TOWN & COUNTRY — The Hazelwood Central football team took to the air for its Class 6 sectional playoff game at CBC early on Friday night.

Quarterback Kerry Gibson threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns to lead the defending Class 6 champion Hawks to a 35-7 victory over the Cadets at CBC's W. Michael Ross Stadium.

"Kerry had just under 1,500 yards passing this year and looking at our film there were probably 400 to 600 yards in drops," Hazelwood Central coach Richard Nixon said. "He's going to continue to put the ball where it needs to be and our receivers are continuing to grow and do what it is they are supposed to do. Our receivers did a great job, the offensive line gave him good time and Kerry did what Kerry does, he delivered the ball."

Hazelwood Central (10-1) will next play either Lafayette (7-3) or McCluer North (6-4), which play at 1 p.m. today at North, in the quarterfinals next weekend. McCluer North defeated the Hawks 16-10 in districts.

The Suburban North Conference champions from Hazelwood Central dominated the first half, scoring on five of seven possessions, to take a commanding 27-0 lead into halftime.

Gibson, who is also the Hawks' punter, ran 20 yards on a fake punt on his team's first series to keep the drive going. Three plays later, he hit James Harvey on a short screen pass that Harvey turned into a 63-yard touchdown reception and a quick 7-0 advantage.

"He got us," CBC coach Scott Pingel said of Gibson's fake punt run. "They got us. That changed the complexion of the game."

Hazelwood Central added a 5-yard touchdown run by Tra Brown on the team's third possession and led 14-0 after one quarter.

Ryan Crandall kicked two field goals in the second quarter — a 19- yarder and a 28-yarder — and Gibson tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jawyne Thomas.

The Hawks scored on their first possession of the second half, with Gibson throwing a 37-yard flea-flicker touchdown pass to Thomas with 8 minutes, 39 seconds left in the third quarter. After A.J. Chappelle ran in the two-point conversion, Hazelwood Central led 35-0 and the running clock started.

"We wanted to open it up and throw the ball this week," Gibson said.

CBC (8-3) scored its lone touchdown with 6:36 remaining in the fourth quarter when Cody Barklage connected with Terrance Burnson for a 21-yard touchdown pass.

"They did a nice job of mixing up their stunts and blitzes and movement," Pingel said of the Hazelwood Central defense. "They showed things we haven't seen all year and we thought we'd try some things against them and it didn't work out."