Here's your playoff primer to get you ready for this week's district football openers for Warrenton and Wright City.

Principia at Wright City

What: Class 3, District 3 Quarterfinals 

When: 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30 

Where: Wright City High School 

Records: Wright City (6-3); Principia (4-4) 

Scouting Wright City: The Wildcats are the No. 4 seed in the district tournament. The team was on a six-game win streak until ending its regular season with losses to Montgomery County (26-20) and North Callaway (54-0). It averages 26.56 points per game compared to an average of 21.78 points allowed. The Wildcats will look to put the ball in the hands of junior running back Benji Rodriguez and senior wideout Nathan Turner. Rodriguez averages 90.5 rushing yards per game and has scored seven touchdowns this season in just six games, while Turner averages 58.1 receiving yards per game for a total of 523 receiving yards and leads the team with nine touchdowns. Sophomore Kayden McCurdy has also played an integral role with six touchdowns and 342 total yards. Senior quarterback Dayton Humphreys rounds out the offense with 1,493 total yards, 14 touchdown passes, six rushing touchdowns and a 56 percent completion rate. The defense has been stout with senior Quinn Schnarre leading with 81 tackles, three caused fumbles and an average team-high of 11.6 tackles per game, while Evan Baum has 60 tackles and two fumble recoveries. Grant Lehmen has five sacks this season and 18 quarterback hurries, while Ben Gomez has four interceptions.  

Scouting Principia: The Panthers are seeded fifth in the district tournament. Principia has wins over Clayton (44-21), Affton (56-38), Confluence Prep Academy (64-0) and Priory (68-33). It averages a robust 41.75 points per game and allows an average of 38.63 opposing points. At the heart of the Panthers’ offense is wide receiver Nehemiah Swanson. Swanson has scored 14 touchdowns for a total of 779 receiving yards. Running back Kingston Money has reached the end zone nine times for 644 rushing yards on 31 carries. Quarterback Tristin Coon has scored six touchdowns and thrown a whopping 24 touchdown passes. Additionally, he has thrown 2,175 passing yards for a 57.20 completion percentage. Ethan Leedberg and Thad Gerdine have recorded five and four touchdowns, respectively. Defensively, Money and Liam Ostler have shown a strong pass rush with team-highs of seven and six sacks, respectively. Jordan Hubbard has taken on the bulk of tackling duties with 77 tackles and Gerdine leads the team with three interceptions caught. 

Wright City Wildcats (6-3)

Aug. 29……..vs. Warrenton, 7-24

Sept. 5………vs. Winfield, 14-8

Sept. 12………vs. Bowling Green, 34-8

Sept. 18………vs. Louisiana, 27-14

Sept. 26……..vs. Mark Twain, 41-20

Oct. 3………..vs. South Shelby, 41-16

Oct. 10………vs. Van-Far, 55-26

Oct. 17………vs. Montgomery County, 20-26 (1 OT)

Oct. 24………vs. North Callaway, 54-0 

Principia Panthers (4-4)

Aug. 28………vs. Clayton, 44-21

Sept. 5………..vs. Dupo, 28-50

Sept. 15………vs. Affton, 56-38

Sept. 19………vs. Grandview, 38-46 (1 OT)

Sept. 27………vs. Confluence Prep Academy, 64-0

Oct. 10………..vs. Orchard Farm, 0-72

Oct. 17………..vs. Priory, 68-33

Oct. 24………...vs. Lutheran South, 36-49 

Marshall at Warrenton

What: Class 4, District 5 Quarterfinals 

When: 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31 

Where: Warrenton High School 

Records: Warrenton (6-3); Marshall (3-6) 

Scouting Warrenton: The Warriors are seeded third in the district tournament. The team averages 25.78 points per game and allows just 19 points per game. The Warriors have displayed a wide-range of offensive arsenal, with senior wide receiver Deadrick Forrest leading the way with seven touchdowns and 688 total yards. Running back Isias Hernandez has met the end zone five times this season and accrued 414 yards, while running back Brad Tucker has 480 total yards and two touchdowns. Brody Reel and Javon Jones each share four touchdowns. Mason Sanders will take the helm as quarterback. He has 14 completions for 164 yards and two touchdown passes. Defensively, Jake Mincher has led with 77 total tackles, while Jordan Lopez has 53. Additionally, Jones and Joseph Greene have 45 and 43 tackles, respectively. Jones holds a team-high of seven sacks. 

Scouting Marshall: The Owls are the No. 6 seed in the district tournament. The team averages 23.44 points per game, a program-high since 2014 compared to its average of  33.33 points allowed. Marshall will be looking to secure its first district win since the 2023 season and win its fourth game in a season since 2012. The Owls have wins against Chillicothe, Booneville and Fulton. The last time Warrenton and Marshall met, the Warriors defeated them 41-15 in 2017 and 17-10 in 2015, both of which were in the Class 4 district quarterfinals. 

Warrenton Warriors (6-3)

Aug. 29………vs. Wright City, 24-7

Sept. 5………..vs. Washington, 26-7

Sept. 12……….vs. Liberty, 0-35

Sept. 19………..vs. Winfield, 40-15

Sept. 25………...vs. St. Charles West, 48-14

Oct. 3…………..vs. Holt, 14-24

Oct. 10…………vs. St. Charles, 40-20

Oct. 17…………vs. Orchard Farm, 27-49

Oct. 24…………vs. Fort Zumwalt South, 13-0

Marshall Owls (3-6)

Aug. 29……….vs. Chillicothe, 25-19

Sept. 5………...vs. Boonville, 42-35

Sept. 12……….vs. Richmond, 28-34

Sept. 19……….vs. Mexico, 13-42

Sept. 26……….vs. Kirksville, 14-35

Oct. 3………….vs. Moberly, 6-28

Oct. 10…………vs. Fulton, 53-20

Oct. 17…………vs. Hannibal, 6-51

Oct. 24…………vs. Smith-Cotton, 24-36