Valle Catholic proves too much for mistake-prone Tigers

Caruthersville High School senior defensive back Jermonte Alexander can't slow a Valle Catholic runner on his way to the end zone on Friday in Ste. Genevieve.

Tom Davis ~ TDavis@semoball.com

STE. GENEVIEVE – If there was a bright side to Caruthersville falling 37-7 at Class 2 No. 4-ranked Valle Catholic on Friday, it was this: It is better to learn from the multitude of mistakes on Sept. 27 than in the postseason, which would end the Tigers’ season.

“You roll into this game,” third-year Caruthersville coach Dom Guglielmo said following the game, “and we’re 4-0 and we’ve been up in every game at halftime, and I think that got to our heads.”

The Warriors (4-1) have played for 20 MSHSAA state titles and won the championship 15 times. Valle Catholic looked (and played) every bit as dominant in the steady rain as one would expect, as this game was never in doubt.

The hosts tore through the Tiger defense from the opening kick-off and scored on a 14-yard run just 52 seconds into the game.

While Valle Catholic was churning out “chunk plays” on offense, Caruthersville was hurting itself with penalties and defensive breakdowns.

“What it boils down to is,” Guglielmo said, “the mistakes that we have been harping on and harping on, finally came back to bite us.”

The grass field was a sloppy mess, but Valle Catholic found its footing well enough to run and pass the ball effectively.

At the 7:33 mark of the opening quarter, the Warriors stretched their margin to 14-0 on a 74-yard touchdown pass.

Caruthersville managed to create an opportunity and reached its red zone, only to have a bad snap move the offense back.

Tiger senior quarterback Ryan Guest threw an interception at his goal line and eventually left the game with a shin injury. Caruthersville utilized junior quarterback Jared Hudgens, and later, sophomore Dee’Marion Rodgers in a Wildcat package.

By the end of the first quarter, Valle Catholic led 20-0, and took a 30-0 margin into halftime, as a poor snap on a Caruthersville punt led to a Warrior safety.

The Warriors scored on a pick-6 midway through the third period for a 37-0 lead, but the Tiger defense recovered a Valle fumble and returned it to the Warrior 14-yard line.

Following an unsportsmanlike penalty on the Tigers on that play, Rodgers hooked up with junior wide receiver Quawn McVay for a 14-yard score.

“This film is going to teach us more than any film that we have watched so far,” Guglielmo said. “You learn more from a loss than you do from a win. You learn more sitting there and watching your mistakes than you do laughing and giggling and having a great time.”

Caruthersville (4-1, 2-0 SEMO Conference South) will visit Scott City (4-1, 2-1 SEMO Conference South) on Friday at 7 p.m.

The Tigers, Portageville, the Rams, and Charleston are all tied atop the SEMO Conference South standings at 2-1.

Valle Catholic will possibly rise to the top of the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 standings with the win after Portageville, which was leading the current District standings, lost at Charleston on Friday.