Missouri High School football HC departs for Division I FCS program following state championship victory

Lutheran North High School, Missouri, coach Kyle Wagner has stepped down after leading the Crusaders to an impressive Class 4 state championship in 2024, marking their first title since 2019. Wagner will now join Sacramento State University, a Division I FCS program, as a Senior Offensive Analyst.

Accompanying Wagner on this new venture is Lutheran North’s standout safety Karvon Jefferson, who announced on Monday his de-commitment from Ball State to join the Hornets via a post on X.

Wagner expressed enthusiasm about working under Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion.

"I'm just excited to work with one of the greatest minds in football in Coach Brennan Marion," Wagner said, via.SI. "The impact of our staff has already been felt on the recruiting trail and we are just getting started!"

During his second tenure at Lutheran North, Wagner orchestrated a remarkable 13-1 season, highlighted by a dominant 46–7 victory over Festus in the state championship at Faurot Field.

Wagner’s coaching resume includes time at Ritenour, Sikeston and CBC and previous roles at Lutheran North as defensive coordinator (2017-2018) and offensive coordinator (2019), where he contributed to the program’s earlier successes.

Sacramento State’s hiring of Wagner aligns with Marion’s vision for his coaching staff, making Wagner one of Marion’s initial appointments after taking over as head coach on Dec. 20.

The two share a coaching connection through former Lutheran North defensive star Antonio Doyle, Jr., who played for Marion at UNLV and declared for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Final Missouri top 5 rankings highlight state's best high school football teams

As the Missouri high school football season concludes, the final Top 25 rankings reveal significant shifts since the regular season's end. The competitiveness across the state made it challenging to determine the top spots, with a compelling case for any of the top five teams to claim No. 1.

While three programs—Lutheran North, Kirkwood, and Republic—maintained their rankings, others saw substantial movement, including Class 2 champion Lamar, which surged into the top 10 after an electrifying playoff run.

Lutheran North (13-1) retained the top ranking after a dominant season, averaging 49 points per game and allowing just 13. The Crusaders capped their campaign with a commanding victory over Festus in the Class 4 title game. Their sole loss came in the opener against national powerhouse Phoenix City (Ala.) Central.

De Smet (12-2) jumped to No. 2 after an impressive Class 6 championship run, including a decisive win over previously unbeaten Nixa (13-1), which finished at No. 5. Platte County (14-0) secured the third spot after an unbeaten season, outscoring opponents 691-176 en route to the Class 5 title.

Cardinal Ritter (9-2) rounded out the top five with a mixed campaign. It showcased elite talent but endured two narrow defeats, including a 50–48 thriller against No. 1 Lutheran North.