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Cardinal Ritter is the No. 1 small school in the STLhighschoolsports.com preseason rankings after back-to-back undefeated state championship seasons.

Dogged determination and gritty attitude will be needed this season as the Crusaders, the No. 2 small school in the STLhighschoolsports.com preseason rankings, look to complete some unfinished business.

It's always been in the Lutheran North playbook. Carl Reed lived and died by the simple yet complex offensive system when he guided the Crusad…

"Every year, the goal is always to make it to state," Highland's Ethan Greenwald said.

MICDS — No. 5 in the STLhighschoolsports.com preseason small-schools rankings — finished 9-3 last season and fell to eventual state champion Cardinal Ritter in the Class 5 District 3 championship.

Roxana coach Wade DeVries said: "These guys have seen the fruits of their labor. They know what can be done with hard work and determination."

Returning 17 returning starters from an 11-1 team, Warrenton is the No. 7 small school in the STLhighschoolsports.com preseason rankings.

Lift for Life, the No. 8 small school in the STLhighschoolsports.com preseason rankings, is coming off three consecutive district titles and was 8-5 last season.

The Cougars hope to keep improving after reaching the Class 4A quarterfinals last season.

The STLhighschoolsports.com small-school preseason rankings countdown begins with Hermann at No. 10.