Sikeston ninth graders and junior varsity fall to Jackson

Sikeston runner Marquez Newman sheds a Jackson tackler as the two school's ninth grade teams played on Monday. (Photo by Brent Shipman, Staff)

sports@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- Dropping to .500 on the season, the Sikeston Bulldogs ninth grade team fell to visiting the Jackson Indians on Monday 29-14.

Trailing 8-0 after Jackson scored on a three yard run in the second quarter, Marquez Newman closed Sikeston back to within two points if the Indians when he returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards for a score.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the Indians scored on a 15 yard interception return before the half, followed by a 67 yard touchdown run in the third quarter to go up 23-6.

Closing back to within nine points, Matthew Price connected with Corbyn Blissett on a 48 yard pass that, following a successful two-point conversion, closed Sikeston to within 23-14. A five-yard touchdown run by Jackson, however, closed out an Indian win.

Sikeston now stands at 2-2 on the season.

JV FOOTBALL

Jackson 15, Sikeston 12

SIKESTON -- Pushing their losing skid to three games, the Sikeston Bulldogs junior varsity team fell 15-12 to the visiting Jackson Indians junior varsity squad on Monday.

After the Indians took an early 7-0 lead in the second quarter, Reece Porter connected Andre Golden for a 4-yard pass with 10 second left before the half to close the Bulldogs to within a point of Jackson at 7-6.

Pushing ahead 16-6 in the third, Jackson went on to score on a Sikeston safety before finding the end zone on a five-yard pass. Pat Gross was able to block the point-attempt to keep Jackson from expanding their lead.

With 8:09 to play, Porter found Ray Counsel for a 35 yard pass to close Sikeston to with three-points. Unable to convert on the two-point conversion, the Bulldogs were unable to close in on the remaining three-point deficit.

The Bulldogs are 2-3 on the year.