Hazelwood Central Goes for Three

The football team has felt the pressure ever since the first day of practice back in August. And the Hawks have enjoyed every minute of it.

Central, the two-time defending Class 6 state champion, revels in the role of the  "team to beat."

"Every game we play, it's big for the other team because they want to be the ones that say they beat us," said senior running back Tra Brown. "So we get their best effort. We kind of like that."

The Hawks (13-0) have one more step in their attempt to a state three-peat. They take on Kansas City's Rockhurst High School (13-0) in the state championship game Saturday at 6:30 p.m. inside the Edward Jones Dome in downtown St. Louis.

So far, the Central players have handled the pressure with a sense of calm. They turned in a business-like effort in disposing of DeSmet 20-14 last Saturday in a semifinal contest at Hazelwood Central.

The Hawks carry a 19-game winning streak into the state championship game. They make their 15th appearance in the title showdown with five titles and nine runner-up finishes.

"I think we're ready," said senior quarterback Jamaal Flowers.

Central coach Rich Nixon feels good about his club's chances. Nixon, in his fifth year at the helm, said this squad is every bit as good — if not a little better — than the championship teams of the past two seasons.

"This is truly the most complete team we've had in terms of really fighting and really continuing to stay focused and grow," he said. "These guys have done a great job all year long of finding ways to win games."

The Hawks have taken the best shots that the opposition could muster. They bounced McCluer North to capture the Suburban North Conference crown and also beat DeSmet along the way of their state title campaign.

"This has been a pressure-packed, emotional roller-coast type of year," Nixon said. "Everybody we've played has brought their A game."

And the Hawks have answered with an A-plus effort.

"So far it's worked," said the 33-year-old Nixon.

Added Brown, "One more step — a big one too."

Brown leads the Hawks balanced attack with 803 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. He scored twice in last week's win over DeSmet. Flowers, a transfer from Hazelwood West, has thrown for 2,301 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Linebacker Cortland Dunlap heads an underrated defense that has shined down the stretch. He has 163 tackles and eight sacks. Defensive back Mike Jordan has picked off eight passes. Linebacker A.J. Chappelle, lineman Tim Holmes and defensive back D.J. Cameron came up big in the semifinal win over DeSmet.

The Hawks are hoping to become the first team since 1978 to win three consecutive large-school state championships.

"We've been thinking about three in a row (since) we started camp," Brown said.

Central, 38-2 throughout the past three years, will face its stiffest test of the season on Saturday. Rockhurst has been ranked No. 1 in the state since the beginning of the season; although the Hawklets have several close calls and an overtime victory on their resume.

Veteran coach Tony Severino recently recorded his 700th career victory for the private school. Senior running back Noah Pearl leads a high-powered attack. Pearle rushed for 115 yards in Rockhurst's 42-6 win over Fort Zumwalt West in its semifinal game Friday.

Rockhurst has plenty of state championship experience, too. The Hawklets have won eight championships, the last coming in 2007. They make their 14th appearance in the title game.