Semoball

What 2 Watch 4: New prep football team grabs the top spot in latest power rankings

The Kennett High School football fans (yellow) and Caruthersville fans (red) gather Friday in Caruthersville to watch their favorite teams compete. The Indians ascended to the top spot in the Semoball.com Football Power Rankings this week following a dominating win over the Tigers.
Dustin Ward ~ Delta Dunklin Democrat

The masses have fervently called for a revised Semoball.com Football Power Rankings and the analytics department has delivered it.

Here are the area football teams for the week of Oct. 4 as ranked by combining a team's MSHSAA point total, bonus points for wins against other area teams, road wins and Massey Rating with current record and previous rankings.

W-L PTS. Previously
1. Kennett 5-051.02 2
2. Jackson 5-050.27 3
3. Scott City 5-048.414
4. Hayti 4-146.55 6
5. New Madrid 4-146.16 1
6. St. Vincent 3-245.71 7
7. Caruthersville 4-145.635
8. Charleston 3-243.209
9. Cape Central 3-236.9911
10. Poplar Bluff 3-234.128
11. Perryville 3-231.8610
12. Kelly 3-229.1712
13. Malden 1-427.3113
14. Portageville 2-327.0215
15. Sikeston 1-424.2914
16. East Prairie 1-419.7317
17. Dexter 1-319.38 18
18. Chaffee 1-415.3116
19. Doniphan 0-511.1619

Note: Farmington (5-0, 51.74) is not listed but counts as a local team in figuring points so that SEMO North teams have an equal number of area teams to play.

Here is What 2 Watch 4 in the Semoball-area football games tonight.

Portageville at Scott City

Kryptonite

The Rams are seeking to open the season 6-0 for the first time since 2004 when they host the Bulldogs.

The last 5-0 start for Scott City came in 2016, and Portageville refused to play along, handing the Rams a 49-7 loss. It was part of a six-year spell the Bulldogs cast on the Rams.

Scott City broke the string with a 42-19 road win last year. It was just the second win for Scott City coach Jim May against Portageville in 10 attempts.

The Rams look primed for back-to-back wins against the SEMO West Division rival, which also enters at 1-0 in conference play. Portageville is surrendering 34.6 points per game and Scott City should surpass that mark, averaging 47.6.

Scott City defense has not allowed a TD over the last seven quarters.

Scott City’s biggest challenge may be not looking past the Bulldogs to a Week 7 showdown against defending Class 1 state champion Hayti, also the defending conference champions.

New Madrid County Central at Kennett

Coming Back

Kennett starting quarterback Bodey Ellis is expected to return for this Friday’s conference showdown against New Madrid County Central.

Ellis has missed the last two weeks with a head injury. Ellis completed 12 of 24 passes for 145 yards and rushed the ball 27 times for 169 yards in the first three games of the season.

Ruining a ranking

After a heart-breaking loss to state-ranked Hayti in Week 5, the New Madrid County Central football team focuses on another state-ranked opponent in Week 6.

The Eagles take on Kennett in Week 6, in a SEMO South Conference match-up.

Kennett’s defense has the task of stopping a stout Eagles’ offense that has put up numbers in recent weeks.

Posting nearly 48 points per game, Quazavion Jackson leads the Eagles.

Last week, Hayti was able to limit Jackson’s damage, as he ran for 76 yards on 25 carries, and scored once.

NMCC Signal-caller Matt Riley will look to get his lead-back into the action early, but if the defense permits that, he can look to throw to one of his dynamic receivers. His favorite target is senior Austin Davis. Davis caught three passes for 85 yards last week, and one touchdown.

Perryville at Ste. Genevieve

All hands on deck

The Pirates got off to a 2-0 start, but it’s been rough waters since with injuries taxing the team’s depth, especially at running back. Perryville’s lone win over the past three weeks came in overtime against a 1-4 Fredericktown team.

The Pirates suffered a 40-21 loss to Class 1 St. Vincent last week in the annual rivalry game and will have their hands full with Class 3 Ste. Genevieve, a team they have not beaten since 2007.

While the Dragons are 2-3, the losses have come to unbeaten Kennett, Valle Catholic, and Central (Park Hills).

The Dragons are not as formidable as some of their past teams, they are more than capable of winning their 12th straight game against the Pirates.

Sikeston at Charleston

No offense, but can the ‘Dogs score?

Failing to reach the end zone in each of the last two weeks, the Sikeston football team is looking to find pay dirt in a Week 6 match-up against rival Charleston at John H. Marshall Field. The Bulldogs will have a tough test against a Bluejays team that can beat you through the air or on the ground.

Lead receiver Blessin Kimble is the primary target for Charleston quarterbacks Teijay Williams and Suave Fitzpatrick but struggled to get in a rhythm last week against Kelly. He caught three passes for 19 yards against the Hawks, after a six-catch, 71-yard performance against Scott City in Week 4.

The run game for Charleston was dominant against the Hawks. Amoses Wells and James Durden carry the load for the Bluejays on the ground.

Wells rushed for 79 yards on six carries last week, while Durden ran for 127 yards on 14 carries, and scored once. Fitzpatrick also had a big night on the ground, rushing seven times for 101 yards.

For Sikeston, Lontas McClinton carries the offense.

Against Cape Central, McClinton rushed for 85 yards on 10 carries. J’Marlon Moore rushed for 80 yards on 10 carries and was the second-leading rusher for the Bulldogs.

Poplar Bluff at Cape Central

A fourth win

Both teams enter with 3-2 records.

Central looks to keep the momentum from its emotional 33-0 win over Sikeston, which featured first-year Tigers coach Kent Gibbs beating his former team.

Poplar Bluff will be looking to bounce back from its second loss and will once again have its resiliency tested.

The Mules dropped a tough season-opener to MICDS in the final minutes but responded with convincing wins the next three weeks.

This one could be a tussle won by the team that makes the fewest turnovers and penalties.

Pass defense

Poplar Bluff didn't give up a passing yard last week at Farmington in a 49-20 loss.

In fact, the Knights didn't complete a pass.

Cornerback DJ Dennis had an interception, his team-leading fourth of the season.

The last team to finish with zero or fewer passing yards and beat Poplar Bluff was Cape Central in 2014 when the Tigers won 26-6 with minus-2 passing yards and 253 rushing yards. The last team with zero passing yards against the Mules was Hillsboro in 2017 in a 21-20 win by Poplar Bluff.

Only two other times since 2002 has an opponent not had any passing yards and both times the Mules won.

History says…

The Mules have won the last three meetings with Cape Central by a total of 16 points.

The Tigers lead the all-time series 51-38-5 and are 3-1 against Poplar Bluff since moving to their on-campus stadium.

Last year at Mules Stadium, the game was scoreless at halftime before Poplar Bluff scored twice in the third quarter and won 19-6.

Since 1990, nine of the 29 meetings were decided by a touchdown or less, including a triple-overtime Mules win in 1998.

Hayti at Malden

Stopping Stevenson

Hayti’s Adreian Stevenson paced the Indians on the ground with 16 carries for 188 yards and three rushing touchdowns in last week’s 34-30 victory against New Madrid County Central. The Malden defense must find a way to contain Stevenson if they want to stop the high-scoring Hayti offense from putting up big numbers.

Penalty Prone

Penalties hindered the Green Wave’s ability to build momentum last week in a 35-30 loss at East Prairie.

Malden committed 12 penalties for 80 yards, including 11 in the first half, against East Prairie.

Striking Fast

Malden’s offense did display the ability to put together big plays last week.

Drew Blankinship had a 44-yard run for a touchdown and Lamar Smith returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown.

Jackson at Farmington

Plume of white smoke

The verdict will be in on the best team in the SEMO North Conference, with both teams entering 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the SEMO North Division.

The victor will gain at least a share of the title but should be able to claim it outright at a future date with one more win.

Both teams enter with momentum after surprisingly easy victories last week and will want to make a statement early. Farmington handed Poplar Bluff its first conference loss in convincing fashion, winning 49-20.

Jackson steamrolled Battle 56-12 and topped the 50-point plateau for the third time this season.

The Indians also have a formidable defense with three shutouts — Webster Groves, Cape Girardeau Central and Sikeston — all of which occurred at The Pit.

Farmington has shutout Hillsboro and held North County and Cape Girardeau Central to six points apiece.

The battle up front will be interesting; the Knights feature smaller, more nimble linemen than the Indians have seen this year.

Caruthersville at Dexter

Racing Rodgers

Caruthersville ran the ball 17 times for 314 yards in a 48-6 win against Portageville last week.

Caruthersville’s JaMarion Rodgers had a team-high five carries for 128 yards, including three touchdown runs.

The Dexter defense must find a way to stop Rodgers and company from racing to the end zone in Week 6.

Chaffee at East Prairie

A double dose

Gaige Gifford and Hayden Ellis proved to be a consistent duo for East Prairie in its Week 5 win over Malden.

The Eagles got over the hump; winning their first game, due in large part to their backfield tandem.

Gifford rushed for 123 yards on eight carries and scored twice. Ellis ran for 104 yards on 15 carries, with two scores as well.

A second win

One of these two teams will move to 2-4.

Chaffee has not tasted victory since Week 1, and has been hit with numerous injuries since, including the loss of starting quarterback Tyler Essner to a season-ending knee injury in a 55-0 loss to Scott City last week.

Things are trending better for the Eagles, who got in the win column last week with a season-high 35 points against Malden. Chaffee faces challenges offensively, but East Prairie certainly is not impenetrable, having given up nearly 30 points a game.

Doniphan at Kelly

Get back on track

It was a struggle for Kelly running back Evan Urhahn against Charleston in Week 5. The junior had four yards rushing on 15 touches, as the Blue Jays were able to take the dynamic playmaker out of the game entirely.

Overall, the Hawks totaled minus-16 yards rushing on 22 carries in their 24-10 loss.

This week, the Hawks take-on Doniphan at Lambert Field, with all eyes set on getting back on track. Having their best player return to his normal form would be a good start for the Hawks, as they face a program in search of its first varsity win in two seasons.

Last season, the Hawks shutout Doniphan 28-0.

St. Vincent at Crystal City

A running clock

That’s been the case in all five of Crystal City’s games for the abysmal Hornets, who have been outscored 278-8.

The Hornets only points came this year came in a season-opening 52-8 loss to Chaffee.

The Indians enter on a three-game winning streak, which included last week’s 40-21 victory over cross-town rival Perryville High School.

St. Vincent has scored at least 35 points in each of its last four games.

Even with a letdown after the rivalry game, St. Vincent will take a four-game winning streak into a Week 7 matchup against St. Pius X.

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