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WEEK 4 SD FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Sikeston looks to end Jackson dominance; Charleston plays rare Thursday night game
Jackson at Sikeston
Records: Jackson 3-0; Sikeston 2-1
Series History: Sikeston leads 56-40-6
Last Meeting: 2017, Jackson won 55-8
Last Week: Jackson defeated Cape Central 49-7; Sikeston defeated Poplar Bluff 34-0
Notes: Jackson has won the previous five meetings in dominating fashion, outscoring Sikeston 229-15. Sikeston, who last defeated Jackson in 2012 (26-17), must contend with an Indian offense that has scorched them for an average of 45.8 points per game the last five seasons and that is scoring 42 points a contest this season. The high-powered Indians are led by quarterback Cael Welker who has completed 44 of 79 passes for 727 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions. His top target is Jordan Kent who has caught 19 passes for 411 yards and already has nine touchdown receptions on the season. Daniel Dickerson leads the rushing attack with 282 yards on 44 carries with four touchdowns. But the Indians will be facing a Sikeston defense that has been stellar so far this season, allowing just 253 total yards in three games for less than 2 yards per play. The Bulldogs are forcing an average of two turnovers per game and have returned three of their four interceptions for touchdowns. Offensively, quarterback Gage Rolwing leads Sikeston. The junior leads the team in rushing with 182 yards and two scores while completing 19 of 38 passes for 214 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Trent Elliott leads the team with seven catches for 89 yards while senior Ricky Scott has caught six passes for 98 yards and two scores. Jackson Kuykendall emerged as a more significant threat in the running game last week, gaining 79 yards on 14 carries, giving him 149 yards for the season. Sikeston faces an improved Jackson defense that has allowed just 14 points all season.
Portageville at Chaffee
Records: Portageville 1-2; Chaffee 1-2
Series History: Portageville 43-24-2
Last Meeting: 2017, Chaffee defeated Portageville 38-32 (OT)
Last Week: Portageville lost to Malden 28-22; Chaffee lost to Hayti 68-6
Notes: Portageville’s Connor Barham threw for three touchdowns last week, giving him seven on the season while completing 52 of 112 passes. He also rushed for 29 yards last week and had two rushing scores on the season. Jared Carter had a huge game at receiver last week for the Bulldogs, catching 10 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown and the team has rushed for just over 250 yards this season. Portageville is allowing 34.7 points per game but will be facing a Chaffee offense that has managed only 26 points in three games this season. The Red Devils, who opened the season with a 20-0 win over Crystal City, have lost their last two games by a combined score of 110-6. Last week the Red Devils were blitzed out of the gate, allowing 40 first-quarter points and trailed 62-0 at halftime.
Charleston at Scott City
Records: Charleston 2-1; Scott City 3-0
Series History:Charleston 10-7
Last Meeting: 2017, Charleston won 26-14
Last Week: Charleston defeated Doniphan 66-0; Scott City defeated East Prairie 38-28
Notes: Charleston and Scott City play a rare Thursday night game, which Charleston football coach Brett Blackman said will be a big adjustment for his Bluejays. “We will need to handle the change in the schedule with maturity and focus,” Blackman said. “Scott City is an exceptional football team, and we need to perform better against teams of this caliber.” Blackman said the Rams are disciplined and aggressive on defense, allowing just 14 points per game led by linebacker Kobe Hann’s team-high 26 tackles. “Their defensive line creates a lot of havoc for opposing offenses,” Blackman said. Charleston will counter with an offense that eats up yards on the ground. Senior Q’Nairies Anderson has rushed for 564 yards on the season with eight rushing touchdowns. Last week, Anderson gained 225 yards with four touchdowns, while catching another scoring pass and throwing a TD pass to Blessin Kimble. Quarterback Tyrese Tate, rushed for 192 yards last week and two scores, giving him 315 yards and five touchdowns for the season. Blackman said offensively, Scott City is very balanced and pose plenty of threats for the Bluejay defense. The Rams have a two-headed running attack with Jimmy May and Sam Elders rushing for 339 and 303 yards this season respectively. May has five rushing touchdowns while Elders has added three. Quarterback Spencer Stratman has completed 39 of 64 passes for 627 yards and eight touchdowns while receiver Joe Panagos has caught 14 passes for 316 yards and three scores. Eli Berry has added nine catches for 93 yards and three scores. “We will have to play more technically sound and disciplined,” Blackman said. “Coach May is a great coach, and we will need to come ready to play Thursday night.”
East Prairie at Hayti
Records: East Prairie 1-2; Hayti 3-0
Series History: Hayti leads 43-24-2
Last Meeting: 2017, Hayti won 53-21
Last Week: East Prairie lost to Scott City 38-38; Hayti defeated Chaffee 68-6
Notes: Hayti, ranked number 6 in the Class 1 media poll, has won the last three in the series against East Prairie, scoring an average of 52 points in the three wins. The Indians potent offense has averaged 61.3 points per game this season with the starters mostly playing just the first half. University of Indiana-commit Ivory Winters has 12 touchdowns on the season, rushing for 448 yards on 46 carries while catching two passes for 100 yards. Quarterback Chrivontae Moore has gained 271 yards on 30 carries while completing 16 of 29 passes for 369 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Tyler Wooden has 113 yards rushing on just four carries and has 86 yards receiving on four catches. As explosive as the Indians offense has been, the defense has been equally as impressive, allowing just 28 points this season. The Indians have given up only 101 passing yards on the season and will face a pass-heavy Eagles offense with quarterback Carson Aycock putting up some of the best passing numbers in the SEMO Conference. The senior signal caller has thrown for 815 yards, completing 45 of 89 passes with nine touchdowns. Senior Derez Tipler is his top target, catching 17 passes for 363 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 100 yards on 14 carries with a score. Jack Scruggs has also caught 12 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns for an East Prairie offense that has scored 29.3 points per game, but that turned the ball over 11 times in their first two games.
Doniphan at NMCC
Records: Doniphan 0-3; NMCC 3-0
Series History: First meeting
Last Meeting: NA
Last Week: Doniphan lost to Charleston 66-0; NMCC defeated Dexter 22-6
Notes: Doniphan has gotten off to an expected rough start as the Dons are playing their first season of varsity football since 1979. The Dons have been outscored 168-20 on the season after losing to Charleston 66-0 last week. The challenge doesn’t get any easier for the Dons as they take on an undefeated New Madrid County Central team that has averaged 46.7 points per game this season. Quarterback Christen Phillips anchors the Eagles offense. The junior pivot has completed 25 of 46 passes for 599 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 193 yards on 27 carries with three scores. Running back Quazavion Jackson rushed for 140 yards and all three of the NMCC scores last week, giving him 236 yards the last two weeks for the Eagles. Johnnie Walker had five catches last week for 102 yards while Austin Davis added four catches for 56 yards. The Eagles defense stiffened last week, allowing Dexter just 202 yards of offense and 6 points after giving up 78 points in their first two contests.
Kelly at Malden
Records: Kelly 2-1; Malden 1-2
Series History: Malden leads 3-0
Last Meeting: 2017, Malden won 56-8
Last Week: Kelly defeated St. Vincent 34-13; Malden defeated Portageville 28-22
Notes: Malden has won the previous three meetings between these schools by a score of 191-8 but will face a tougher Hawks team than in years past. “Kelly is much improved,” said Malden coach Kevin Collier. “They are dangerous. They play hard, and their program is continuing to improve.” Kelly has a balanced attack led by quarterback Christian Worley. The senior has completed 18 of 45 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns while Landon Hahs has caught a team-high nine passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Christian Williams leads the team in rushing with 211 yards on 49 carries and two scores, while Evan Urhahn has gained 132 yards on just 11 carries with three touchdowns as well. Luis Logeman (21 tackles) and Keaton Fitzgerald (20 tackles) lead a Hawks defense that is allowing just 11.7 points per game but is tested by a Green Wave offense averaging 28.7 points per game. Malden quarterback Tye Miller was a workhorse for the Green Wave last week, carrying the ball 31 times for 267 yards, completing 5 of 14 passes for 105 yards and three scores and snaring the game-clinching interception against Portageville. For the season, Miller has rushed for 555 yards on 87 carries and seven touchdowns while completing 41 of 86 passes for 431 yards and four touchdowns. “He’s a good kid,” Collier said. “He’s very versatile. He’s been throwing the ball pretty well, and we’ve been catching it better.” Shay Amoss is the top receiver for Malden, with 15 receptions in his first two games, but Miller found Drew Blankenship, Chris Castillo and Kristian Holmann for touchdowns last week.