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Bulldogs look for third straight
Young, talented Eagles will test Sikeston defense
SIKESTON - Ask any Sikeston Bulldog fan, coach or player what their favorite game was a year ago, and they would most likely point to the New Madrid County Central game.
It was in New Madrid that the Bulldogs shocked the eventual Class 3A runner-up Eagles 25-14, marking one of the biggest upsets of the year.
The two will square off again on Friday at Sikeston Public Schools Stadium at 7:30 on homecoming night for the Bulldogs.
Most of the players graduated from NMCC's 12-2 squad, but that doesn't make the Eagles a pushover.
NMCC enters the contest with a 2-3 record, but they are coming off an impressive 41-10 rout of SEMO Central foe Caruthersville.
The Eagles opened the season with consecutive losses to large schools Jonesboro (Ark.) 37-0 and Cape Central 31-0.
But since then they have won two of their last three, including a come-from-behind victory against Farmington 24-21 on the road.
The other loss came to rival Charleston 35-32 two weeks ago.
"They're young, but they've got a lot of talent," said Sikeston head coach Charlie Vickery. "I think they're really improving each week. They're going to be a good football team -- they've already started to become one. They've played some tough people, they've gotten some experience, so they're on their way."
At 4-1, Sikeston is off to its best start since 1998.
NMCC is off to its worst start since 1996, and Friday night they will be playing on a field where they have only won one time in school history.
So have the Eagles been looking forward to this game since last year's upset?
"We really haven't mentioned anything about last year," said NMCC head coach Steve Rogers. "We'd gotten on a pretty good role, we were reading our press clippings and maybe thought we were a little better than what we were. Sikeston came in and snuck up on us and out-played in front of our home crowd. Hopefully we won't fall into that same trap."
Like last year, this year's team can be explosive too. Led by quarterback Remond Willis, a converted offensive guard, the Eagles have speed at all the skill positions. Willis leads the team with 405 yards on the ground on 56 attempts with four touchdown runs.
He's thrown for 232 yards, completing 13-of-39 with three touchdown tosses and two interceptions.
Rogers said Willis is doing everything asked of him in his first season at quarterback.
"He gives us a lot of versatility," said Rogers. "He's a big, strong kid. He can throw the football, he runs the option real well, you're not going to arm tackle him and bring him down. He's a real good leader, the kids respond to him well. I think he's done an excellent job when you consider he was an all-conference guard last year."
Willis took over the position when projected starter Chris Nance went down in the preseason with a shoulder injury.
Rogers has moved several players around. Wide receiver turned running back Mack Kimble has 288 yards rushing on 50 carries. Tailback Bryan Williams follows up with 126 yards rushing.
Edgar Givens in the top receiver, hauling in eight passes for 138 yards with a score.
"They've got outstanding overall team speed," said Vickery. "They've got a couple of running backs, that if they get outside, are good strong, hard runners. They've got pretty good size. I think they're a typical New Madrid ballclub. They play good defense and they're very explosive offensively."
But the Bulldogs counter with a suffocating defense that has allowed the second fewest points in the SEMO Conference of teams that have played a full schedule.
Leading the way is the ball-hawking Jacob Priday, who has an astounding 100 tackles this year with countless stops for loss.
Senior linebacker Elgin Hunt is the next closest with 50 tackles.
"It's going to take a very good defensive effort to slow them down and if we're not up to the challenge it could be a long night for us," said Vickery. "But I feel like we're going to come out and play well."
Perhaps concerning Vickery even more is an offense that has struggled putting the ball in the end zone this year.
The Bulldogs have yet to crack the 30-point mark this year and they only posted 14 in last week's win against Farmington.
Vickery says the offense isn't so much the problem as penalties and missed assignments.
"You don't throw out your offense, you just want to work on it and improve on it," said Vickery. "I think our line is growing and improving. It's just a matter of consistency. We've got to cut down on our mistakes. We're making a lot of mental errors and penalties, but once we eliminate those we can be a pretty good offensive football team."
Quarterback Blake DeWitt has thrown for 375 yards, completing 23-of-58 attempts. He's also rushed for 246 yards including four TD runs.
Tailback Lavar Morgan leads the Bulldog ground game with 350 yards.
Scotty Keenan is the leading receiver, catching six passes for 138 yards with two scores.
"I'm impressed with their receivers, running backs and quarterback," said Rogers. "They've got a sound kicking game and their defense really flies to the football. They're just a well-rounded team. They remind me of Cape in the fact that what we've seen on film, we can't find any weaknesses."