Smaller area schools have most football revisions

District changes to have impact

The high school football playoffs will have a different look in the fall after the Missouri State High School Activities Association released the new district assignments Saturday.

The new setup is for a two-year cycle that will cover the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

The largest 32 schools are placed in Class 6, with the smallest 64 in Class 1. There are also 64 in Classes 2-4, with the remaining schools placed in Class 5.

In Class 6, the Jefferson City Jays landed in District 3, which includes Blue Springs, Blue Springs South, Francis Howell, Francis Howell Central, Fort Zumwalt West, Rock Bridge and Troy. Francis Howell Central and Blue Springs replace Hickman and Timberland, as both dropped to Class 5.

The Helias Crusaders remain in Class 4 and are joined in District 7 by Hannibal, Kirksville, Liberty: Wentzville, Marshall, Moberly, Warrensburg and Warrenton. Warrensburg replaces Mexico, which dropped to Class 3.

Mexico landed in District 6, which includes the Blair Oaks Falcons. Other schools in that group are Fulton, Mexico, Missouri Military Academy, O'Fallon Christian, Southern Boone, Winfield and Wright City.

Blair Oaks' district features several changes. Gone are Versailles (dropped to Class 2), Owensville (moved to District 3), Eldon (moved to District 3), Boonville (moved to District 7) and California (dropped to Class 2).

Joining Eldon and Owensville in Class 3 District 3 are Buffalo, Logan-Rogersville, School of the Osage, Springfield Catholic, St. James and Sullivan.

The drops in class by Versailles and California didn't exactly bring good news for them, as both landed in District 4, which includes the five-time defending Class 2 state champion Lamar Tigers.

The other schools in District 4 are Cole Camp, El Dorado Springs, Fair Grove, Stockton and Warsaw.

Also in Class 2, the South Callaway Bulldogs find themselves in District 5 with Brentwood, Father Tolton, Hallsville, Hermann, Montgomery County, North Callaway and Principia.

The only area school in Class 1 is Tipton, which finds itself in District 4 with Appleton City, Crest Ridge, Lincoln, Lone Jack, Osceola, Skyline and Windsor.

The first allowable date for football practice this coming season is Monday, Aug. 1, with the opening Friday of the season set for Aug. 19.