If you are looking for the toughest league in the state of Missouri you don’t have to go far. The Suburban Conference Gold division has long been the meat grinder of high school football in the Metro.
In the last nine seasons the league has produced four state champions and two more state finalists along with countless other deep runs in the playoffs.
Throw in the fact that teams with losing records during the regular season have gone on to earn playoff wins against non-Kansas City teams and you can see that playing in the Suburban Gold is a battle every single week.
Let’s look at some of the games to watch each week of the Suburban Gold season.
Week 1 – Lee’s Summit West at Park Hill
The conference title isn’t decided in the first week, but this game could be huge for both teams. West and Park Hill both return a good nucleus of players and have plans of going deep in the postseason. Park Hill lost this game last year on its way to an 0-2 start. The Trojans will be looking to reverse that with a win in week one.
Week 2 – Rockhurst at Blue Springs
Annually the biggest game of the year between teams that have combined for eight state titles and five more title game appearances in the last 20 seasons is always one to watch. This one is even more special because it could be the final time Rockhurst coach Tony Severino and Blue Springs coach Kelly Donohoe square off. Severino is retiring at the end of the season and barring a playoff rematch this will end the 20-year coaching matchup.
Week 3 – Blue Springs at Lee’s Summit North
North was the story of most of 2018 as the Broncos had the best season in school history. Along the way North beat Blue Springs for the first time in school history 28-27 in overtime in a program defining win. The Broncos have taken the big step forward and a second straight win over the Wildcats would be a huge statement for the program.
Week 4 – Raymore-Peculiar at Belton
One of the oldest and best rivalries in the Metro sees the Panthers on the road at Belton. Ray-Pec has dominated this matchup the last few years, but it is always a game both schools mark on their calendars and it should be a great atmosphere again this year.
Week 5 – Lee’s Summit North at Lee’s Summit West
It’s a relatively new rivalry but it is growing into a pretty good one. West owns a 6-2 all-time mark over the Broncos but North handled the Titans 35-14 last season. Both teams have designs of making deep playoff runs and winning this game will have a huge impact on the postseason picture.
Week 6 – Park Hill at Blue Springs South
There is a new coach at South this season as Matt Klein becomes just the second coach hired from outside the program since the school opened in 1992. The Jaguars are going through some changes and by week six South should be forming into the team they are going to be. This will be a tough test for the Jaguars, but a win here could bode well for the Jags chances of taking a step forward in 2019.
Week 7 – Platte County at Raymore-Peculiar
A rematch of one of the best games of 2018 that saw Platte County step up two classes and pull out a 36-35 win in the final seconds of the game. Look for another fantastic game as the Panthers look for revenge of a tough loss from last year.
Week 8 – Lee’s Summit West at Blue Springs
West has been a winning program since the day it started with an overall record of 143-43. One of the few teams that holds a winning record over the Titans is Blue Springs. The Wildcats are 7-2 but one of those losses was last year’s 7-6 win. In what should be a great conference race this game could decide who is on top at the end of the season.
Week 9 – Lee’s Summit North at Blue Springs South
The final week of the regular season is big for every team in the Suburban Gold. North won this game 19-2 last year and should be the favorite again this year. South will come into the season with a lot of inexperience but by the time week nine rolls around the Jaguars could be a tougher team.
Blue Springs
8/30 @ William Chrisman
9/6 Rockhurst
9/13 @ Lee’s Summit North
9/20 Lee’s Summit
9/27 @ Blue Springs South
10/4 Raymore-Peculiar
10/11 @ Liberty North
10/18 Lee’s Summit West
10/25 @ Park Hill
Blue Springs South
8/30 Raytown
9/6 @ Raymore-Peculiar
9/13 Lee’s Summit West
9/20 @ Rockhurst
9/27 Blue Springs
10/4 @ William Chrisman
10/11 Park Hill
10/18 @ Park Hill South
10/25 Lee’s Summit North
Lee’s Summit North
8/30 @ Liberty North
9/6 St. Joseph Central
9/13 Blue Springs
9/20 @ Park Hill
9/27 Liberty
10/4 @ Lee’s Summit West
10/11 Lee’s Summit
10/18 Raymore-Peculiar
10/25 @ Blue Springs South
Lee’s Summit West
8/30 @ Park Hill
9/6 Fort Osage
9/13 @ Blue Springs South
9/20 Columbia Rock Bridge
9/27 @ Staley
10/4 Lee’s Summit North
10/11 @ Liberty
10/18 @ Blue Springs
10/25 Raymore-Peculiar
Park Hill
8/30 Lee’s Summit West
9/6 @ Liberty
9/13 @ Liberty North
9/20 Lee’s Summit North
9/27 @ Raymore-Peculiar
10/4 Fort Osage
10/11 @ Blue Springs South
10/18 @ Staley
10/25 Blue Springs
Raymore-Peculiar
8/30 Park Hill South
9/6 Blue Springs South
9/13 @ Rockhurst
9/20 @ Belton
9/27 Park Hill
10/4 @ Blue Springs
10/11 Platte County
10/18 @ Lee’s Summit North
10/25 @ Lee’s Summit West
