Semoball

Kennett football finishes conference play perfect, beats Dexter 44-0

Photo by Dustin Ward, staff
Dexter’s Parker Vanslyke and Mason Keena (back) attempt to tackle Kennett’s Marsayv’aun Harrell Friday at Dexter.

DEXTER, Mo. - The Kennett Indians varsity football team experienced little difficulty finishing conference play undefeated Friday night at Charles Bland Stadium in Dexter.

Photo by Dustin Ward, staff
Kennett quarterback Bodey Ellis prepares to distribute the ball Friday night at Charles Bland Stadium in Dexter.

Kennett scored touchdowns on its first three offensive possessions to build a 22-0 lead by the end of the first quarter and never looked back as it shut out Dexter 44-0.

Photo by Dustin Ward, staff
Kennett’s Hayden Higgins races past Dexter’s Mason Keena Friday.

“We started the game out great,” Kennett football coach Joel Wyatt said. “We got a great return from Harrell to start the game and was able to punch one in. Then we got a big turnover and Lemons ran other one in. Then Bodey hit Woods for a long pass. I was a little disappointed in how we played the second quarter but we definitely got off to a great start.”

The Kennett defense enjoyed another big night as it recovered two fumbles and intercepted two passes. Dexter rushed the ball a dozen times for negative 12 yards and completed five of 15 passes for 46 yards.

“We are constantly preaching defense,” Wyatt said. “Our No. 1 goal is winning the turnover battle.”

Kennett quarterback Bodey Ellis filled in for Andrew Spence who left last week’s game against NMCC in the third quarter with a leg injury. Ellis completed 10 of 15 passes for 117 yards. He threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another touchdown.

“Spence didn’t make as much progress as we thought he would this week,” Wyatt said. “But Bodey is a player and we feel like we don’t miss much of a beat when he plays the position. But at the same time we want our senior to get healed up. He has paid his dues. People also forget Spence is a huge weapon on kickoffs and extra points so we miss him in more ways than one.”

Kennett full back Elijah Lemons paced the Indians on the ground with 13 carries for 97 yards. He ran for a pair of touchdowns.

Kennett running back Marsayv’aun Harrell added 12 carries for 32 yards.

“We have a great one-two punch,” Wyatt said. “They really compliment one another and we are really happy for those two.”

It is the first time in school history Kennett has won consecutive conference titles.

“It’s unbelievable when you go back and look at the list of conference champs every year and discover Kennett has never won it two years in a row,” Wyatt said. “We stressed from the get-go we were going to make history and be the first to do it.”

Kennett improves to 6-1 with its third straight road victory. The Indians return home for the remainder of the regular season starting Friday when they host Malden.

“I like going on the road but we need to get back home,” Wyatt said. “Maybe some of our fans that can’t travel will be able to come out next Friday and support us.”


SCORING SUMMARY

Kennett 44, Dexter 0

KHS 22 6 16 0 - 44

DHS 0 0 0 0 - 0

First Quarter

K - Elijah Lemons 12 run (two-point conversion good), 10:04

K - Lemons 10 run (two-point conversion good), 6:56

K - Justin Woods 19 pass from Bodey Ellis (two-point conversion failed), 6:46

Second Quarter

K - Joquan Williams 13 run (two-point conversion failed), 7:33

Third Quarter

K - Carter Maddox 17 pass from Ellis (two-point conversion good), 9:47

K - Ellis 4 run (two-point conversion good), 2:58

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - Kennett: Elijah Lemons 13-97, Marsayv’aun Harrell 12-32, Jordan Jarrett 6-24, Bodey Ellis 4-29, Hayden Higgins 3-17, Joquan Williams 2-11, Jake Stewart 1-5, Quaddre Sanders 1-(-1); Dexter: Mason Keena 5-(-2), Corbin Strong 3-3, Peyton Driskill 2-(-12), Seth Rogers 1-2, Haden Hillis 1-(-1).

Passing - Kennett: Bodey Ellis 10-15-0 = 117, J. Thomas Williams 1-(-3); Dexter: Haden Hillis 4-8-0 = 35; Peyton Driskill 1-7-2 = 11.

Receiving - Kennett: Carter Maddox 3-37, Justin Woods 2-39, Joquan Williams 2-21, Quaddre Sanders 1-(-3), Parker McClain 1-10, Tanner Duncan 1-(-8), Marsayv’aun Harrell 1-18; Dexter: Braxton Foster 2-25, Seth Rogers 2-19, Mason Keena 1-2.

TEAM STATISTICS

StatKD
First downs182
Rushing42-23212-12
Passing yards11446
Total offense32836
Fumbles-lost0-02-2
Penalties5-350-0
Interceptions20
Punts2-654-150
3rd down 7-141-6
4th down4-50-1
Sacks1-81-4
Possession32:2515:35
Turnovers04
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