Dexter, Portageville strong in jamboree

DEXTER -- For the seventh straight year, area football teams got some valuable experience by participating in jamborees. Four teams gathered in Dexter Friday night including Portageville, Scott City, Kennett and host Dexter. Each team is given 12 plays on offense and four teams compete at the same time on the field.

The Portageville Bulldogs and Dexter Bearcats looked like the strongest of the teams participating as the Bearcats shut out Scott City while Portageville shut out Dexter and Kennett.

The Portageville Bulldogs graduated nine seniors (mostly on defense) off last year's state playoff team, but seemed to fare pretty well against the competition.

"We have to replace a lot of experience we lost from last year, but I was pleased with the way our kids played,'' commented Portageville coach Jim McKay. "We're very young, but the kids did a good job."

Host Dexter scored on a long pass play against the Scott City Rams and was able to hold them scoreless.

In the Portageville-Kennett matchup, Antonio Scott picked up where he left off last year by scoring on a 5-yard scamper for the Dogs' only score.

Portageville's jayvee squad dominated the junior Rams when they tallied two scores while holding Scott City scoreless.

"I think we're ahead of where we were last year offensively, we've got good size at all positions, but we don't have the speed we had last year. We have only four players who have good speed," continued McKay.

Coach McKay's Bulldogs have an open date next Friday, then will travel to Scott City to take on the Rams.

Scott City begins its regular season when they take on Malden at Malden next Friday.

Dexter has a date with Poplar Bluff on the road next Friday while Kennett hosts the Charleston Bluejays.

All games are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.