Football

The Malden Green Wave didn’t have to look far to find its next head football coach. Justin Peden, who has served as an assistant football coach with the Green Wave for the past three seasons, was officially named the new head football coach at Malden earlier this week...

SIKESTON — Looking for a head football coach has not been something on Sikeston’s off-season checklist for the last 12 seasons. Now at Cape Central, former head coach Kent Gibbs accepted the position over one month ago, leaving the Bulldogs with a vacancy at the helm...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — The ongoing search for the next head football coach for the Portageville Bulldogs concluded last week, as Mark Jackson will take the reigns of the program. Jackson, a former Sikeston coordinator, and Kent Gibbs disciple previously coached at the high school level, with Buffalo High School, in Buffalo, Mo., and said that he is excited to return to the Bootheel area — where he is from originally...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — It has been nearly one decade since the Charleston football program has had new leadership. Entering the 2019 season, the Bluejays will look to build off of a successful 10-2 season, which ended with a 20-12 loss to Caruthersville in the Class 2, District 1 championship game, under first-year man Justin Hutchings...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — The Charleston football program is set to begin next season under a new head coach. Former head coach Brett Blackman accepted the Director of Football Operations and Equipment position at Southeast Missouri State, after nine seasons at the helm for the Bluejays...

By David Jenkins Standard Democrat SIKESTON — Throughout his career, Kent Gibbs has taken struggling football programs and turned them into winners. He will be trying to do that once again as the veteran coach has decided to leave Sikeston and take over the Cape Central football program next season...

Cape Girardeau Central School District turned to its rival for a new football coach, hiring Sikeston's Kent Gibbs to replace Arlen Pixley, the school district announced Tuesday in a news release. Pixley led the Tigers to two district championship games in three seasons, and won the 2016 Class 4 District 1 championship, before resigning in December with a 15-20 record at the school. Gibbs leaves Sikeston after 12 years with an 85-49 record and two Class 4 semifinal appearances in 2009 and 2010.

SIKESTON — Sikeston announced the Academic All-State nominees for fall sports at halftime of Thursday’s boys’ basketball game, at the Sikeston Field House. 22 student-athletes earned the honor from four different sports. To become an Academic All-State nominee, recipients need to uphold a cumulative unweighted grade point average of at least 3.50 and participate in 70 percent of the team’s games...

In a few days, basketball postseason begins for teams across Missouri, but for an hour Wednesday afternoon, the focus was back on fall sports. In a live one-hour radio show on SEMO ESPN, 55 student-athletes were announced as fall sports finalists for the 2019 Semoball Awards...

Sikeston athlete Tra Ranson, signed his National Letter of Intent to continue his football career at Lindenwood University, in St. Charles, Mo., on Tuesday, at the Sikeston Field House. Ranson finished the 2018 season with 637 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught 15 passes for 154 yards, and even took snaps under-center, after starting quarterback Gage Rolwing got injured. Ranson earned a spot on the All-Region First-Team as well. Last season, Lindenwood finished with a 4-7 record...

Meet the 16 members of the 2018 All-Southeast Missourian Football team

Jordan Kent was coming off a stellar junior season in which he caught the fifth-most touchdown passes in state history, but the Jackson wide receiver didn't get complacent. Following the 2017 season, Kent continued to work and developed chemistry with Cael Welker over the summer, a development that proved important when Welker took over as the Indians' quarterback in 2018...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — After seven years at the helm of the Portageville football program, Jeff Bullock is leaving. Bullock will be the new superintendent at Malden — his hometown and where he graduated high school — but he is leaving Portageville with many takeaways that he is most fond of having...

The Cape Girardeau Central football team will have a new head coach next fall. Arlen Pixley handed in his resignation last month after going 15-20 in three seasons. Under Pixley, the Tigers won one district championship and advanced to the championship game the following season. This year, a new-look Central team went 1-9...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — 7,892 is the number that Charleston’s Q’Nairies Anderson finished with after the conclusion of his senior season; becoming the school's all-time rushing leader and winning his second-consecutive Standard Democrat Football Player of the Year as well...

KENNETT, Mo. - The most successful Kennett football season in recent history was capped off with the annual football awards banquet Thursday night at the Kennett High School Cafeteria. Trevon Lemons was recognized as the Indian Football Most Valuable Player, Indian Football Offensive Lineman of the Year, and Indian Football Defensive Lineman of the Year. Lemons recorded 69 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, three punt blocks, and intercepted one pass his senior season...

It has been a long journey for Hayti’s Ivory Winters, but the perseverance and hard work paid off Wednesday when the three-time All-State football standout signed a National Letter of Intent with Indiana University, a major Big Ten collegiate program. ...

Charleston's Q'Nairies Anderson signed his National Letter of Intent to continue his academic and football career at Southeast Missouri State University on Wednesday, at the Clara Drinkwater-Newman Auditorium, in Charleston, Mo.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former Sikeston Bulldogs’ football player Nathan Hampton got named to the 2018 Football Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes List on Friday. This award is given to players that receive a minimum 3.5-grade point average on a 4.0 scale, and have achieved junior academic status,...

It was quite a successful fall sports season in the Southeast Missouri area. The Advance volleyball team won its first-ever state championship, and Jackson football finished the regular season undefeated for the first time in over a decade before falling in the quarterfinals to the eventual Class 5 state champions...

The Missouri Football Coaches Association released their 2018 All-State Football teams with several local athletes being honored. In Class 4, Sikeston defensive end Tyreke Jamison was named to the third team. The senior finished with 73 tackles, including a team-high 20 tackles for loss with four sacks...

The Southeast Missouri Area Football Coaches Association recently released their all-region teams, with several local athletes receiving honors. In Class 2, Charleston’s 10-2 season was rewarded with several 10 being named to the all-region team. Senior Q’nairies Anderson was the offensive most valuable player in Class 2 after rushing for 2,838 yards and 38 touchdowns. The Southeast Missouri State University verbal commitment leaves the Bluejay program as the all-time leading rusher...

A slew of Dunklin County football players were recognized at the 73rd Poplar Bluff Gridiron Banquet at Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff Wednesday night. Kennett senior Trevon Lemons was selected as the SEMO South Lineman of the Year. Lemons had 69 tackles, two forced fumbles, two sacks, three pass breakups, and one interception his senior season...

It has been a long time coming for Hayti Indian football fans — decades, as a matter of fact. It has been a long time coming for any southeast Missouri football team to win a state title in football. Chaffee was the last school to bring home the hardware, and that was 1983. ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. — All season long the Hayti Indians dominated opponent after opponent with an explosive offense and stingy defense. Saturday was no different as the Indians claimed their first state title in school history, defeating Lincoln 44-0 in the Class 1 state championship game...

By Alex Wallner sports@standard-democrat.com HAYTI, Mo. — Over the entire course of the season, the Hayti football team has seemingly gone unchallenged. So far this season, Hayti (14-0) has outscored its opponents 794-80. Saturday’s Class 1 state semifinal was the same story, as the Indians blitzed Westran (11-3) 54-0, at Hayti High School...

The Hayti Indians (13-0) continued on their winning ways Saturday when the team traveled to Thayer for the second time this season, beating the Bobcats again, this time in state Class 1 quarterfinals action. Thayer came out crisp, challenging the Indians for much of the first quarter. However, Hayti began exerting some number-one ranking muscle late in the first period and dominated the remainder of the game. The Indians would go on to win 46-12...

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - One of the most successful football season’s in Kennett history reached its final chapter Saturday afternoon in St. Louis, Missouri. Kennett generated close to 300 yards of total offense but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with the fast-striking passing attack of the Cardinal Ritter Lions...

KIRKWOOD, Mo. -- For the fourth time in as many seasons, Vianney has put a resounding end to the Jackson football season. The Golden Griffins, who won Class 5 championship in 2016, pulled away Saturday afternoon to a 69-28 victory in Class 5 quarterfinal action in suburban St. Louis. The previous three seasons, Vianney beat the Indians in district championship games, winning by 49-14 scores in 2015 and 2016 and 71-50 last year...

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. — Standing at 5-feet, 11-inches tall, Lutheran North’s Jordan Smith was able to create different ways to beat Caruthersville. The junior showed off his dual-threat ability, scoring six total touchdowns, in the Crusaders 51-8 win over the Tigers in the Class 2 state tournament, at Caruthersville High School, on Friday night...

Another year, another postseason Jackson-Vianney game. For the seventh straight season, the two teams meet in the Class 5 playoffs. There is one difference, though. This time, it's a state quarterfinal, not a district tournament contest. After falling to Vianney in the district final the past two seasons, including a 71-50 defeat last year, the Indians get a chance to avenge those losses and advance to the state semifinals for the first time in a decade when undefeated Jackson faces the host Golden Griffins at 1 p.m. ...

The Kennett football team enjoyed a sendoff ceremony Friday morning as it departed town. Kennett practiced on the high school field located at St. Louis University in downtown St. Louis Friday afternoon before returning to its motel Friday evening. Kennett plays Cardinal Ritter in a Class 3 quarterfinal Saturday at 1 p.m. at St. Louis University High School in St. Louis, Missouri...

The Jackson football team didn't expect this. Not the head coach, not the returning starter in the secondary and not the senior linebacker who missed all of last season. Yes, the Indians played good defense this summer at 7-on-7 camps, but that's when teams are beginning to figure out their offenses. Plus, the Jackson defense was young and inexperienced, returning two starters from a unit that gave up 36.9 points per game...

Series History: Not available Last Week: No. 1 seeded Kennett beat No. 2 seeded Park Hills Central 42-20 in the Class 3, District 1 championship. No. 1 seeded Cardinal Ritter beat No. 3 seeded Lutheran South 56-0 in the Class 3, District 2 championship...

HAYTI, Mo. — For the first time since 2007, the Hayti football team won the district championship. Avenging their demons against district stalwart Valle Catholic, the Indians defeated the Warriors 28-7 at Hayti High School, on Friday night. Winners of the last 10 district championship games, Valle Catholic has had Hayti’s number — beating the Indians five times to advance to the state playoffs...

CHARLESTON, Mo – After a season full of accolades the Charleston Bluejays stood at the doorstep of their biggest feat yet Friday night in the Class 2, District 1 Tournament championship game. Standing in their way was perennial district powerhouse and defending champion Caruthersville...

KENNETT, Mo. - The Kennett Indians football program has maintained a “bend but don’t break mentality” when attempting to protect leads throughout the 2018 season. “We’ve had some ‘bend but don’t break’ moments,” Kennett football coach Joel Wyatt said. “We’ve come up with some big turnovers at big times. The defense has just come up big for us all year.”...

Cael Welker took a knee, and as the final seconds ticked off the clock, the sophomore quarterback found his senior center and wrapped up Dawson Southard in a bear hug. For the first time in his high school career, Southard was a district champion. Welker had four touchdowns on his birthday as top-seeded Jackson football jumped out to a double-digit halftime lead amid cold and snowy conditions Friday night and cruised to a 42-23 win over No. 2 Fox in the Class 5 District 1 final at The Pit...

For the Jackson football team, this is nothing new. The Indians are in the district final for the third consecutive season. They hope this time the outcome will be different. Top-seeded Jackson hosts No. 2 Fox in the Class 5 District 1 championship at 7 p.m. today at The Pit as the Indians aim for their first district crown since 2014 after falling to Vianney at this stage the last two seasons...

Caruthersville at Charleston Records: Caruthersville (9-2); Charleston (10-1) Series History: Charleston leads 43-36-2 Last Meeting: 2017, Caruthersville won 66-28 Last Week: Caruthersville defeated Jefferson 30-7; Charleston defeated St. Pius X Notes: Caruthersville is back in familiar territory, playing for a district title for the 10th straight season, winning seven — including last year. ...

Series History: Not available Last Week: No. 1 seeded Kennett beat No. 5 seeded Potosi 48-9; No. 2 seeded Park Hills Central beat No. 6 seeded Dexter 13-6. Notes: Kennett is in search of its first district title since 1986. Park Hills Central is going for its seventh straight district title...

The Kennett football team will host Park Hills Central in the Class 3, District 1 championship Friday at Metz Cherry Stadium. Under the current MSHSAA postseason format, it is the first district championship Kennett has hosted. Kennett is in search of its first district title since 1985...

HAYTI, Mo. — The Hayti Indians behind standout Ivory Winters rolled into the Class 1, District 1 championship game with 74-13 win over St. Vincent Friday night. Winters scored a whopping nine touchdowns, scorching the Indians on touchdown runs of 7, 31 and 13 in the first quarter while adding a 77-yard touchdown reception and defensive fumble return all in the first nine minutes of play...

FESTUS, Mo. — Playing for a district title is nothing new for the Caruthersville Tigers. Caruthersville has played for a district title each of the last 10 years, winning seven times. The Tigers will play for another one next week after knocking off Jefferson on the road Friday night 30-7 in a Class 2, District 1 semifinal game...

PARK HILLS, Mo. — All season long the Dexter Bearcats relied on a strong defense while struggling to find offense. That formula held true Friday night as the Bearcats put together another strong defensive showing but failed to muster enough offense in a 13-6 road loss to Park Hills Central in a Class 3, District 1 semifinal game...

WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The Sikeston Bulldog football season came to an end on Friday night with a 43-0 loss at West Plains. The second-seeded Zizzers (11-0), ranked third in the state in Class 4, advance to the Class 4, District 1 championship game where they will host third-seeded Festus next Friday night...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — James Durden is a load to bring to the ground. The St. Pius X football team found that out first hand on Friday night, in its Class 2, District 1 semifinal matchup against Charleston, at Charleston High School. The 6-1, 215-pound junior rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns, on five carries...

KENNETT, Mo. - Not even a halftime power outage could slow down the Kennett Indians football team in its Class 3, District 1 semifinal Friday night at Metz Cherry Stadium. No. 1 seeded Kennett built a 21-9 lead by the end of the second quarter, and after a halftime that lasted about twice as long as normal due to a power outage, scored 27 unanswered points in the second half as it beat the No. 5 seeded Potosi Trojans 48-9...

It didn't take long for the Jackson football team to shake off a week's worth of rust. The Indians, coming off a bye last week, took the lead less than three minutes in and were up 21 points by the end of the first quarter. The fast start resulted in another blowout home win as the top-seeded Indians cruised past No. 4 Poplar Bluff 49-0 in a Class 5 District 1 semifinal at The Pit...

Jackson football opens the postseason with a matchup against a conference rival tonight. The top-seeded Indians (9-0), who received a bye last week, host No. 4 Poplar Bluff at 7 p.m. today in a Class 5 District 1 semifinal. With a win, Jackson will advance to the district championship for the third consecutive year...