NMCC closes out season with victory

KENNETT -- The final game of the season for the Kennett Indians, Senior Night, was not a pretty game to watch from either teams' perspective. The final score was New Madrid County Central 37 and Kennett 20.

By the end of the contest the officials and coaches appeared close to losing control of the players. Unsportsmanlike conduct on both sides of the field marred the game and left some fans with an uneasy feeling while exiting the field and wondering why the officials let things get to where they did.

In the end, NMCC left the field with a win and Kennett a loss in the win/loss columns, and perhaps both teams with a loss in the sportsmanship column.

NMCC wasted little time putting points on the scoreboard. At the 7:45 mark in the first quarter, Antonio McIntosh, who ended the game with 156 rushing yards in 20 carries, scored the Eagles' first TD of the game. The Eagles PAT was good and they led 7-0.

Moments later, the Eagles' defense, which held the Indians in check for much of the game, created a safety. That gave the Eagles a 9-0 advantage at the 6:

53 mark in the first quarter.

Before the first quarter ended, the Eagles scored again. The Eagles drive started on Kennett's 41 yard line and ended on a three-yard TD run by Printice Willis. That was one of his 16 rushing attempts, and he ended the game with a total of 164 rushing yards.

This time the Eagles' PAT failed and the Eagles led 15-0.

The Indians defense appeared very porous, and the Eagles appeared ready to capitalize when they could. Nevertheless, the Indians appeared to have gained a bit of momentum toward the end of the first quarter.

Carries by Marco Finley, who ended the game with 108 rushing yards on 14 carries, and Robert Lockett, who ended the game with 45 rushing yards in 10 carries, and Brandon Hardwick, enabled Kennett to move the ball offensively pretty well on their third drive of the game. Finley had one big run, a 41-

yarder, which set up what appeared to be the Indians first scoring opportunity of the game.

When Lockett missed Jared Hughes, who was wide open in the endzone, with a pass, the Indians were facing fourth and five near their own goal line. The Eagles sacked Lockett and squelched Kennett's drive.

As they had done in the first quarter, the Eagles did in the second quarter, wasting little time before putting points on the scoreboard again.

Beginning deep in their own territory, the Eagles marched down the field, using Antonio McIntosh as their workhorse, to get themselves into scoring position.

Willis capped the drive with a 31-yard TD run, making the score 21-0 after the Eagles' PAT failed.

Moments later, the Eagles forced the Indians into another safety, making the score 23-0 at the 6:05 mark in the second quarter.

Kennett's final drive of the first half began at their own 30 yard line and went no where. The half-time score was 23-0.

On the Eagles' first drive of the third quarter they scored again. Their PAT was good and they led 30-0.

With 7:26 showing on the scoreboard, Kennett finally put their first points on the board. Lockett completed a 10-yard pass to Hughes for the TD. The PAT by Drake Daniels was good and the score was 30-7. That's how the third quarter ended.

In the fourth quarter, each team scored a TD. Willis scored New Madrid's TD at the 6:12 mark in the quarter -- a quarter marred by unsportsmanlike penalties and sloppy play from both teams. Patrick Guest succeeded on the PAT and the Eagles' lead was 37-13.

With 1:15 showing on the clock, Lockett kept the ball and ran in from the six yard line for Kennett. Daniels' PAT was good and the final score was 37-20.

NMCC rushed for 398 yards on 48 carries in the game and quarterback Leslie Williams was 1-for-4 passing for 21 yards and one touchdown.

The Indians finished the season with a record of 4-6 while NMCC finished with a record of 7-3.