Prep Football Glance -- Week 5

Our prep football glance gives vital information for our local teams entering their weekly matchups. Learn your team's opponent, go-to players and the series history between the two throughout the season.

Dexter at Caruthersville
Records: Dexter 2-2; Caruthersville 2-2
Series History: Dexter leads 43-33-3
Last Meeting: 2013, Caruthersville won 63-13
Last Week: Dexter defeated Sikeston 20-15; Caruthersville defeated Charleston 44-0
Outlook: Dexter won at Sikeston for the first time since 2006 last week by virtue of a "hook and ladder" play with 39 seconds remaining. Dexter quarterback Peyton Pollock (6-2, 190, sr.) leads the Bearcats in rushing with 293 yards and four touchdowns while adding 502 passing yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Wide receiver Ethan Stevens (5-10, 175, jr.) scored the winning touchdown last week and has five for the season, including two receiving and one return touchdown. He has caught 12 passes for 152 yards while Austin Chessor (5-11, 140, jr.) leads the Bearcats with 15 catches for 176 yards. The Bearcats' defense has allowed just 29 points in their last two games and held Sikeston to 242 total yards last week. Caruthersville has rebounded from an 0-2 start with two-straight wins. The Tigers have tallied 66 points the last two weeks after posting just 14 in the first two. Caruthersville, who rushed for 419 yards last week, is led by Daniel Fugate (5-9, 175, sr.). The running back has gained 428 yards rushing on the season with six touchdowns. His backfield mate Rodrick Jones (5-9, 175, jr.) was out last week but has 92 yards and a touchdown while quarterback Peyton Faulkner (5-9, 150, jr.) has thrown for 212 yards and a touchdown.

Chaffee at Scott City
Records: Chaffee 0-3; Scott City 2-2
Series History: Scott City leads 35-21
Last Meeting: 2013, Chaffee won 51-16
Last Week: Chaffee was idle; Scott City lost to Malden 71-8
Outlook: Scott City was thumped last week by high-powered Malden, allowing 448 total yards, including 321 on the ground. The Rams turned the ball over four times, with Malden returning both an interception and fumble for scores. Ty Wilthong (6-1, 182, so.) was back at quarterback for the Rams after missing a week due to injury and the sophomore threw for 70 yards but three interceptions. Braden Cox (6-2, 188, so.) also spent time under center, throwing for 31 yards as the Rams attempted 36 passes. Running back Nick Bickings (5-8, 146, jr.) was the lone bright spot for Scott City, rushing for a 36-yard touchdown in the third quarter, finishing the game with 48 yards on six carries. The Rams are allowing over 37 points per game on the season which may bode well for Chaffee who has scored only two touchdowns in three games so far this season. The Red Devils are hoping a week off will help find an offense that has gained only 362 yards on the season. Quarterback Jordan Wilburn (6-0, 170, jr.) has thrown for 107 yards and touchdown while throwing four interceptions. Running back Thomas Robbins leads Chaffee with rushing, gaining 163 yards and a touchdown. Linebacker Jake Perkins (5-10, 181, sr.) has 24 tackles for a Red Devil defense allowing 33.7 points per game.

NMCC at Charleston
Records: NMCC 1-3; Charleston 0-4
Series History: NMCC leads 20-9
Last Meeting: 2013, NMCC won 22-8
Last Week: NMCC defeated Kennett 25-20; Charleston lost to Caruthersville 44-0
Outlook: NMCC got the first win for first-year head coach John Dryden last week, and behind good line play rushed for 243 yards and passed for 155 yards. Javarcus Word (5-8, 150, so.) has 181 yards to lead the Eagles in rushing with one rushing touchdown to go along with a fumble return score and a receiving touchdown. Quarterback J.C. Dryden (5-10, 180, sr.) completed 7 of 13 passes last week for 155 yards and two scores while rushing for another. After turning the ball over 14 times in their previous three games, NMCC had just two turnovers last week. For the first time all season, Charleston did not give up over 60 points as the Bluejays young defense continues to improve. The Bluejays have allowed 59.75 points per game so far on the season. Charleston has sputtered on offense as well, gaining only a total of 16 yards the last two weeks. Quarterback Evan Burton (5-10, 160, sr.) will miss this week after being ejected last week as Jeremy Tucker (6-2, 180, fr.) will fill in. Tim Bruce (5-8, 138, jr.), Tennerious Ewing (5-6, 180, jr.) and Tyler Craig (6-3, 174, sr.) will likely see the bulk of the carries for the Bluejays.

East Prairie at Malden
Records: East Prairie 3-1; Malden 4-0
Series History: Malden leads 46-14-2
Last Meeting: 2013, Malden won 44-7
Last Week: East Prairie defeated Hayti 32-28; Malden defeated Scott City 71-8
Outlook: After a disappointing loss to Scott City, East Prairie rebounded last week by knocking off Hayti. The Eagles defense forced two late Indian fumbles, returning both for scores to take control of the game. East Prairie has had no trouble scoring on offense, scoring at a 42 points per game clip. Quarterback Brett Ellis (6-0, 168, jr.) has thrown for 589 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for two touchdowns. The Eagles struggled running the ball against Hayti, gaining only 56 yards rushing. Meanwhile Malden has thrived at scoring and rushing, averaging 56.5 points while pounding out 339 rushing yards per contest. They are led by running back Dremond Robinson (5-6, 180, sr.). Robinson has gained 462 yards with nine touchdowns. Running back Nick Thompson (5-11, 221, jr.) has gained 248 yards on just 18 carries with three touchdowns while quarterback Chapen Riley (6-3, 203, jr.) has also been stellar, throwing for 377 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions. While the Malden offense is throttling opponents, their defense has been just as tough, giving up just 10 points per game. The Green Wave forced four turnovers last week, giving them 13 for the season.

Portageville at Hayti
Records: Portageville 2-2; Hayti 2-2
Series History: Portageville leads 43-25-3
Last Meeting: 2013, Portageville won 18-12
Last Week: Portageville lost to Piggott, Ark. 30-21; Hayti lost to East Prairie 32-28
Outlook: Portageville let a 21-8 second half lead slip away last week against Piggott, Ark. thanks to penalties and mistakes. The Bulldogs were penalized 13 times for 90 yards, turned the ball over twice and had a punt blocked that led to the go-ahead score last week against the Mohawks. Portageville had 273 yards of offense against Piggott but only 58 yards in the second half. Running back Daniel McCray finished with 114 yards on 20 carries but had just six yards on five carries in the second half. Quarterback Jon Garrett Kellams was 6 of 12 passing for 105 yards and an interception. The Bulldogs defense blocked a punt that was recovered for a touchdown and allowed just 267 total yards. Hayti was another team that shot itself in the foot last week, giving up two fumbles for touchdowns in the last minute of the first half. The Indians are putting up 37 points per game on the season. Quarterback Maurice Farr (6-0, 185, so.) connected with Dayon Moore (6-1, 185, fr.) last week and also looks to receiver Devin Riddick (6-2, 215, sr.). Junior running back Jamal Brooks (5-7, 161, jr.) leads the rushing attack while fullback Cedric Fields (5-10, 215, sr.) will also see his share of carries. Senior middle linebacker Rayshon Stringfellow has big play ability on defense, recovering a key fumble late in the game against East Prairie last week.

Kelly at Fulton Co., Ky
Records: Kelly 1-3; Fulton County 1-3
Series History: First meeting
Last Week: Kelly lost to Confluence Prep Academy 37-6; Fulton County lost 50-0 to South Fulton, Tenn.
Outlook: One week after getting their first win as a varsity program, Kelly stumbled against Confluence Prep on the road last week. The Kelly defense struggled to tackle the Titans quick, athletics runners, giving up 362 yards on the ground and an additional 92 in the air. Halfback Matthew Burford (5-6, 175, jr.) scored the Hawks' only touchdown against Confluence Prep as the Hawks could gain only 72 yards on the ground. Quarterback Kyle Fitzgerald (6-0, 175, so.) threw for 69 yards but the Hawks turned the ball over three times. Fulton County has lost three games this season, all to Tennessee schools by a combined score of 117-12. The Titans lone win came over winless Fulton City, Ky. 20-18 in Week 3. Since 2007, Fulton County has a record of 9-66, winning two games in a season only twice in that span (2007, 2011).

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