East St. Louis wide receiver Luther Burden III had one goal before his senior season: be the best. After a strong campaign, the Missouri signee is Friday Night Drive's Offensive Player of the Year.

While the high school football season might be over, that won't stop us from clamoring to see some players in the 2022 season after a strong state championship performances.

Cary-Grove entered the season as the favorite in Class 6A. Then East St. Louis petitioned to play up. It didn't matter in the end with C-G stunning the Flyers, 37-36, to win the 6A state championship.

East St. Louis wide receiver Luther Burden had six catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns and an 80-yard kickoff return for a score in the Flyers' 37-36 loss to Cary-Grove in the Class 6A state championship game.

Cary-Grove's Noah Riley picked off East St. Louis quarterback Robert Battle with 28 seconds remaining to give the Trojans a stunning 37-36 win in the Class 6A state championship Saturday.

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Cary-Grove held on to beat East St. Louis 37-36 Saturday in the IHSA Class 6A football state championship at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.

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Cary-Grove celebrates after winning the IHSA Class 6A state title game, 37-36, against East St. Louis at Huskie Stadium

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East St. Louis WR Luther Burden makes a spectacular touchdown catch in the third quarter of the IHSA Class 6A state title game

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East St. Louis quarterback Robert "Pops" Battle scrambles 11 yards for a TD to give East St. Louis a 20-15 lead over Cary-Grove in the 6A state title game