Young Bulldogs are going to 'keep fighting, keep clawing' their way to success

Sikeston High School football captains Marcus Sanders, Jr. (36), Kendarrious Love (3), Kayden Gates (6), and Acie Dixon (27) walk out to mid-field prior to the Bulldogs' recent game at Dexter.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

It’s been since 2016 since the Sikeston High School football program has enjoyed a winning season. However, for a couple of reasons, that will probably change throughout the next few autumns.

“We’re young,” first-year Bulldog coach Jim May said following a recent loss at Dexter. “We’ve got 59 players and 42 of them are freshmen and sophomores.”

And many of those youngsters are seeing significant playing time this fall.

“We’re behind physically,” May continued, “strength-wise.”

The Bulldogs (1-1) will visit Cape Central (2-0) today at 7 p.m. and look to snap a losing streak against the Class 4 No. 9-ranked Tigers that dates back to 2018.

Tonight, might be a challenge for May’s kids to prevail. Still, the future is bright not only due to those young athletes gaining experience but also because May is an experienced, successful coach who had a great run at Scott City High School before embarking on the challenge at Sikeston last winter.

“There were freshmen and sophomores all over the field (against Dexter),” May said. “We are trying to get better each and every week.”

Bulldog fans can take a macro-view of the program and look for better days a couple of years from now, but May is focused on today, tomorrow, and the day after that.

“We want to be five days stronger,” May said of his week-to-week approach and in five days be a little better at football.

“That is what we are trying to get to.”

The Bulldogs have gotten production (184 yards rushing) out of sophomore runner Kenneth Holcomb this fall while junior pass-catcher Keane Atkins has hauled in eight receptions for 71 yards.

Holcomb has managed an impressive seven yards per carry so far.

“We’re going to keep fighting,” May said, “and we’re going to keep clawing.”

Atkins has also carried the ball six times for 75 yards (a 12.5 yard per carry average) while junior quarterback Pierce Baker has run the ball 14 times for 50 yards this season.

Through the air, Baker has completed 19 of 36 passes for 131 yards. He has tossed one touchdown and thrown a couple of picks.

Dexter, which is ranked No. 6 in Class 3 this week, kept their starters in late after building a 42-0 advantage by halftime. The Bulldogs were competitive throughout the second half and Baker ran for a touchdown late for a 49-7 final score.

“Dexter kept his starters in, pretty much, until that last drive,” May said. “We played much better in the second half. That is what we talked about at halftime, which was to just keep fighting for 48 minutes. Keep playing and try to get better.”

Defensively, senior defensive end Daryl Jordan leads the Bulldogs with 18 tackles this year while senior linebacker Luke Gadberry has added 15 stops.

Sophomore linebacker Sam McGill has made 13 tackles and sophomore safety Mason King has notched 10.

Jordan and McGill have each tallied a quarterback sack this fall.

“We want to be playing our best in Week 10,” May said.