Eureka blanked Lindbergh 24-0 tonight (Nov. 3) to win its first district title in four years. The Wildcats (12-0), who last won the Class 6 District 1 title in 2013, will play host to CBC (11-1) at 7 p.m. next Friday (Nov. 10) in a Class 6 semifinal game with a date to the Nov. 18 championship game on the line.
The Cadets advanced with a 48-20 win over Hazelwood Central. CBC comes into the semifinal game ranked No. 1 in the Missouri media poll, and Eureka is ranked No. 2.
This was the third straight year the Wildcats were in the district title game, falling to Kirkwood in the previous two trips. Eureka last won the district title when it defeated Lafayette 47-20 in 2013.
“It took three years, it is one of the best feelings I’ve ever had to make it this far with a team I’ve been with since freshmen year and played with since I was in elementary school,” Eureka senior defensive lineman Brendan Carter said. “It’s just an amazing feeling.”
Eureka running back Hassan Haskins, who committed to Michigan on Sunday (Oct. 29), scored three touchdowns in the team’s second win over Lindbergh this year. The Wildcats defeated the Flyers, who were ranked No. 8 in the media poll, 41-10 on Oct. 6.
Haskins scored on runs of 37 and 20 yards and returned a fumble recovery for 50 yards. He finished with 159 yards rushing on 22 carries.
“He is full throttle 100 percent of the time,” Eureka head coach Jake Sumner said. “He’s special, period.”
Haskins finished Eureka’s first offensive possession by lining up in the Wildcat formation on Lindbergh’s 37-yard line. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder took the direct snap, cut to the left and covered the 37 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 8:35 left in the first quarter.
Eureka added to the lead with a 34-yard field goal from senior kicker Tom Burke to go up 10-0 with 1:11 left in the first quarter. Burke’s field goal was set up by senior linebacker Kade Seymour’s interception at the Flyers’ 37 after the ball bounced off one of his teammates and a Lindbergh player.
Haskins added his second touchdown on a fumble recovery at the 50-yard line to give the Wildcats a 17-0 lead with 4:52 left in the first half. Carter sacked Lindbergh senior quarterback Parker Powell, and Haskins said he wasn’t sure his half-field run would stand.
“At first, I thought it was incomplete, but my teammates told me to go,” Haskins said. “That’s what I did. I was surprised it stood. I thought it was incomplete. I guess it wasn’t.”
Lindbergh lost Powell for the rest of the game on the ensuing series when Haskins crashed into the quarterback as he tried to complete a pass. Powell remained motionless on the field after the hit but was able to walk off the field. He was replaced by junior Wyatt Critchlow at quarterback with senior receiver Rico Payton also taking snaps the rest of the game.
Eureka took its 17-0 lead into halftime, and after a scoreless third quarter, the Wildcats needed a big defensive stand to start the fourth. The Flyers drove to Eureka’s 15 in the opening minutes of the fourth, but failed to connect on three straight pass attempts after that.
“That’s the type of defensive kids we have, when things get tight like that, they step up their level of play,” Sumner said. “It was huge. The momentum changed and sent that message where we were at.”
Eureka was able to put together a near six-minute drive after the defensive stop, and though the Wildcats ended up punting, they got the ball back two plays later when senior cornerback Adam Fuqua returned an interception to Lindbergh’s 20-yard line.
Haskins scored on the next play for a 24-0 lead with 4:25 to play as Eureka notched its fourth shutout of the season.
“It means a lot,” Haskins said of the shutout win. “We are telling the whole St. Louis area what we can do.”
Eureka did lose a player during the game. Junior cornerback Antonio Sanders was flagged for a personal foul and ejected with 4:10 left in the third quarter. He will not be available for the game against CBC.
Eureka 24, Lindbergh 0
Lindbergh 0-0-0-0—0
Eureka 10-7-0-7—24
First quarter
E: Hassan Haskins 37 run (Tom Burke kick), 8:35
E: Tom Burke 34 FG, 1:11
Second quarter
E: Hassan Haskins 50 fumble recovery (Tom Burke kick), 4:52
Fourth quarter
E: Hassan Haskins 20 run (Tom Burke kick), 4:25