC-White)
DISTRICT 3
Herculaneum (MAFC White)
John F. Kennedy (AAA)
Lutheran South (ABC)
Priory (ABC)
DISTRICT 4
Cardinal Ritter (AAA)
E. H. Lyle Charter (Indep)
Miller Career Acad. (PHL Div II)
Soldan (PHL Div II)
DISTRICT 5
John Burroughs (ABC)
Lutheran North (ABC)
McCluer South-Berkeley (Sub-East)
Trinity Catholic (AAA)
DISTRICT 6
Bowling Green (EMO)
Lutheran (St. Peters) (AAA)
St. Francis Borgia (Indep)
Winfield (EMO)
DISTRICT 7
Owensville (Four Rivers)
Salem (South Central)
St. James (Four Rivers)
Sullivan (Four Rivers)
DISTRICT 8
Fulton (NCMC)
Mexico (NCMC)
Missouri Military Academy (Indep.)
North Callaway (Mid-MO)
DISTRICT 9
California (Tri-County)
Eldon (Tri-County)
Osage (Tri-County)
Versailles (Tri-County)
DISTRICT 10
Ava (South Central)
Buffalo (Central Ozark S)
Logan-Rogersville (Central Ozark S)
Mountain Grove (South Central))
DISTRICT 11
Aurora (Big 8)
Mt. Vernon (Big 8)
Reeds Spring (Central Ozark S)
Springfield Catholic (Central Ozark S)
DISTRICT 12
Cassville (Big 8)
East Newton (Big 8)
Monett (Big 8)
Seneca (Big 8)
DISTRICT 13
Clinton (West Central)
Holden (MRVC East)
Pleasant Hill (MRVC West)
Oak Grove (MRVC West)
DISTRICT 14
Boonville (NCMC)
Moberly (NCMC)
Odessa (MRVC West)
Richmond (MRVC East)
DISTRICT 15
Lincoln College Prep (ILKC)
Pembroke Hill (Indep)
O’Hara (West Central)
St. Pius X (Kansas City) (West Central)
DISTRICT 16
Cameron (MEC)
Chillicothe (MEC
Savannah (MEC)
Smithville (MEC)
CLASS 4
DISTRICT 1
Farmington (MAFC Red)
Poplar Bluff (SEMO-North)
Sikeston (SEMO-North)
West Plains (Ozark)
DISTRICT 2
DeSoto (MAFC-Red)
Festus (MAFC Red)
North County (Bonne Terre) (MAFC Red)
Windsor (Imperial) (MAFC Red)
DISTRICT 3
Affton (Sub-East)
Bishop DuBourg (AAA)
Ladue Horton Watkins (Sub-East)
St. Mary’s (St. Louis) (AAA)
DISTRICT 4
Beaumont (PHL Div I)
Gateway (PHL Div I)
Sumner (PHL Div I)
Vashon (PHL Div I)
DISTRICT 5
Clayton (Sub-East)
Jennings (Sub-East)
Normandy (Sub-East)
University City (Sub-South)
DISTRICT 6
Duchesne (GAC North)
MICDS (ABC)
St. Charles (GAC North)
Westminster Christian Academy (Indep)
DISTRICT 7
Fort Zumwalt East (GAC North)
St. Charles West (GAC North)
St. Dominic (AAA)
Warren County (GAC North)
DISTRICT 8
Hannibal (NCMC)
Helias (Indep)
Kirksville (NCMC)
Marshall (NCMC)
DISTRICT 9
Hillsboro (MAFC-Red)
Pacific (Four Rivers)
St. Clair (Four Rivers)
Union (Four Rivers)
DISTRICT 10
Bolivar (Central Ozark S)
Hillcrest (Ozark)
Marshfield (Central Ozark S)
Willard (Central Ozark L)
DISTRICT 11
Branson (Central Ozark L)
McDonald County (Indep)
Neosho (Central Ozark L)
Republic (Central Ozark L)
DISTRICT 12
Carl Junction (Big 8)
Carthage (Central Ozark L)
Nevada (Indep)
Webb City (Central Ozark L)
DISTRICT 13
Grain Valley (MRVC West)
Harrisonville (MRVC West)
Smith-Cotton (West Central)
Warrensburg (West Central)
DISTRICT 14
Center (Kansas City) (West Central)
Grandview (Sub-Blue)
Hickman Mills (Sub-Blue)
Ruskin (Sub-Blue)
DISTRICT 15
Central (Kansas City) (ILKC)
Platte County (Sub-Blue)
Staley (Sub-Blue)
Westport (ILKC)
DISTRICT 16
Benton (MEC)
Excelsior Springs (MRVC-West)
Kearney (Sub-Blue)
Lafayette (St. Joseph) (MEC)
CLASS 5
DISTRICT 1
Central (Cape Girardeau) (SEMO-North)
Eureka (Sub-South)
Jackson (SEMO North)
Rockwood Summit (Sub-South)
DISTRICT 2
Chaminade (Metro Cath)
Roosevelt (PHL Div I)
Vianney (Metro Cath)
Webster Groves (Sub-South)
DISTRICT 3
Kirkwood (Sub-West)
Parkway Central (Sub-South)
Parkway North (Sub-South)
Parkway West (Sub-South)
DISTRICT 4
Fort Zumwalt North (GAC North)
Hazelwood East (Sub-North)
McCluer (Sub-North)
Pattonville (Sub-North)
DISTRICT 5
Fort Zumwalt South (GAC South)
Holt (GAC South)
Timberland (GAC North)
Washington (GAC North)
DISTRICT 6
Camdenton (Ozark)
Lebanon (Ozark)
Rolla (Ozark)
Waynesville (Ozark)
DISTRICT 7
Glendale (Ozark)
Kickapoo (Ozark)
Nixa (Central Ozark L)
Ozark (Central Ozark L)
Parkview (Ozark)
DISTRICT 8
Belton (Sub-White)
Central (Springfield) (Indep)
Lee’s Summit West (Sub-White)
Raymore-Peculiar (Sub-Gold)
DISTRICT 9
Northeast Law & Public Service (ILKC)
Raytown (Sub-White)
Raytown South (Sub-White)
Truman (Sub-Red)
DISTRICT 10
Fort Osage (Sub-White)
North Kansas City (Sub-White)
William Chrisman (Sub-Red)
Winnetonka (Sub-Red)
DISTRICT 11
Central (St. Joseph) (Sub-Gold)
Oak Park (Sub-Red)
Park Hill (Sub-Red)
Park Hill South (Sub. Red)
CLASS 6
DISTRICT 1
Fox (MAFC-Red)
Northwest (Cedar Hill) (Sub-West)
Oakville (Sub-West)
Seckman (MAFC Red)
DISTRICT 2
Lindbergh (Sub-West)
Mehlville (Sub-West)
Ritenour (Sub-North)
St. Louis University High (Metro Cath)
DISTRICT 3
Christian Brothers (Metro Cath)
Lafayette (Wildwood) (Sub-West)
Marquette (Sub-West)
Parkway South (Sub-West)
DISTRICT 4
Hazelwood Central (Sub-North)
Hazelwood West (Sub-North)
McCluer North (Sub-North)
Riverview Gardens (Sub-North)
DISTRICT 5
DeSmet (Metro Cath)
Francis Howell (GAC South)
Francis Howell Central (GAC South
Francis Howell North (GAC South)
DISTRICT 6
Fort Zumwalt West (GAC South)
Hickman (Indep)
Jefferson City (Indep)
Troy Buchanan (GAC South)
DISTRICT 7
Joplin (Ozark)
Lee’s Summit (Sub-Gold)
Lee’s Summit North (Sub-Gold)
Rockhurst (Indep)
DISTRICT 8
Blue Springs (Sub-Gold)
Blue Springs South (Sub-Gold)
Liberty (Sub-Gold)
Rock Bridge (Indep)