As a Sikeston fan, I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that Sikeston wins. I can see scenarios where either team would win. I think Sikeston's D is pretty stout (Friday night will be the "test") and the O has big play capability (although not as much as the recent past). Sikeston's Achilles heel is the pass. If Sikeston doesn't get pressure on the QB, Jackson could have a field day. However, I think Sikeston's front 4, will be able to contain the run and force Jackson to pass. Sikeston will have to get pressure with the front 4, mainly, and drop the LB's back in coverage. A good-timed blitz will help as well. The Dogs have used their D as offense recently. I wouldn't be surprised at a pick six by the Dogs.

Sikeston's O, on the other hand, will have to establish some passing. Jackson will stack the box to stop the Dogs running attck. The slants and bubble screens SHOULD be open. If the Jackson D misses on the first tackle and the Dogs RB's get to the LB's or secondary, Jackson will have a long night.

I haven't seen Jackson on film, so I don't know how they look. I'm sure they are well-disciplined and well-coached. They will have to contend with the Dogs' speed too. As you know...speed kills!

I think this game is going to come down to big plays because Sikeston thus far this year has not shown that they can work the ball down the field consistently on offense and Sikeston's defense is stout, in the run game especially. So for Jackson to win they will have to throw the ball. Kylan will have another good game running the ball for the same reason he has pretty much all year, He's the quickest, fastest player in Semo In my opinion. oh and For Sikeston to win they will have to throw the ball effectively to help the run game out.

He is a member of the state champion 4x200 relay team and runner-up 4x100 relay team. The key thing to note is: he's really fast.

Why is he good? It's not cause he's a great thrower. If you watch the game his separation when he gets in space is unreal. If he gets behind anyone's D he's gonna score, Nobody is gonna run him down. I promise he can run with anyone down here in football pads anyone that can start at Sikeston as a sophomore and a small sophomore at that, can run like the wind. The kid as a sophomore could run with the likes of Trey Lewis and Darryl Howard. Sikeston has speed like most places around here dont understand. Check the track in spring time I promise he can run with just about anybody around here.

Well I'll tell you this much for a fact He's faster than anyone On Jackson's team and well if you know anything about Sikeston football you'll know what he did to cape last year... Heck he's so fast he made Their QB last year look good. haha that made me chuckle

Actually Brannon Wright for Jackson is prolly faster

I've personally seen Brannon Wright beat Kylan in track year after year. But this is football season so lets worry about the game Friday. I believe Sikeston's speed overall will hurt the Indians, but I see Jackson winning a close one as long as they take care of the ball.

I just know one thing... Jackson is quicker than most would think, their overall team speed isn't amazing, but they have several who can and will run most backs down!!! Their wr's do a great job on blocking and they run great routes. I personally don't think Sikeston's Defense will stop the Jackson pass attack and I'm not sure if Jackson can stop Sikeston's outside running game. As for Kyland Gross, he is super quick and probably one of the fastest players I have "EVER" shared the field with, plus he is an upgrade for them at QB compared to last season. Sikeston is just a better team with a quality mobile qb(if they can't throw)...

If Gross could just throw the check down pass as well as other Sikeston QB's in the past, all I can say is watchout. It looks to me, after watching the Dome game against Farmington, that he only looks at one receiver the whole play. He doesn't ever check down or go through to the 2nd or 3rd read. If he can develop this over the next couple weeks... I don't feel as good about our chances!

Jackson proved me wrong, but I knew we could play with them and we did!!!

Speed is a great thing.....I recall a few years ago when no one thought a team from Jeff City Helias, could keep up with all the advertised, and heralded speed Sikeston had.....that team had great speed. Ask anyone.

Helias , had great team speed as well..but for those of you who can recall, it was the EF Hutton kind....( E F Hutton, The Quiet Company) I am dating myself......but...I figured that out about an hour before game time, when I read Helias roster breakdown.

2 Linebackers.....both who squatted over 400, benched over 300, and ran 4.4/ 4.5 40's........and on their 2nd , maybe first play from scrimmage...they optioned that little shuttle run to the offensive left......and 68 yards later, give him 6....

That was an eye opener.....gave Helias confidence...and for the first time that year...after 13 games.....Sikeston's defense had a real challenge. Helias went on to win. Their coaching staff said it was their best performance of the year......Sikeston's worst. That was obviously a different time, different team....

n it's own way , Sikeston , Jackson game.....will also be a test for both . All I read is speed speed speed.....let me tell you what fixes speed.

Hard tackling......repeated, hard tackling. Hitting runners, lead backs, so hard, over and over, that you literally take their resolve away.

It happens. If you have played, you have seen it. Either within your own, or across the line of scrimmage. It happens. The one that takes that resolve.......away from the other.....wins. Helias didn't break Sikeston, but when they sent that 2nd pass behind the D in the 2nd half...there was really no way back for the Dogs..their resolve may have left them. I am sure some said that day, we cant win..I am also positive, others did not....They made it to the State Semi's that season..2009...started a fantastic run. Jackson is coming back from the brink, and have ideas of their own run.......It's gonna be a good one. Anxious to see who wins the mental game.......who controls the LOS....and who keeps possessions going. That team..the one with their resolve intact...............stays undefeated.

Are you really trying to compare Helias to Jackson?

I understood his point but his supporting evidence was just ignorant... which is why my "panties" are in a wad haha a better example would have been Warrenton sikeston just sayin and even thats a bit of a stretch

But we know that Jackson doesn't have "hidden" talent and size like that. Now, 5 years ago they had the talent and speed. Also, Kyland would be top 3 fastest on that 2009 team if he was on it.

I don't understand why Helias would have ever been brought up. What is the example of?

I just hope jaxon brings a huge crowd so we have a playoff atmosphere like the warrenton game! That would be cool!!

It's bizarro HeHateMe! Unlike your counterpart, this post actually has some good points.

RedShirt...there is a tailgate for Sikeston since it is homecoming. However, it is for Sikeston alum and you have to purchase tickets. The money benefits the school's foundation.

cirithungol17....I am expecting Jackson to bring a large contingency of fans! It should make for an exciting game.

i heard helias' players don't shower. i wouldn't want to hold their jocks either...

Thanks Rocket......you are correct. Wasn't comparing anyone

2 games,

4 very different teams.....years apart.

trust me, i played running back in high school. i learned to appreciate them after getting "lookout blocked" after chewing them during a jamboree!

Just having some fun with you hoss.

Chuck....it's DEFINITELY the sound of bouncing basketballs! Bring on hoops season!

I've seen them both play Sikeston as a whole is faster them deal for them is that the line is sub-par So it makes it harder for the speed of Sikeston to show up on offense while on defense It has been shown over and over again giving up very few points with a rather undersized defensive line. Going by positions at DB Sikeston is faster. I'd say the ILB are comparable, the OLB I'd give a slight edge to Sikeston and on the defensive line I'd give the edge to Sikeston and size wise Jackson is bigger on the line but everywhere else I'd say it's pretty close to even. I like this match-up it reminds me of a Farmington Sikeston match-up of the last few years which has always been tough for both teams.

I mean I've seen both them play and Sikeston has faster team speed... Jackson is bigger especially up front but Sikeston is faster that's all I was saying. There is a reason why Sikeston has given up 34 points all year and 12 of those points were specifically on the offense. While Jackson has given up 90

OK we'll compare the common opponents... Bluff scored 2 times on Jackson and had opportunities to score on a few other possessions and against Sikeston the only time they scored was on a mishandled hand off they they fell on in the endzone. Farmington scored 2 times on Jackson and 1 time against Sikeston. Which is impressive because Jackson's main defense is more suited against the pass than Sikeston. Also in the same way that Jackson is on the field a lot on defense Sikeston is on the field on Defense a lot because they don't work the ball down the field on offense they hit big plays to get a lot of their scores quickly and most other drives are not very long drives so Sikeston also gives the other teams quite a few possessions

bluff had a couple of drives in the first half against sikeston and came away empty. jackson looked flat against pb for most of the 1st half. i learned a long time ago not to put too much validity in comparing scores at the high school level. as far as the game, i don't think sikeston will score on big plays against jackson's defense. i don't see it being that close of a game and believe the indians win by 2 td's.

Agreed, redhawk. I expect Sikeston to have a bunch of fans because it is homecoming and we are having an all-class reunion (basically anyone that has graduated from SHS) before the game. I expect Jackson to have a large fan base as well because of the magnitude of the game.

Just a thought....back in 2010, Cape and Sikeston met as undefeated teams. The year prior, Cape was something like 2-8. Sikeston went on to shutout Cape 21-0 and win a playoff game 40-0. I hope the same holds true this year. But...Sikeston and Jackson won't meet in the playoffs since Sikeston is Class 4 and Jackson is Class 5. I expect a great game! Go Dogs!

That's awesome. It's always nice when the stands are packed cause you know the players get more pumped with more people watching. I would think a lot of us Jackson folks will be there since both teams are 5-0. We need a lot of fans there since your place is a tough to win at.

Cape was 0-10 the year before Rocket. In terms of attendance, I'd say it will probably be similar to the playoff game between Sikeston and Cape. I'd put my high total for attendance at about 7000. All this talk of comparing scores and team speed versus individual speed is silly. I expect Jackson to make long, sustained drives and for Sikeston to stop most of them at some point. The question for me is how many of those drives can they stop? For the Sikeston offense, it will be about eating up enough clock to keep the defense fresh and not turning the ball over or making mental mistakes such as trying to sustain a run and losing fifteen yards due to running backwards, etc. I think Sikeston will win, not going to put a point spread on it because I wouldn't be shocked if either team won by two or twenty.

Haha I can't bet cape beating sikeston cause I'm about 99% sure that sikeston will beat them. I'm 50/50 on the sikeston and Jackson game. Also, what if sikeston wins both games then I'm out $40.lol

Ya good thinking haha. If I was dumber then I would have taken that bet.

What's the latest regarding injuries? Are both teams at full strength? I think Sikeston is with the exception of Matt Green. He was hurt in the preseason and hasn't played all year, but I just wanted to throw that out. He would have been a starting LB.

Sideline I have to say you done a good job predicting this game. It went down pretty much the way you said it would. Congratulations to the Bulldogs for a hard fought victory. Good luck on the rest of your season. Hope you guys represent semo well in the playoffs. In the end isn't that what we all want? To let the rest of the state know we have talent down here too.

Sideline coming from a Jackson fan I want to say congratulations on the win and good luck the rest of the season. You all have a great team and I think everyone should know that Keyland Gross is a darn good football player and very tough kid. I don't know how many times he got a hit hard and got right back up. You all have a lot of team speed and that beat us last night. I don't think Jackson played as good as they can but I have to give a lot of credit to Sikeston because that defense flat out gets after it. So once again congratulations and I hope you all make a good run the rest of the season.

... I'd personally say the talent at Jackson isn't much bettet than it's been and thus a BIG s/o to the Jackson coaching staff

Sikeston train I agree the o lines made a big difference in this game. Sikestons done a very good job most of the night. Jackson's didn't play very good at all. I have seen sign's of this all year. They do ok on pass blocking but has a hard time rush blocking. Problem with passing last night was sikeston's speed on D. I don't think Selsor has the arm to pass with the closing speed they and cape have.

Jackson has lifted themselves out of the abyss. They will be good for years to come. Good coaching, no doubt!

i could have sworn they called offsides on that second onside, not illegal procedure for touching it before 10 yards.

but i agree if you pull your line on teams with speed like sikeston, it'll kill you. (freddy in '08 and '09) you gotta basically run power i and zone reads if you're gonna run between the tackles.

yea i couldn't see crap on my computer. my connection was trash last night.

i totally agree semosports2, that's how freddy was in '08 as well as '10. after that '07 district champ team a lot of people outside of freddy thought it would be a so-so season because freddy lost sawyer and penwell. and they had a legitimate shot of winning districts in '08 too! tough loss to a great potosi team and gave SG a run for their money before lewandowski left with an injury. the next season was tough because half the team had hardly seen varsity time. in '10 they returned basically everyone that made any sort of impact on the game but gifford. having a 3 year starter to run the offense was definitely huge. these same jackson kids have been seeing decent varsity time since they were sophomores.

Sikeston will have to beat Cape Central next week to lay any claim as the best team in the area. Can't have a letdown there. Caruthersville has an argument as well.

Wait. Wait. Wait. Semohoops, it sounds like to me Cape is the best team. Tell me, why does Sikeston have to beat Cape to claim best team in the area? Sikeston killed Farmington in the dome. Cape lost to them at HOME. Sikeston beat Jackson. Cape lost to Jackson. I HATE comparing like opponents, but don't tell me Sikeston has to beat a team that has lost the last two games, to be the best team in the area. Also, as a side note...CVille is a really, really good team guys. They'd be number 2 on my top 5 list. But I'll leave that to you sideline.

Just saying don't overlook them. Cape would certainly love to spoil Sikeston's party. Just saying IF Sikeston were to lose to Cape, Caruthersville might have a gripe as the best team in the area. But I'm not too concerned with that as much as taking care of business. Take care of Cape and then move on. Big game this Friday.

Man some people just aren't realistic, Cape has no shot against Sikeston period. They will get beat by 20 .

I'll never forget 1991. Sikeston was undefeated, 6-0, state ranked in 5A. The Tiger Boyd squad. The Bulldogs were as loaded as they had ever been with talent everywhere. They go to Houck to play truthfully and honestly, a below average Cape team. Final score? Cape Central 21, Sikeston 7.....Totally shocking.

Sikeston did regroup to beat Poplar Bluff and Vianney and managed to win the district on points. But the point is, that year Cape was probably a bigger underdog against Sikeston than this year's game would be. You don't take anybody lightly. Ever.