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Football capsule: Kennett, Malden eye each other after claiming conference titles
Malden senior Tray Stevenson (28) bulldozes his way past a Kelly defender Friday night in Benton.
The Kennett Indians and Malden Green Wave enter Friday’s Week 8 battle looking to avoid a letdown after winning their respective conferences last week.
Kennett finished 3-0 in the SEMO South and wrapped up its first outright conference title since 1964 last week. Malden finished 3-0 in the SEMO East to secure its fourth straight conference title last week.
Malden currently supports an overall record of 6-1. The Green Wave are in first place in the Class 2, District 1 standings. Malden beat New Madrid County Central 50-12 in Week 1, lost to Caruthersville 7-33 in Week 2, beat Portageville 42-14 in Week 3, beat Kelly 50-0 in Week 4, beat East Prairie 50-14 in Week 5, beat Hayti 56-32 in Week 6 and beat Charleston 48-12 in Week 7.
Kennett supports an overall record of 5-2. The Indians are in second place in the Class 3, District 1 standings. Kennett beat Fredericktown 50-14 in Week 1, lost to Sikeston 30-37 in Week 2, beat Carnahan 52-16 in Week 3, beat Caruthersville 42-22 in Week 4, lost to Greene County Tech 26-48 in Week 5, beat NMCC 34-22 in Week 6 and beat Dexter 22-0 in Week 7.
Malden averages 43 points per game and allows 17 points per game.
Malden is the third straight predominantly run-first offense Kennett has faced. The Green Wave have rushed the ball for 2,668 yards and passed the ball for 542 yards this season.
Tray Stevenson anchors the Green Wave’s rushing attack with 164 carries for 1,446 yards. Stevenson has 22 rushing touchdowns.
Malden quarterback Mason Brown is a second threat on the ground with 76 carries for 589 yards.
Brown has completed 25 of 57 passes for 542 yards. He has thrown six touchdown passes and four interceptions.
Broddric Annesser has been Brown’s primary target in the air. Annesser has 23 catches for 459 yards. He has caught all six of Brown’s touchdown passes.
Kennett averages 36 points and allows 23 points per game. The Indians have completed 60 passes for 1,014 yards and ran the ball 253 times for 1,343 yards.
Kennett’s offense is led by senior quarterback Patrick Maddox who has completed 59 of 98 passes for 992 yards and ran the ball 111 times for 538 yards. Maddox has thrown eight touchdown passes, three interceptions and ran for eight touchdowns.
Seniors Ty Ellis and Zane Wallace have been Maddox’s primary targets in the air. Ellis has 19 catches for 371 and Wallace has 18 catches for 354 yards. Ellis has six touchdown receptions and Wallace has three touchdown receptions.
Kennett’s X’Zavier Whitfield has 85 carries for 466 yards. He has ran for eight touchdowns.
Malden has won the last seven meetings, outscoring Kennett 352-171. Kennett’s last victory against Malden was in 2009.