HHS Football 2023
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The best player in the area has been named the best player in the state. Hannibal all-purpose back Aneyas Williams recently was named the Gatorade Missouri Player of the Year, becoming the first player in school history to receive the nationwide recognition. The Gatorade Player of the Year award was established in…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Missouri Football Coaches Association recognized what anyone who squared off against Hannibal during the past four seasons came to know. Aneyas Williams is the most dynamic player on the field. The senior all-purpose back was named the Class 4 Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-state selection by the…
Read Full Article ST. LOUIS — The lead seemed insurmountable. It nearly wasn’t. Trailing Lutheran North 62-33 with four minutes remaining in the third quarter of Friday night’s Class 4 state quarterfinal, the Hannibal football team refused to lay down. Three touchdowns in a nine-minute span pulled the Pirates within 62-55 with 3:55 to play in regulation. However,…
Read Full Article ST. LOUIS — Two explosive offenses put together a fireworks show Friday night. The big bangs belonged to the Lutheran North football team. The Crusaders built a 29-point lead in the third quarter and held off Hannibal’s comeback, winning the Class 4 state quarterfinal 70-61. Hannibal ends its season with an 11-2 record. Freelance photographer…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — For the fourth consecutive season, the Hannibal football team has reached the Class 4 state quarterfinals. Only once in those three previous postseason trips have the Pirates advanced to the state semifinals. That was in 2021 when Hannibal went undefeated until the state championship game against Smithville. A vast number of players…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — Who’s next? Hannibal continued its scorched-earth approach to postseason football with its third straight one-sided victory Friday night. The Pirates won their fourth straight Class 4 District 4 championship in record-breaking fashion, torching previously unbeaten Warrenton 55-32 before a crowd of about 1,700 at Porter Stadium. Fueled by all-purpose back Aneyas Williams’ …
Read Full Article WENTZVILLE, Mo. — This was Aneyas Williams at his absolute best. Williams, the all-purpose wunderkind whose marvelous four-year football career at Hannibal is rapidly winding down, proved Friday night he may be saving the best for last. Williams’ performance in the third-seeded Pirates’ 48-27 defeat of second-seeded Wentzville Holt in the Class 4 District 4…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Spots in district football championship games will be claimed Friday night in Missouri, potentially stepping up a showdown between state-ranked teams in Class 2. First, though, South Shelby and Bowling Green have to navigate district semifinal matchups with talented foes. Here’s a look at what to watch for Friday night: Hannibal (9-1) at…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — To no one’s surprise, the North Central Missouri Conference’s best football team dominated the all-league selections. Hannibal, which went 5-0 and outscored its opponents 275-28 in league play, landed seven players on the first-team offense and six players on the first-team defense. The Pirates had five others earn second-team plaudits. Four players…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — On the surface, Hannibal’s most recent blowout football victory was little more than another Friday night stroll on the plastic grass of Porter Stadium. The potent Pirates’ steamroller-like offense was its usual productive self, and so was Hannibal’s stifling defense. By midway through the second quarter, an overmatched St. Charles team was…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Hannibal football team looks primed for a postseason run. The Pirates, ranked sixth in the Class 4 state poll, finished off the regular season Friday night with their consecutive victory, beating Columbia Battle 42-7. Hannibal scored 34 points in the first half and put it on cruise control in the second…
Read Full Article JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ St. Joseph; J.B. Connoley,…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — The football script was quite familiar. Hannibal scored early, often and in the second half there was a running clock. The Pirates’ 56-7 North Central Missouri Conference blowout of Marshall was the latest in a lengthening line of one-sided victories. This particular win, played before a crowd of about 1,200 at Porter…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Conference championships. Playoff qualifiers. District seeding. Week 8’s importance is at a high level across the board for Illinois and Missouri prep football teams. Here is a look at this weekend’s slate: Friday’s games Geneseo (6-1, 3-1 WB6) at Quincy High School (7-0, 5-0 WB6), 7 p.m. • WTAD 930 AM • WGEM…
Read Full Article JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ St. Joseph; J.B. Connoley,…
Read Full Article MOBERLY, Mo. — Aneyas Williams enjoys the spotlight, but he’s happy to share it. “That’s what I want to do, do anything I can to help the team win,” the Hannibal senior running back and University of Notre Dame commit said. If the Hannibal football team can replicate the balance it displayed Friday night, the…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Week 7 of the prep football season will help determine which teams play for conference championships and which teams keep their postseason hopes alive. Here is a look at the weekend slate: Friday’s games Quincy High School (6-0) at Sterling (4-2), 7 p.m. • WTAD 930 AM • NFHS Network Did you know?:…
Read Full Article JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ St. Joseph; J.B. Connoley,…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — Another Friday night, another one-sided Hannibal football victory. The Pirates’ latest win, a 53-0 shellacking of Kirksville, was Hannibal’s fifth straight and played out in front of about 1,200 fans at Porter Stadium. Hannibal has outscored its last three opponents 191-13. All three games have been finished with a running clock in…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The high school football season has moved past the midway point and teams are finding themselves on the edge of the playoff picture. Some can keep their hopes alive with victories Friday night, while others could see those postseason dreams dashed. Here is the lineup: Friday’s games Galesburg (1-4) at Quincy High School…
Read Full Article JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ St. Joseph; J.B. Connoley,…
Read Full Article MEXICO, Mo. — Aneyas Williams’ play gets described in a variety of ways, often with adjectives such as electric or dazzling. Friday night, a new one was added to the list. Efficient. Williams had only four touches offensively during the Hannibal football team’s 61-7 victory over Mexico in North Central Missouri Conference play, but the…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Here is a look at this weekend’s prep football slate: Friday’s games Quincy High School (4-0) at United Township (1-3), 7 p.m. • WTAD 930 AM • QCSportsNet.com Did you know?: The Blue Devils have won 19 consecutive meetings with the Panthers, starting with a 35-27 victory in Week 6 of the 2003…
Read Full Article JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ St. Joseph; J.B. Connoley,…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — Hannibal quarterback Waylon Anders shrugged off the final margin of victory, preferring to break down the bigger picture. “We know we have to stay focused, no matter who we are playing or what the score is,” Anders said. The junior insists maintaining that kind of mindset is imperative, regardless of how easy…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Here is a look at the area football games scheduled to be played Friday and Saturday with links to radio broadcasts and livestreams: Friday’s games Moline (1-2) at Quincy High School (3-0), 7 p.m. • WTAD 930 AM • WGEM streaming app Did you know?: Moline had a string of 15 consecutive Western…
Read Full Article JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Here are the Missouri statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — Aneyas Williams did not have to think twice about an answer to the question of whether or not he ever feels like a marked man on the football field. Williams considered his answer for a few moments, then smiled politely before responding. “For about four years now I’ve felt like I’ve had…
Read Full Article JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ St. Joseph; J.B.…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — After carrying the football 28 times, most of them straight-ahead bursts into heavy traffic between the tackles, Mike Ferreira admitted his body had absorbed some punishment. “I’ve got a few bruises, but I’ll be good,” Hannibal’s junior running back said after the Pirates evened their record at 1-1 Friday night with an…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — Smarting from a lopsided road loss to Jefferson City Helias in its season opener, the Hannibal football team was out to make a statement before its home crowd Friday night at Porter Stadium. The message was received loud and clear. Mike Ferreira ran for 177 tough yards, quarterback Waylon Anders threw for…
Read Full Article Missouri prep football rankings: Hannibal, Monroe City, South Shelby find way into respective top 10
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a nine-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parentheses. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ St. Joseph; J.B.…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The opening week of the high school football season didn’t offer many surprises or alter many opinions, except for one head-scratching result. That happened at Ray Hentges Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo. Hannibal expected to be challenged by Jefferson City Helias, but the third-quarter breakdowns that resulted in the Crusaders scoring three touchdowns…
Read Full Article JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A seven-point halftime deficit didn’t seem too daunting. A 35-point disadvantage by the end of the third quarter was too much to overcome. The Hannibal football team saw Jefferson City Helias score three times on just nine plays in less than five minutes to start the third quarter and never recovered,…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Welcome to a toasty Week 1 of the high school football season, which will feature later kickoff times, extended halftimes and multiple water breaks in efforts to beat the oppressive heat. Word to the wise: Plan accordingly for sitting on metal bleachers. Former Major League Baseball player and manager Lou Pinella once said…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — Come the first weekend of December, when Missouri crowns its high school football state champions and puts a wrap on the fall season, the career of one the most dominant and electrifying athletes this area has ever seen will end as well. Luckily, all the football Friday nights and playoff games between…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The discussion of the best football player in the area starts and stops with Aneyas Williams. An argument could be made that the Hannibal senior running back, who has committed to the University of Notre Dame, is the top offensive talent in the state of Missouri. If you talk quarterbacks, one name tops…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — Saturday, the public got its first glimpse of the Hannibal football team, along with the cheerleaders and dance team during the annual “Meet the Pirates” event at Porter Stadium. Freelance photographer Mathew Kirby captured the action for this photo gallery:
Read Full Article