The first four weeks of the 2025 high school football season have been anything but dull for South County programs. Oakville recovered from its first loss with a surging victory, Mehlville lost after a gritty victory, Affton made a comeback that won’t soon be forgotten and Lindbergh made this season’s first breakthrough.
Oakville Tigers (3–1)
The Tigers started strong with a 34–14 road win at Lindbergh. The victory was fueled by a highlight touchdown catch from senior wideout Max Simokaitis and a breakout performance from running back Gavyn Anderson, who, at the time of reporting, had six touchdowns and 331 yards rushing on the season. He stepped up after injuries thinned Oakville’s backfield.
Head coach Mike Genge praised his team’s balance in the opener.
“Surprise of the evening,” Genge said. “We got banged up in the backfield, and Gavyn was our fourth running back. Having him step in and do what he did was amazing. He is a 4.4 kid with great size. I’m excited to see him continue to progress this season.”
After improving to 2–0, Oakville hit its first roadblock in Week 3, falling 31–16 to Rockwood Summit. Anderson scored the lone touchdown, while kicker Joe Kestler was a steady presence, connecting on field goals of 20, 29, and 33 yards.
The Tigers bounced back on Sept. 19, when they traveled to Hazelwood West. The Oakville team brought home the win with a 54-0 score.
Mehlville Panthers (1–3)
After dropping their first two contests, Mehlville broke through with a 15–12 win over Hazelwood West on Sept. 12. The Panthers leaned on their defense and big plays to secure the season’s first victory.
A first-quarter safety set the tone, and senior running back Dillon Turner extended the lead with a 43-yard touchdown run. Late in the second quarter, Aaron Davenport delivered the dagger, returning an interception five yards for a second touchdown.
The Panthers hoped to carry that momentum into their Sept. 19 road trip to Seckman, but took a 0-53 loss against the Jaguars as they continued a difficult early schedule.
Affton Cougars (1–3)
Perhaps the most dramatic story of the young season belongs to Affton, where new head coach Max Buck earned a memorable debut victory. The Cougars rallied from 22 points down to stun Lutheran South, winning 30-29 in the season opener, showcasing resilience and playmaking across the roster.
Offensive standouts in Affton’s first game included Corey Recht (188 passing yards, 2 TDs; 50 rushing yards, including a 6-yard score in the fourth quarter that pulled Affton within one), Lance Delos Santos (74 rushing yards and a 1-yard touchdown run), Brendan Mitchell (86 rushing yards and a clutch two-point conversion to give Affton the lead in the fourth quarter) and Harlan Weider (80 receiving yards, highlighted by a 24-yard touchdown grab).
Defensive leaders from that game included Nate Davis with 12 tackles and Chaz Greco with three tackles for loss and two sacks.
Buck credited his seniors for believing in the comeback and setting the tone.
“We focused on what we did well in the first half and helped the team identify what we could clean up,” Buck said. “We told them that we believed they could win, and then our senior leadership took over to make sure everyone knew we were going to win. Our senior leaders had supreme belief that we are a good football team and that we can come back.”
The rookie head coach added that while the Cougars enjoyed the victory, their focus quickly shifted forward.
While Affton fell 36-6 to Windsor on Sept. 5 and dropped 56-38 to Principia on Sept. 15 in a rare Monday night tilt, the Cougars appear confident in their ability to play with any opponent.
“This does wonders for our confidence,” Buck said. “It’s great to have a tangible reward like a win for all of the intangible victories we were trying to show the team since we started preparing for this season in the spring. Hopefully it serves as a little bit of motivation for the rest of the season.”
The Affton Cougars lost 16-51 against Russelville on Sept. 19.
Lindbergh Flyers (1–3)
On Sept. 19, the Flyers took their first win of the year after dropping their first three games. Lindbergh opened the season with a 34-14 loss to Oakville before falling 35-41 to Rockwood Summit in Week 2 and 10-14 to Ladue in Week 3.
While the Flyers have shown flashes of potential, consistency has been elusive. Junior Colby Bangert has been a steady presence for the Flyers offensively, passing for 441 yards and rushing for 197. Lindbergh hopes the Sept. 19 victory against Hazelwood Central, with a score of 24-0, bodes well for the rest of the season.
As September winds down, South County football teams are heading in different directions. Oakville looks to prove its Week 3 stumble was a blip, Mehlville hopes to turn a gritty win into a streak, Affton aspires to get back in the win column after a momentous first week under a new coach and Lindbergh continues to fight for victory.
If the first four weeks are any indication, the rest of the season promises more drama, more standout performances and more reasons for South County fans to pack the stands on Friday nights.