Sikeston hoping for positive regular season ending against state-ranked Cardinal Ritter

sports@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- With district play starting next week, Sikeston coach Kent Gibbs knows of the importance of finishing the regular season on a winning note.

And Cardinal Ritter, the Bulldogs' opponent tomorrow night at Sikeston Public Schools Stadium, has played the ultimate spoiler in the past.

Ritter, which ruined Sikeston's undefeated season in a come from behind victory three years ago and then blanked the Bulldogs the following year, comes into tomorrow night's game 7-1 and state-ranked, losing its only game in the season opener against powerhouse John Burroughs, 33-6.

Since that game, the Lions have won seven straight by an average score of 46 to 23.

Sikeston defeated Cardinal Ritter in last year's finale in St. Louis, 20-0. The win helped propel the Bulldogs to its sixth straight winning season, including a 55-14 win over Farmington in the first round of district play.

"They're 7-1 and ranked in the state and I'm sure they're going to want to come down and get after us after last year's game," Gibbs said. "They do a really good job of getting their kids ready. They do a good job of putting their kids in positions to succeed. We've got our work cut out for us."

The Bulldogs will attempt to slow down a Ritter offense that has gashed nearly all of its opponents with a potent rushing attack and has topped 50 points three times.

"Offensively they're going to run an ace-formation, double-wide, double-wing. A lot of misdirection stuff," Gibbs said. "They really want to run the football. The challenge for us is make sure that we stay home and know our assignments on defense. Offensively they're really active up front. They give you a lot of different looks and we've got to be able to adjust to those looks and get off the ball and change the line of scrimmage."

Leading the way for the Lions is Naeem Moore, a 6-foot, 205-pound senior running back.

Moore has put up monster numbers, rushing for 1,729 yards with 19 touchdowns. He averages a staggering 14.1 yards per carry.

Fullback Jared Price, a 5-8, 220-pound sophomore, has rushed for 882 yards with 13 touchdowns. He averages 7.4 yards per carry.

"[Moore] is a very good football player," Gibbs said. "[Price], their fullback, does a nice job of hitting the quick stuff inside. He's a load. It's going to be tough as far as not letting their misdirection get us planted in concrete to where they get the edge. If they get the edge [Moore] can run and he's shown he can score."

Running back Jarred Phillips has rushed for 487 yards with six touchdowns. He averages 11.6 yards per carry.

At quarterback is 5-11, 160-pound senior Terrell Wess, who has thrown for 471 yards, completing 26 of 64 passes (40 percent) with six touchdowns and three interceptions.

His top target is Eric Bryce, a 6-2, 180-pound junior. He has 12 catches for 221 yards and a pair of scores.

The Lions do appear to have some vulnerability on defense, where they have surrendered 30 or more points four times, including 41 last week to Priory.

"They give you a lot of different looks on defense," Gibbs said.

Last week Sikeston snapped a two-game losing streak with an impressive 42-12 win over Soldan. Gibbs is hoping it carries over tomorrow night.

"I thought we did what we needed to do," Gibbs said. "We took care of our assignments offensively and defensively. We ran really well to the ball. We missed a pick or two that we had, but still we had people in position to make plays. And that's what you've got to have from here on out."

The Bulldogs' offense churned out a season-high 408 yards rushing against Soldan with Victwon Riley hitting a season-high 160 yards. He leads the team with 747 yards rushing with 13 touchdowns. Earnest Fobbs follows up with 633 yards with seven touchdowns.

Quarterback Nathan Hampton has thrown for 646 yards, completing 44 of 87 passes (51 percent) with five touchdowns and two interceptions.

Fobbs leads the team in receiving with 17 receptions for 220 yards and a pair of scores.

"I think the big thing is for us is that we approached last week after the Jackson game, 'concentrate on being 6-2,'" Gibbs said. "That's what we've tried to do this week. 'Be 7-2. Be 7-2. Be willing to give that little bit of extra effort that can get us to 7-2 instead of 6-3 going into the playoffs.' Hopefully that's what we'll give and we'll be ready to go."

In 2012, Sikeston entered the Cardinal Ritter game with an 8-0 record and ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 4. The Bulldogs were attempting to finish the regular season undefeated for the third time in four years and appeared well on its way to doing that, but the Lions scored 16 points in a matter of 10 seconds to rally past the Bulldogs in the final seconds 24-16.

The following year, Ritter dominated the Bulldogs 20-0 as Sikeston dropped four of its last five that year.

The Bulldogs finally got over the hump and defeated the Lions last year.

"It's that time of the year where if you're going half-speed and the effort's not good and the attitude's not good, we're past all that," Gibbs said. "We've got to play sound football from here on out."