Nobody asked me but...it was an enjoyable experience for this scribe to cover the North County/NMCC game last Friday night. The Raiders will be a load for anyone to stop this year. With their running backs and huge offensive line, look for North County to once again advance far in Class 4.
Nobody asked me but...if linemen Jake Goforth of North County is not a Division-I prospect, then I don't know who is. Goforth is big (6-4, 280) and mobile. He stays low on point-of-contact and finishes the blocks off well. Linemen don't get much publicity but if you have the chance to see North County play, make a special attempt to watch Jake Goforth.
Nobody asked me but...give credit to the NMCC football team. Down 42-7 against North County at half, they could have came out in the second half and just laid down. But the Eagles found some pride and played even with the Raiders the rest of the game. You can't say that North County put in their second and third teams, North County played their starters on both sides of the football way into the fourth quarter.
Nobody asked me but...it was interesting to see that North County let their little league football players strap it up before the game. About an hour before kickoff, the little league football program in the North County area got a chance to show the high school crowd what they could do. Four little league teams split the field and played against each other for about 20 minutes.
This would be an excellent idea for Sikeston to implement to let aspiring players feel like big-timers as they play on the high school field. What a kick it would be for the players and their parents. Plus it might get kids more interested in playing football. There is something to North County's success and it starts at the little league level.
Nobody asked me but...the game of the week will pit Caruthersville against Charleston at Marshall Field in Charleston.
The Tigers have dismantled their first two opponents in Sikeston and Kennett. Against the same two teams, Charleston has struggled to put up two wins. Quarterback Keith Creekmore and running back Kendrickus Reed of the Tigers should be too much for Charleston to handle. The Tigers should leave Bluejay Country with a 42-21 victory.
Nobody asked me but...if Charleston expects big things this year, they need to broaden their play-calling. Let their big tight end, Jamarcus Williams, have some touches. The best athlete on the field is not being shut down by the opposing teams but by his own coaching staff.
Nobody asked me but...Dexter will notch their first victory of the season and keep Sikeston winless as the two clash at Dexter. The Bulldogs came close against Charleston and look for it to be another nail-biter but the Bearcats will see a big game from running back Alex Becker and win 20-14.
Nobody asked me but...Class 4, District 1 is a total mess. All four teams have lost their first two games of the year. Sound familiar? Last football season, Sikeston, Cape Central, Poplar Bluff and West Plains all lost their first three games of the season. Don't be shocked if the winner of that district is under .500 for the season. Somewhere, the North County Raiders are smiling.
Nobody asked me but...if you have a free Friday night, make the trek to Hayti and watch the most explosive football team in the area. If you like offense, the Hayti Indians can oblige. Against East Prairie, the Indians scored 36 points and against Malden lit up the scoreboard for 54 points.
And finally, nobody asked me but...will everyone that is jumping on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football bandwagon, please take a deep breathe and relax. The victory against the University of Pittsburgh is not a big deal as they were beat by the mighty Ohio University.
While the win against Michigan was big because Notre Dame won at the Big House, look closer and you will see that the Irish were lucky to gain the victory. Michigan's first string running back, Michael Hart, injured his hamstring early in the game and Michigan made bone-headed decisions in the red zone that led to costly turnovers.
Notre Dame is overrated and will lose this weekend at home against Michigan State.