ST. LOUIS -- Very little has changed in Missouri's high school football rankings since last season.
In four of the six classes, the team that finished atop the final 2010 rankings begins the 2011 season as the top-ranked team in its class. The state rankings are determined by a poll of a 12-person panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. The first games of the season are this weekend.
Rockhurst, Lee's Summit West, Webb City and Valle Catholic won state championships in their respective classes in 2010. Logan-Rogersville sits atops the Class 3 rankings. Last year's state champion is ranked third in that division. Last year's state champion in Class 2, Penney, also begins the 2011 season ranked third.
Here are the preseason rankings for the 2011 season. First-place votes are in parentheses.
CLASS 6 (Rank, Team, Points)1. Rockhurst [KC] (12) 120
2. Fort Zumwalt West [O'Fallon] 106
3. DeSmet [St.L] 98
4. Blue Springs 71
5. CBC [St.L] 70
6. Jefferson City 53
7. Blue Springs South 39
8. Eureka 27
T9. McCluer North [St.L] 21
T9. Hazelwood Central [St.L] 21
Others receiving votes: St. Louis U. High 12, Raymore-Peculiar 11, Francis Howell [St. Peters] 11
CLASS 5 (Rank, Team, Points)
1. Lee’s Summit West (12) 120
2. Staley [KC] 104
3. Webster Groves 99
