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Week 3 Preview: Sikeston looks to continue strong start
FARMINGTON AT SIKESTON
Records: Farmington 1-1; Sikeston 2-0
Series History: Sikeston leads 23-20-1
Last Meeting: 2020, Farmington won 25-7
Last Week: Sikeston beat Dexter 11-9; Farmington beat Potosi 23-18
Notes: Sikeston is off to a 2-0 start for the second consecutive season but is looking to avoid the 8-straight losses that followed last season. The Bulldogs last beat Farmington in 2015 but are looking to reverse that trend this year behind a stout defense that is allowing just 11.5 points a contest. Sikeston will look to stop the Farmington triple-option offense that features running back Kaeson McClain (5-8. 160). Just a freshman, McClain has rushed for 205 yards on 33 carries. First-year starting quarterback senior Drew Felker (5-10, 160) has completed just two passes this season but has rushed for 135 yards on 31 carries. Senior linebackers Brady Cook (5-8, 165) and Tyler Williams (5-11, 200), who has two sacks on the season, headline a Knights defense that stopped two running plays near the goal line in the final seconds to earn a win over Potosi last week. They will be tasked with stopping Sikeston’s balanced attack, led by quarterback Joseph Heckemeyer. The junior has completed 11 of 21 passes for 220 yards with one touchdown and one interception. After catching 4 passes for 152 yards in their opening week win over Caruthersville, the Dexter defense held big play receiver CJ Posey without a catch last week. Instead, Heckemeyer went to his running backs in the passing game, with Da’kwan Tilson catching 4 passes for 47 yards. Receiver Conner Wallace had 2 catches for 30 yards. Keodrick Sherrod leads the way in the running game with 231 yards on 26 carries. Despite being held to 56 yards last week against Dexter, the sophomore scored the only Bulldog touchdown in the third quarter on a 2-yard run. “The key to success this week is taking care of the football and tackling everyone on defense,” said Sikeston coach Treston Pulley. “We have to win the turnover battle and get no cheap penalties.”
PORTAGEVILLE AT EAST PRAIRIE
Records: Portageville 0-2; East Prairie 1-0
Series History: Portageville leads 53-29-2
Last Meeting: 2020, East Prairie won 46-0
Last Week: Portageville lost to Hayti 54-8; East Prairie didn’t play
Notes: East Prairie was unable to play last week due to COVID-19-related issues. In Week 1 the East Prairie running game was hard to stop as the Eagles rushed for 356 yards, led by 179 from Hayden Ellis and 123 from Jase Aycock. Both scored two touchdowns as did quarterback Peyton Hodges, who finished with 20 yards rushing and completed one pass for 13 yards. The East Prairie defense allowed 283 yards rushing to Charleston and 73 yards passing. Portageville is allowing 50 points per game in their first two games, having faced high-powered Hayti and NMCC. To make matters worse, Portageville was down “several starters” last week that were quarantined due to COVID. Despite the disadvantages, Portageville did have some highlights including an 11-yard run from sophomore running back Jamarion Smith. “We had a lot of adversity this week and they are ready to fight the world. I love them for that,” Portageville coach Ian Penrod said after the contest.
NEW MADRID COUNTY CENTRAL AT DEXTER
Records: NMCC 1-0 Dexter 0-2
Series History: NMCC leads 22-13
Last Meeting: 2020, NMCC won 40-20
Last Week: NMCC didn’t play; Dexter lost to Sikeston 11-9
Notes: Dexter has struggled to score in both their games this season, with each of their two touchdowns coming in the final minutes of their previous games. The Bearcats showed dramatic improvement in their passing game against Sikeston. A week after completing only 5 of 21 passes for 30 yards, quarterback Josh Alday converted 13 of 25 for 213. Seven different players caught passes with senior Taylor Condict catching four for 109 yards. The Bearcats struggled running the ball, gaining only 92 yards against Sikeston last week. The Dexter defense was impressive against Sikeston, recording 13 tackles for zero or negative yardage. They’ll need that same kind of play this week against NMCC, who showed the ability to score in multiple ways in Week 1. Quarterback Matt Riley completed 9 of 15 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns, with two to BJ Williamson, including a 51-yard strike in the first half. Senior running back Corvel Williams had 145 yards rushing with two touchdowns. The NMCC defense wreaked havoc on Portageville, forcing eight turnovers. Jace Robinson returned an interception for a touchdown while Ken King came down with a pair of interceptions in the first half.
CHARLESTON AT MALDEN
Records: Charleston 1-1; Malden 0-2
Series History: Charleston leads 24-19-1
Last Meeting: 2020, Malden won 36-12
Last Week: Charleston beat Chaffee 48-8; Malden lost to Kelly 12-6
Notes: Charleston has shown the ability to score early in 2021, averaging 41 points per game in two contests. Quarterback Thomas Murray is potent both through the air and on the ground. Last week against Chaffee, Murray threw for two touchdowns and ran for another. He finished 4 for 6 through the air with 77 yards. Rommie Turner had 85 yards on just three carries while Almareion Williams gained 63 yards on four carries. Defensively Malden looked tough last week, allowing just 12 points to Kelly. However the Malden offense has scored just once all season, a 12-yard touchdown run from Kene Davis last week. He rushed for 52 yards on 12 carries last week with the Green Wave throwing most of the time. Quarterback Rylan Bell was 18 of 25 last week for 244 yards.
KELLY AT CHAFFEE
__Records: Kelly 2-0; Chaffee 1-1
Series History: Kelly leads 4-3
Last Meeting: 2020, Kelly won 48-6
Last Week: Kelly beat Malden 12-6; Chaffee lost to Charleston 48-8
Notes: Kelly is off to another strong start this season, led by their defense. The Hawks have been stingy, allowing just 9.5 points per game in their first two. Offensively the ball-control Hawks have scored 20 points a game, with sophomore running back Reece Eftink starting the year strong. Eftink has gained 278 yards on 43 carries this season with four touchdowns. Senior Drew Silman carried the ball 11 times for 42 yards last week as well, as the Hawks had 180 rushing yards. Quarterback Peyton Morgan tossed a 33-yard touchdown pass to senior Ty Powers last week as well. Chaffee has been plagued by numerous turnovers in their first two games of the season, leading to several Charleston scores last week. Chaffee quarterback Carson Spies scored on a 41-yard run midway through the second quarter for the Red Devils only score last week. He led the team with 45 yards rushing on 10 carries.