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Gridiron primer: A look at upcoming football schedules (5/2/24)The calendar has turned to May and the spring sports season, as well as the 2023-24 school year, is beginning to wind down. However, with the recent releases of fall schedules for the 2024-25 school year, one can not help but look forward beyond the dog days of summer and into the 2024 high school football season...
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Graham signs at Missouri S & T to play two sports (5/2/24)One of the best athletes to come through Poplar Bluff High School in recent years has decided where he will play at the collegiate level. Three-sport (track and field, football and basketball) standout Darius Graham signed his letter of intent Wednesday to play football and compete in track and field at Missouri S&T in Rolla...
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St. Joseph named new MSHSAA football championships host starting 2024 (4/30/24)For the first time since 1995, the MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl, the series of high school football state championships, won’t be in the Edward Jones Dome or at Faurot Field. Instead, the event has reportedly been scheduled to move to St. Joseph, Missouri, as soon as the 2024 season for some teams, moving to Missouri Western State’s Spratt Stadium...
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Fred Garmon is new Hayti AD (4/26/24)Kennett High School class of 2011 grad and former Indians basketball head coach Fred Garmon confirmed Friday that he accepted the Athletic Director position at Hayti R-II School District. More on the announcement as the story develops.
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Portageville record-setting running back Jamarion Smith signs with SEMO (4/11/24)PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — With every carry, Jamarion Smith is out to prove something. Few could have predicted the meteoric rise of Portageville running back, but after a quiet start to his high school career, an engine that never quits and tireless drive transformed him into a record-breaking force...
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Cape Central’s Kent Gibbs awarded Gerald Linneman Lifetime Achievement Award (4/11/24)Cape Central football coach and Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer Kent Gibbs added another honor to his resume. Gibbs was awarded the Gerald Linneman Lifetime Achievement Award at the Missouri Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA) Conference last weekend...
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Gorman finds perfect fit with Central Methodist (3/14/24)SIKESTON — They say the best cornerbacks are rarely noticed – dictating the game in the shadows. Sikeston’s Trey Gorman took that principle to heart. Opponents actively avoided throwing his way – his 19 pass breakups and single interception spoke volumes, even within limited opportunities. His lockdown reputation, forged in the face of those challenges, ultimately earned him a spot on the Central Methodist University roster...
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Quincy lands Sikeston powerhouse Keodrick Sherrod (3/8/24)SIKESTON — Game film doesn't lie. Watch Keodrick Sherrod run, and a few things become clear: this kid hits the hole with force, runs with a low center of gravity, and sheds tacklers. His hard-charging style makes defenders flinch and linebackers brace for impact...
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Former Doniphan athlete walks on at William Woods University (3/4/24)DONIPHAN - Doniphan High School graduate Sean Gazaway has been awarded a football scholarship to play in the inaugural season at William Woods University. 2024 will be the first year in the university’s 153-year history to field a competitive football team, and Gazaway will be part of the historic first roster...
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Scott City hires new football head coach (2/23/24)Scott City High School announced the hiring of Donelson Christian Academy defensive coordinator Brian Beaubien as the new head coach for the football program on Thursday, Feb. 22. Before spending seven years in the DCA coaching staff in Nashville, Tenn., Beaubien was also the head coach at Kenwood High School in Clarksville, Tenn. While he’s spent much of his coaching career in Tennessee, Beaubien has ties to Southeast Missouri. His wife, Megan Beaubien, was born in Sikeston, Mo...
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Saxony Lutheran has a football coach and vision for new program (2/22/24)Within a month of announcing a new football program, Saxony Lutheran High School brought in a familiar face to lead it. OJ Turner, a former football star at Cape Central and Southeast Missouri State was hired as the new head coach on Wednesday, Feb. 21, in Jackson, Mo. Turner also played arena football in St. Louis for the River City Rage...
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Mannon named Mules football coach (2/20/24)The search is finally over, as the Poplar Bluff Mules have named Jeff Mannon as their new head football coach. Mannon has been on the staff for the last 15 years as the assistant — and also played on the Mules’ last district championship squad in 2000 — and now he gets the opportunity to run the show...
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Jackson QB Adrian Fox stays home, signs with SEMO (2/8/24)Jackson senior Adrian Fox only had one chance to prove that he not only had what it took to be a starting quarterback in the highest class of high school in Missouri, but also at the collegiate level. He proved to be the real deal, as he finished the season with over 1,900 passing yards while leading the Fighting Indians to a district championship...
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Poplar Bluff's Wontor signs with McKendree University (2/8/24)Playing at the next level in sports takes a different commitment, and Poplar Bluff High School football senior Romeoh Wontor is ready for the challenge. After a solid season with the Mules, Wontor is ready for the next chapter in his football career. With family and teammates in attendance, Wontor signed his National Letter of Intent to play football for the McKendree University Bearcats...
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Scott City senior duo makes college football future official (2/7/24)Mark Panagos and Tyson Underwood have spent their entire careers as two of Scott City's top athletes over the last four years, especially on the gridiron. On Wednesday, what has long felt like the inevitable became reality, as the senior duo signed their letter of intent to play college football in front of coaches, friends, and family...
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Dexter senior FB standout follows Mahomes' path in all-star outing (1/30/24)Dexter High School senior defensive back Rhyder Williams may not appear to have that much in common with Super Bowl champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, but in actuality, he does.
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A New Chapter Begins: Treston Pulley steps in as Malden's head football coach (1/24/24)MALDEN, Mo. — Hope surged through Malden today as Treston Pulley was introduced as the Green Wave’s new head football coach. Pulley, a coach with his eyes squarely on resurrecting the program’s storied past, didn’t peddle empty promises, he spoke of hard work, the setbacks and the long journey ahead...
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Jim May leaves Scott City to coach Sikeston (1/10/24)Sikeston needed to land a big name to run the football program and that’s exactly what it got with the hiring of Scott City head coach Jim May, as announced on Wednesday via Facebook. May comes to Sikeston High School after coaching the Rams for 15 years, racking up a record of 84-76...
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End of an era: Sievers retiring as Mules football coach (1/3/24)Stepping down from any profession is a tough decision for anyone, but after more than three decades with the Poplar Bluff Mules football program — including the last six as head coach — David Sievers is ready to move on...
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Redhawk reunion made official as Coon inks SEMO football NLI (12/20/23)After making his initial commitment back in August, Zane Coon celebrated college football’s National Signing Day by putting pen to paper and inking his National Letter of Intent to Southeast Missouri State University. Taking place in Jackson High School’s Event Center commons, Coon’s signing confirmed that he’d join his father, SEMO defensive coordinator Ricky Coon, as a Redhawk football player...
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Mules football receives postseason accolades (12/15/23)Despite the short run in the football playoffs, the Poplar Bluff Mules still saw individual success by having multiple players receive high honors for their performance on the field and in the classroom. The Mules finished with a 5-5 record on the sea-son and finished as the number one seed in their dis-trict. ...
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Caruthersville leader finds disciplinary action for his student-athletes 'hard to swallow' (12/7/23)One week following a “physical confrontation” at the Bulldog Classic basketball tournament at Gideon High School, which resulted in all Caruthersville Junior High and High School athletic teams being suspended from competition within the Bootheel Athletic Conference throughout the remainder of the 2023-24 academic year, the conference issued information regarding the matter.
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Portageville’s Jamarion Smith wins Carr Trophy (12/1/23)POPLAR BLUFF, MO. — Portageville’s Jamarion Smith, a point-producing phenom who outscored half of the SEMO Conference this season, was crowned the 2023 E.E. “Bus” Trophy winner at the 2023 Poplar Bluff Letter Club Gridiron Banquet on Wednesday, Nov. 29...
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SEMO Conference Football Awards: Hite wins Derland Moore award (11/30/23)Many athletes in the surrounding areas gathered at the Black River Coliseum to be recognized for the hard work and dedication they applied to the football field all season. The 2023 Poplar Bluff Letter Club Gridiron Banquet presented by the Poplar Bluff Letter Club is an event to applaud all the football players who played outstandingly throughout the season and to present the players with a selection of SEMO Conference awards...
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2023 TOP 10: Jackson finishes on top, grades for each team's season (11/27/23)The season is finally over for the Semoball area. After 14 weeks of games, Cape Central and St. Vincent went on the road and lost as the final two remaining teams in the area. With our final edition of the rankings for 2023, we’re going to run back through each team’s season and grade how they performed with the talent that they brought into the season...
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Fulkerson delivers impactful message on life, athletics to his beloved Bearcats (11/27/23)If there was ever a philosophy followed by the 2023 Dexter High School football squad, it was to always get up when knocked down. The Bearcats lost 3 of their 10 games this past season, but never consecutive games.
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St. Vincent football sees season end in state semifinals (11/26/23)The St. Vincent football team traveled all the way to Marionville to see their season end on Saturday in the Class 1 semifinals. The Marionville duo of Cash Pomeroy and Hugh Eaton were virtually impossible to stop, as they rushed for a combined 255 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Comets (13-0) past the Indians (9-4) 38-7 to reach the state championship for the first time in 17 years...
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Cardinal Ritter outduels, flies by Cape Central in high-scoring semifinal clash (11/25/23)For the second consecutive year, the Cape Central Tigers rode the wave from a slow start all the way to a Class 5 semifinal. Tasked against the undefeated Cardinal Ritter College Prep Lions on the road, though, the Tigers faltered in the spotlight with a 52-22 loss...
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St. Vincent travels to Marionville looking to reach state championship game (11/24/23)The last time the St. Vincent Indians won a district championship was in 2009. The last time the Indians won a state title was in 2004. The Indians ended the district drought last week, and a win against Marionville in the Class 1 state semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 25, will put them in position to end the championship drought...
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Three key players for the Cape Central Tigers in semifinal clash with Cardinal Ritter (11/21/23)When it gets to this point of the season it may seem repetitive to constantly analyze three keys for any team still playing. The Cape Central Tigers are no different. When they take on Cardinal Ritter at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25, players, coaches and fans alike know what it will take for the Tigers to go on the road and earn a trip to the Class 5 State Title game...
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Portageville falls short in district championship (11/21/23)MARIONVILLE, Mo. — Portageville’s aspirations of capturing the MSHSAA Class 1, District 1 Championship were extinguished on Saturday afternoon, succumbing to a resilient Marionville squad in a closely contested 17-14 battle. “[Marionville] is an excellent team,” said Portageville coach Ian Penrod. ...
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WEEK 14 TOP 10: Cape Central, St. Vincent rise after quarterfinal wins (11/20/23)The number of teams remaining in the area has been chopped in half over the past week. Last week’s top two teams – Jackson and Portageville – both went down in heartbreaking defeats to some of the classes’ top dogs while Cape Central and St. Vincent marched on to the semifinals...
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Cape Central lean on two-back power attack to return to Class 5 semifinals (11/19/23)For the second straight season, the Cape Central Tigers are in the Class 5 semifinals. The Tigers traveled to Eureka and defeated the Wildcats 32-29 on Saturday, No. 18, by relying on their bread and butter, running backs Zai’Aire Thomas and KeyShawn Boyd...
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Miscues cost Jackson in crushing quarterfinal loss to Christian Brothers (11/18/23)Going into the Indians' quarterfinal matchup, the expectation firmly stood that Jackson needed to play a great game of football to take down the back-to-back Class 6 champions in Christian Brothers. Despite leading in the second half, miscues ended up costing the Indians their season in a 35-23 loss...
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'14 years too many'; St. Vincent wins first district title since 2009 (11/18/23)It's been 14 years since the St. Vincent football team won a district championship. 2009 was so long ago that Indians head coach Tim Schumer was the quarterback for that team. "A long time coming," Schumer said. "14 years too many." The Indians completed their Class 1 District 2 domination with a 45-14 win over Crystal City on Friday, Nov. ...
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Dexter FB found success quicker than most thought in 2023 (11/18/23)With each passing weekend, the football seasons for high school programs throughout Missouri begin to find their place in memories and yearbooks, as opposed to continuing on the turf.
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Sikeston head football coach Treston Pulley resigns (11/17/23)SIKESTON — After leading the Sikeston football program for three seasons, head coach Treston Pulley announced he is stepping down from the position. “God works in mysterious ways,” Pulley said. “I am blessed to have led my alma mater for the past three years. Coaching is a true love and passion. Stepping down as the head football coach at Sikeston is the correct move for me and my family.”...
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Three keys to Cape Central’s road battle with Eureka (11/16/23)For the second consecutive year the Cape Central Tigers will hit the road for the Class 5 state quarterfinals. A season ago the Tigers defeated MICDS 14-10 to advance to the state semifinals, now the Tigers look to do the same as they play a Eureka squad that just took down previously undefeated Rockwood Summit in the district title game...
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Former Don donates helmet to local restaurant (11/16/23)Dr. James Hunt was a member of the first Doniphan Dons football team when he was a freshman in high school. Hunt wasn’t the biggest or the strongest or the fastest but he found a niche in football, a sport he loved from hearing stories of his father who was a running back at Springfield Catholic in the 1940s. Hunt’s father was also a member of a perfect season during his senior in 1945. ...
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Three keys to Jackson football’s quarterfinal bout with Christian Brothers (11/15/23)For the first time since 2001, Jackson is appearing in the quarterfinal round of MSHSAA’s top class. Winning its first Class 6 district championship against Seckman last Friday, Jackson makes its way to a home quarterfinal game after an early exit a year ago...
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WEEK 13 TOP 10: Jackson stomps Seckman in district title, Portageville thrashes Thayer (11/13/23)As the teams continue to get whittled down, more of them emerge as the year’s most successful teams. Some of these teams are still dominating the competition, while others are starting to face their toughest competitors of the season. Jackson, Portageville and St. Vincent all won big this past week. Cape Central maintained the game against Farmington and came away with a district title, but Scott City fell to Valle Catholic on the road...
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Portageville thumps Thayer 49-8 with stunning offense and stone-cold defense (11/12/23)PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Like a swarm of agitated rattlesnakes, Portageville unleashed a venomous wrath on Thayer in a MSHSAA Class 1, District 1 semifinal at Vic Reaves Athletic Field. Striking with relentless force en route to a resounding 49-8 victory on Friday, November 10, the Bulldogs (10-1) were in attack mode, delivering bone-crushing tackles and punishing blocks that left the Bobcats (6-5) trapped in the fangs of defeat...
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Jackson rolls to district title in first-half obliteration of undefeated Seckman (11/11/23)Jackson football entered its Class 6 District 1 championship game on the road against 10-0 Seckman as a slim favorite, but it didn’t take any time before the Indians started trampling the hosts en route to a 55-21 win. Seckman’s stout defense couldn’t find an answer for Jackson in the first half as the Indians continued to pile on points, eventually building a 48-0 lead by the break before sending in the reserves for the second half...
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Cape Central wins second straight district title with win over Farmington (11/11/23)After an inauspicious start that resulted in a Farmington score, the Cape Central Tigers rolled to a 37-13 win over the Knights to win the Class 5 District 1 title on Friday at Cape Central High School. The win was the second consecutive district title for the Tigers...
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Scott City's season ends in C2D1 championship game (11/11/23)The absolute reality of high school football in Missouri is only one team will end their season in triumph. Everyone else will feel the pain of finality. It's just a matter of when not if. Every team this deep into the playoffs eventually runs into a buzzsaw, a brick wall that seems impenetrable. When the clock hits zero, the reality of the end of a senior's identity as a football player hits with a sudden thud, like the moment their heart stops beating...
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St. Vincent vanquish Van-Far, advance to C1D2 title game (11/11/23)St. Vincent dominated Van-Far 42-6 in the battle of the Indians on Friday, Nov. 10, in the Class 1 District 2 semifinals in Perryville, Mo. St. Vincent (8-3) has now won six games in a row since starting the season 2-3. "I think we did amazing," St. Vincent quarterback Christian Schaaf said. "Our line did everything we could ever ask for. The running backs were hitting the holes and were there to get yards. The receivers were getting open, and making plays. Everybody was working this weekend."...
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Carr Trophy and Derland Moore Award Finalists announced (11/10/23)The finalists for the Carr Trophy and the Derland Moore Award were released on Friday, November 10. The winners of the awards will be announced at the 78th Poplar Bluff Letter Club Gridiron Banquet on Wednesday, November 29 at Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff...
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Three keys to St. Vincent’s C1D2 semifinal matchup with Van-Far (11/9/23)Lost in the district title runs of Jackson, Cape Central and Scott City is the early phases of a similar postseason run in Perryville, Mo. St. Vincent (7-3) has won five straight games and is the front runner to win the Class 1 District 2 championship. The Indians have repeated as I55 Conference champions but have not won a district title since 2006...
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Portageville Brotherhood: Bulldogs' shared spirit lifts team to new heights (11/9/23)PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Portageville's football team has rewritten the playbook, proving that success is not just about individual talent but about the collective power of brotherhood. Their winning formula is not found in complex strategies or intricate plays; it's etched in the unwavering support, shared sacrifices, and unbreakable bond that binds them together. This brotherhood is their shield, their compass, and their driving force, propelling them atop of Class 1 football...
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PB wrap up football season, look for growth in offseason (11/9/23)What was supposed to be a long run in the playoffs ended with a state of shock around Mules Stadium. The chances of returning to the district championship were stripped away as a rollercoaster football season came to a close at Poplar Bluff High School...