Class 3 state football finals: Seneca aims for 1st title since 1995 vs. Park Hills Central
Seneca had state championship expectations going into the season and it's going to have an opportunity to claim the Class 3 title when it takes the field Friday morning.
Seneca (13-0) will match up with Park Hills Central (10-3) for the Class 3 state championship at the 2023 Show-Me Bowl on Friday at 11 a.m. at Faurot Field in Columbia.
Seneca, led by former player Cody Hilburn, is seeking its third state championship in program history and first since 1995. Seneca came up short in the 2013 Class 3 championship game against Maryville.
A challenge awaits with Park Hills Central, located south of St. Louis, entering the game on a seven-game winning streak. The Rebels are coming off a thrilling 48-43 win over Blair Oaks, the defending Class 2 state champion.
Here's what you should know before Friday morning and how you can watch the game.
More: What to know about Southwest Missouri's high school football teams in state championships
Seneca's state championship history
Seneca will make its first state title appearance since 2013 when it fell 50-28 to Maryville in the championship game.
It is looking for its third state championship and first since 1995 under head coach Tom Hodge — who also led Seneca to a state title in 1987.
Seneca had four runner-up finishes prior to the 1987 season in 1986, 1983, 1975 and 1968.
Park Hills Central's state championship history
The Rebels are making their first appearance in a state championship football game. They've won three straight district titles and nine of their last 12.
How Seneca got here
Seneca has been the most consistently dominant team in the Ozarks all season and it's no surprise it's found its way to a state championship game.
At 13-0, Seneca has had to go through top-tier programs like Lamar, Nevada and McDonald County to win an outright Big 8 West title. In the postseason, it beat Big 8 East champion Mount Vernon before a dominant quarterfinal win over then-unbeaten Ava in a 56-8 rout. Last week's semifinal game vs. St. Pius X (Kansas City) was a 41-17 blowout that was never in doubt.
More: What to know about the Ozarks' opponents in the high school football state championships
How Park Hills Central got here
The Rebels have caught fire since a mid-season three-game losing streak — which included a loss to Class 2 championship qualifier Valle Catholic and Class 5 semifinalist Cape Girardeau Central.
Park Hills Central avenged one of the three losses with a 52-13 postseason win over Ste. Genevieve before blowing out St. Francis Borgia the next week. The Rebels won 48-43 last week in a nailbiter against defending Class 2 state champion Blair Oaks — a game Park Hills Central led at one point by 28.
How Seneca can win
Seneca hasn't had to play its players for all four quarters for most of the season but it's going to have to in order to bring home the first-place trophy. That shouldn't be a problem for a team that has found a ton of success on both sides of the ball while being led by Jackson Marrs and Gavyn Hoover.
Putting points on the board shouldn't be too big of a task for what's been a consistent offense all season. Slowing down what's been an explosive Rebels offense will be key as they've averaged a little over 49 points per game over their current seven-game winning streak. They haven't scored fewer than 44 points since Sept. 29 against Valle Catholic.
More: 20 of the best Ozarks players in this week's state football championships
How Park Hills Central can win
Park Hills Central can't afford to take its foot off the pedal if it's fortunate enough to get a lead. It almost came back to bite the Rebels last week and that won't work against the Seneca defense.
The Rebels are going to have to stay patient against one of the better defenses the state has to offer. Only once has Seneca allowed more than 21 points and it came in a 40-36 win over Class 4 quarterfinalist Nevada. The Rebels' defense is going to have to play at a high level against a team that's averaging 46.4 points per outing.
How to watch Seneca vs. Park Hills Central
What: 2023 Class 3 Show-Me Bowl
When: Friday, 11 a.m.
Where: Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium; Columbia
Stream: MSHSAA.TV
An all-access pass to stream all of the MSHSAA state championship games can be purchased at MSHSAA.TV for $15.75.
Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or X at @WyattWheeler_NL. He's also the host of the weekly "Wyatt's World Podcast" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcasting platforms
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: MSHSAA football finals: How to watch Seneca vs. Central Park Hills
