National Signing Day: KHS Celebrates Student Athletes

Three Pioneers will sign National Letters of Intent to colleges Wednesday and other student athletes will be recognized for committing to participate in inter-collegiate athletics.

Pioneer football players Mike McHugh and BJ Buckner and cross country/track star Hannah Richardson will sign National Letters of Intent Wednesday, at 3 p.m., in the Kirkwood High School Dave Holley Assembly Hall (Varsity Gym). McHugh will be signing his National Letter of Intent with Northwestern University, Buckner to Southeast Missouri State and Richardson to the University of Kansas. McHugh and Buckner were key players in the Kirkwood's run to the Class 5 state football championship. Read more about McHugh, Buckner and Pioneer Football 2011. Richardson excels at both cross-country and track. Last fall, she placed first at the Parkway West Invitational and second at the Suburban South Conference meet, as well as second at the Class 4 …

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Pioneers Fight Back, But Fall in State Final

Staley's rushing attack proved too much for Kirkwood. Miscues in the fourth quarter end hope.

Kirkwood football finally met its match in a junior and a senior from Staley. Their combined 285 yards proved too much for the Pioneers in the Class 5 state final game at the Edward Jones Dome. Kirkwood battled back from two-score deficits in the second and third quarters, but fell in the end 35-21 to the Staley Falcons, from Kansas City. The Pioneers finished with a 12-1 record. Staley finished at a perfect 14-0. The Staley duo of junior quarterback Trent Hosick and senior running back Morgan Steward ambushed Kirkwood with 53- and 20-yard runs by Steward followed by Hosick’s 2-yard finish. The Falcons were on the board 29 seconds into the game. While the Staley offense was primarily running – quarterback Hosick had only three completions …

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Turkey Day Game Countdown

Junior Varsity Squads to Face Off in Turkey Day Game

Kirkwood's advancement to the Class 5 State Championship Game has set the stage for the 2011 Turkey Day Game to be played by the Pioneers and Statesmen junior varsity teams for the third year in a row.

For the third straight year and sixth time in the last 10 years, the annual Kirkwood-Webster Groves Turkey Day Game will not feature varsity squads. The annual Thanksgiving Day matchup between Kirkwood and Webster has been a tradition since 1907. The two teams met nearly 100 times in that span with the Frisco Bell and year-long bragging rights on the line for the winning team. But in recent years, the Turkey Day Classic has been played with a little twist.   Specifically, it has become a showdown between the schools' junior varsity teams because one of the two varsity teams had earned itself a shot at the Show-Me Bowl State Football Championship game, which is usually played on the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving.   In 2009 and 2010…

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Kirkwood Blows Out Holt in Playoff Romping

Rock solid defense and a balanced Pioneer offensive attack led to a 48-0 shutout over the Indians Monday night at home.

Different team. Same result. Like 10 days earlier versus Parkway West, the Kirkwood Pioneers football team racked up another 48-0 shutout, this time against the Holt Indians Monday night at Kirkwood High School. The Pioneers dominated the game by scoring early and often with good field position from three defensive takeaways and a blocked punt. The first Pioneer touchdown, an 8-yard pass from B.J. Buckner to Antonio Weston, was set up when Marquis Terry blocked a Holt punt. Ramon Alton scored his first of two touchdowns a mere 61 seconds later on a 4-yard run. In the second quarter, Buckner connected with Northwestern University recruit Mike McHugh for a 10-yard touchdown pass. With only 1:18 remaining in the first half, Jordan Bishop …

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Michael Biedenstein

7:14 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Al, MSHSAA (Missouri State High School Activities Association) currently doesn't seed teams in the playoffs to determine who hosts games. The current system to determine the site (home field) involves factors such as previously hosted games and whether you are on the top or bottom of the playoff bracket... I'm not going to pretend to completely understand it. Not to worry, next year the playoff …   more ›

Kirkwood Turns in Prime-Time Performance at Parkway Central

The Pioneers ride a hot start to a 40-21 victory over the previously unbeaten Colts despite playing most of the game without star receiver Mike McHugh.

On the biggest stage of the season so far for Kirkwood and Parkway Central, one team was clearly ready for the spotlight, and one team clearly was not. As it turned out, with TV cameras rolling and college scouts and recruiters watching from the sidelines, it was the fourth-ranked Pioneers (5-0) who proved to be ready. Behind a sensational performance in all three phases of the game, Kirkwood turned in a convincing 40-21 win over the fifth-ranked Colts (5-1). “The kids played hard and we got some breaks,” Kirkwood coach Matt Irvin said. “We’ve got some more work to do, clearly, but I’m pretty pleased with our kids, that’s for sure.” Indeed he should be, as Kirkwood dominated the action from the opening possession, when it forced a three-…

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Game Preview: Kirkwood Travels to Parkway Central For Major Showdown

This battle of unbeaten, top-ranked teams includes two of the best receivers in the St. Louis area. Kirkwood is 4-0; Parkway Central is 5-0.

Friday Night Lights: Kirkwood (4-0) at Parkway Central (5-0) Friday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. at PCH Stadium Two teams considered to be among the best in the state will meet in what might be the top prep football matchup in the state this weekend when Kirkwood travels to Parkway Central. Kirkwood maintained its hold on the No. 4 slot in the statewide Class 5 rankings after knocking off Parkway North 41-0 last week, while Parkway Central remained at No. 5 in the poll after it blew out rival Parkway West by the score of 41-0 as well. Both teams play solid defense. Central is led by defensive line standouts Jonathan Bonner (five QB sacks) and Spencer Horwitz (four QB sacks), and has allowed just 8.8 points a game. Kirkwood, meanwhile, has been even …

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Kirkwood Blows Out Parkway North to Move to 4-0

The Pioneers' B. J. Buckner catches a touchdown pass and throws for 192 yards and two TDs in 41-0 victory over the Vikings.

Kirkwood seniors Mike McHugh and B.J. Buckner turned a football game into a track meet in the second quarter of the Pioneers' game against Parkway North on Friday. The duo caught touchdown passes of 31 and 56 yards on consecutive offensive possessions to turn a 13-point lead into a 41-0 blowout Suburban Conference victory at The Wood. “The first series set the tone, and then we got a couple touchdowns with some great individual plays,” Kirkwood coach Matt Irvin said. “Of course, they were set up by some blocks and good throws, but both receivers made some great plays. "You do everything right, and one kid makes a great play … that can be discouraging for a defense.” With 8:27 left in the second, quarterback/wide receiver Buckner found …

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Kirkwood's McHugh Named Rams Athlete of Week

Kirkwood High School wide receiver Mike McHugh has been named as the St. Louis Rams High School Player of the Week following an impressive performance against Hazelwood Central.

Kirkwood High School wide receiver Mike McHugh's standout performance against Hazelwood Central last week has earned the senior the title of St. Louis Rams High School Player of the Week, and it's little wonder why.  McHugh completed four catches for 214 yards receiving, and scored four touchdowns including a 98-yard interception return against Hazelwood Central. McHugh, who made an early commitment to Northwestern, scored twice in the second quarter to give the Pioneers a 40-0 advantage at halftime. He returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown and then turned a short pass into a 93-yard touchdown reception. Kirkwood (3-0), is ranked fourth in the STLhighschoolsports.com large-schools rankings. Thank you to Lisa Wade of the …

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Kirkwood Remains Undefeated With Dominant Win at Hazelwood Central

Senior Mike McHugh scores four TDs and Kirkwood racks up over 500 yards in a 47-0 win at Hazelwood Central.

After blowing a 16-point second-half lead on their home field exactly 365 days ago against Hazelwood Central, the Kirkwood Pioneers trekked to North County on Saturday afternoon looking to avenge its most bitter defeat of the 2010 season. And, boy, did the Pioneers exact their revenge in a big way, bullying the host Hawks in nearly every way possible for a blistering 47-0 nonconference win. “It is satisfying to see our kids play so well,” Kirkwood head coach Matt Irvin said. “We feel like we’ve been getting better and better. And I’m happy for the kids that they performed so well today.” Several Pioneers had especially big days for the visitors, but the biggest day had by anyone was clearly the effort senior Mike McHugh gave. The 6-foot-2…

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