Nobody asked me but...the Sikeston football team opened up a renovated Sapp Stadium last Friday night with a whimper against the Caruthersville Tigers.
Tiger running back Kendrickus Reed put on a show and I don't think he still has been tackled by the Bulldog defense. Reed finished with 359 yards and is clearly the front-runner for the Carr Trophy.
Sikeston did have some bright spots and should recover from the defeat. Running back Byron Davis looks to be solid and has the breakaway speed that the Bulldogs have been lacking for a while.
Junior Chase Ferrell seems to be maturing fine at quarterback and should have a good season. Even though the score was 38-8 in favor of the Tigers, don't forget Sikeston fans that the Bulldogs had the football inside their own 5-yard line three times and didn't score. Two fumbles and a turnover on downs later, things could have been different.
* It is hard to believe that Hayti's offensive and defensive lines are from a Class 1 team. The Maginot Line has nothing on these guys. Led by 6-foot-6, 265-pound junior William Cooper, the Indians look to do some damage this season in Class 1.
Hayti throttled what was once believed to be a solid East Prairie team. The Indians defense swarmed and frustrated the Eagles all game long.
East Prairie seemed to dissolve into something totally different from a cohesive unit. I haven't seen that total a self-destruction by more than one person since Sid and Nancy of Sex Pistols fame.
* As for this week, upset special award will go to Sikeston as they will beat the Charleston Bluejays. 'Jays quarterback Justin Clark's status is unclear after an ankle injury during the Kennett game last week.
With or without Clark, the Bulldogs should wear down Charleston and win a low scoring game, 20-13.
* Hayti and Malden should have a battle this Friday. The Green Wave had three running backs with over 100 yards in the win against Scott City, while Hayti has shown the ability to shut down a premier back.
I am a believer in Hayti head coach David Gilmore and think his squad will have too much muscle up front for Malden. Indians over the Green Wave 34
-14.
* New Madrid County Central head football coach Arlen Pixley appears to have the makings of a pretty solid team this year. The Eagles will travel to Cape Central to take on a young Tiger unit.
Junior Leslie Williams is looking for a breakout season after running for three touchdowns and passing for another in the win over St. Pius. I love a quarterback who is a threat not only through the air, but on the ground as well.
NMCC will get win No. 2 with a 30-17 victory over the Tigers.
* The St. Louis Rams open up the NFL season by facing the Denver Broncos. Too bad for the Rams. Don't worry Ram fans, the Blues open up their season in a little under two months.
* Watching the U.S. Open tennis match with Andre Agassi versus Marcos Baghdatis was pure magic last week. Agassi willed his way to victory over the younger Baghdatis.
Tennis doesn't get much better than at the U.S. Open with the boisterous New York City crowd. I don't know about you, but I miss the 'image is everything' Agassi from the Cannon commercials.
And finally, nobody asked me but...sometimes I forget when I cover high school athletes that they ARE high school athletes. They sometimes make illogical and immature decisions on the playing field.
Heck, I still make illogical and immature decisions. The key is for the athletes to learn from their mistakes and although it is hard, admit when they make a mistake. I am all for second chances, but when it gets to the eighth or ninth chance, a line has to be drawn and lessons have to be taught.