Tigers, 'Jays to pit 'sneaky rivals,' and friends against each other

Caruthersville High School football coach Dom Guglielmo speaks to his team during a game last season against Dexter at Charles Bland Stadium.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

There may not be a more competitive coach in the Bootheel of Missouri than third-year Caruthersville High School football coach Dom Guglielmo. If there is, it just might be his counterpart tonight, Charleston High School football coach Justin Hutchings.

“’Coach Hutch’ is a great dude,” Guglielmo said. “We know each other well.”

Class 2 No. 9-ranked Caruthersville (3-0, 1-0 SEMO Conference South) will visit Charleston (2-1, 1-0 SEMO Conference South) at 7 p.m.

The Tigers have been dominant on both sides of the ball this fall while the Bluejays rebuilding project has taken place much quicker than many people (not Guglielmo) thought.

“Offensively,” Guglielmo said, “(Charleston) is running something very similar (to the past). They have added some wrinkles based on where they have athletes.

“(Hutchings) has done a really good job.”

Charleston High School football coach Justin Hutchings records information at a football combine workout this summer at Dexter High School. (Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com)

Guglielmo said that the two teams are “sneaky rivals,” but he was quick to note what HIS record is against Hutchings.

“This is our third meeting,” Guglielmo said, “and we’re 1-1. He beat me in my first year (34-8), and I beat him (54-6) last year.

“What it boils down to is that it is going to be a clash. Our kids are rivals. The two schools are sneaky rivals.”

The Bluejays are a mere field goal away from being perfect this season after opening the season with a very competitive 22-20 loss at Kelly.

Hutchings has relied heavily on the legs of senior runner Trez Clark and junior Bernard Betts. Clark has tallied 319 yards rushing and scored twice while Betts has gained 285 yards and scored four times.

Betts is also a dual threat, as he has caught five passes this year for nearly 100 yards and scored twice on receptions.

Charleston has gotten a solid season, thus far, out of sophomore quarterback Chason Kearby, who has thrown for nearly 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

“We are preparing like this is ‘Rivalry Week,’” Guglielmo said. “They know what we do. We are three games in. We still have some tricks up our sleeve, and so do they, I am sure.”

Caruthersville has so much talent – all over the field – that Guglielmo hasn’t had the need to unveil many “tricks up his sleeve.’”

The Tigers will run junior Sammy Bryant (460 yards, 7.8 yards per carry) a lot.

When Bryant isn’t running through defenses, then senior Jermonte Alexander (20 receptions, 258 yards, four touchdowns) is either on offense or special teams on kickoffs and punt returns.

Senior quarterback Ryan Guest has completed nearly 68 percent of his throws (along with 328 yards and five scores) and is getting better every week, according to Guglielmo.

“We stayed in Ryan’s wheelhouse a little bit more,” Guglielmo said following his team’s second win of the year recently. “The (run-pass options) are great for him. He threw a couple of screens.

“He settled in.”

Defensively, both teams have been stout.

Caruthersville has only allowed 44 total points to be scored against it while Charleston has allowed 42.

“Charleston is a lot better than they were last year, clearly,” Guglielmo said. “Me and ‘Coach Hutch’ are about as close as me and (Malden coach Treston Pulley),

“I always like coaching against Guys who I am friends with.”