Hillsboro vs. Kearney: Missouri Class 4 football championship info, updates, how to watch
The Hillsboro Hawks and Kearney Bulldogs will face off at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday in the Missouri Class 4 football championship game at Memorial Stadium in Columbia.
>> Follow live updates from Hillsboro vs. Kearney here <<
Hillsboro is making its first appearance in the Missouri football championship game.
Kearney has won four Class 4 championships (2002, 2003, 2009, 2015) but is making its first appearance in the title game since finishing as the runner-up in 2016.
You can watch Hillsboro vs. Kearney live on the MSHSAA TV Network.
What: Missouri Class 4 football championship game
When: 11:00 a.m. Central Time on Saturday, December 2, 2023
Where: Memorial Stadium | Columbia, Missouri
How to watch the live stream online: You can watch this game live on the MSHSAA TV Network
Live score updates: Follow the game on SBLive Sports for live score updates
More coverage: SBLive Sports features coverage of Missouri high school football including previews, team rankings, top player lists and much more. Follow your favorite teams on SBLive's live high school football scoreboard and download the SBLive Sports App.
Hillsboro (12-1)
The Hawks, who are averaging 43.8 points per game and allowing 18.2, squeaked by Festus, 29-28, in the District 1 championship game, then beat Pacific 48-35 in the quarterfinals and Lutheran North 34-12 in the semifinals to advance.
Coach Bill Sucharski's squad is averaging 410.2 yards of offense per game, with 250.2 rushing yards and 160 passing yards per game.
The Brown brothers have fueled the Hawks' offense.
Junior quarterback Preston Brown has passed for 2,062 yards and 30 touchdowns (with eight interceptions) and run for 1,055 yards and 15 scores. Senior running back Payton Brown, a Southeast Missouri State commit, has rushed for 1,526 yards, averaging 10.7 yards per carry, and 25 touchdowns, and caught nine passes for another 359 yards and five TDs.
Chase Sucharski, a senior wide receiver, leads the team with 32 receptions for 670 yards and nine touchdowns.
Defensively, Hillsboro is led by Payton Brown (80 tackles, three forced fumbles, one sack, one interception) and junior Aidan Roland (72 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery) at inside linebacker and Sucharski (52 tackles, three interceptions, two sacks and one fumble recovery) at outside linebacker.
Kearney (12-2)
The Bulldogs opened the season with two losses in their first three games, but rebounded to win 11 straight games to advance to the championship game. They have not allowed more than 13 points in a game during that 11-game streak and outscored their past two opponents, Nevada and Jefferson City, by a combined score of 77-7.
Coach Logan Minnick's squad is averaging 36.6 points per game and allowing 12.4.
Kearney is averaging 421.4 yards of offense per game, with 238.9 rushing yards and 182.6 passing yards per contest.
Senior quarterback Casey Rooney has passed for 2,153 yards with 24 touchdowns (and four interceptions) and run for 388 yards and three scores. Senior running back Cameron Emmons has rushed for 1,495 yards, averaging 8.1 yards per carry, and 20 touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Manny Linthacum has caught 33 passes for 1,021 yards and 12 TDs.
The Bulldogs' defense has been led by junior linebacker Theo Grace (115 tackles, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery) and senior defensive end Aiden Smith (70 tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery).
MISSOURI FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEWS
MISSOURI CHAMPIONSHIPS SCOREBOARD (12/1/2023)
MISSOURI CHAMPIONSHIPS SCOREBOARD (12/2/2023)
More coverage: Get live Missouri high school football scores on SBLive Sports. To follow your favorite teams check out the SBLive live high school football scoreboard and download the SBLive Sports App.
- Nate Latsch | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveMiz
