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May drawn to Sikeston by the challenge, community, and past (7/26/24)SIKESTON — At one time, Sikeston was a dynasty, rattling off 51 straight victories and boasting five undefeated seasons. But the Bulldogs of today are a far cry from those legendary teams. Now, a new dawn breaks, as Jim May, a coach with a proven track record who has seen the highs and lows of high school football, answers the call to reestablish the once-proud program. ...
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Dexter Football wrapping up diligent off-season (7/24/24)DEXTER – It may be difficult to believe, but the off-season for high school athletes throughout Missouri is drawing to a close.
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St. Vincent’s Robinson named top gridiron defender at 2024 Semoball Awards (7/21/24)Leading an elite St. Vincent defense to the state semifinals last fall, Drake Robinson was tabbed the top defensive player in all of Southeast Missouri at the 2024 Semoball Awards. A hotly contested race with many worthy nominees, Robinson was in a neck-and-neck battle with Logan Hite of Poplar Bluff as two of the area's top linebackers over the course of the 2023 season...
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ONE STEP AT A TIME: Mules football looks to improve during summer workouts (7/17/24)The Poplar Bluff Mules football team hits the field for the summer, led by their recently appointed head coach, Jeff Mannon, who intends to take everything one step at a time. Since the first day of summer training, the Mules have been going full steam ahead. They’re hoping this is the beginning of something extraordinary with the new staff and the return of a few key players...
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Kelly clinches 7-on-7 title; Sikeston shows promising strides (7/11/24)SIKESTON — Two weeks removed from the Dexter 7-on-7, Sikeston showcased noticeable improvements on both sides of the ball at Thursday's home 7-on-7 tournament, leaving first-year coach Jim May encouraged by the team's progress, albeit acknowledging the challenges that still lie ahead...
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Hard work is paying dividends with Caruthersville athletics (7/11/24)High school athletes returned to the fields, diamonds, gyms, and weight rooms this week following a mandated week break by the MSHSAA last week, and no school is seeking to continue its positive mojo more so than those athletes and coaches at Caruthersville High School.
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Following the Flock: David joins Blue Jay teammates at MBU (7/9/24)CHARLESTON, M0. — Charleston may boast a trophy case overflowing with basketball gold, but a gridiron pipeline is quietly flowing to the Missouri Baptist University. This summer, Charles David becomes the latest Blue Jay standout to make the jump to college football, joining former teammates Lane Morrow and Rommie Turner on the St. Louis campus...
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'Coach G' finds a home with, takes the reins of Caruthersville athletics (7/1/24)Dom Guglielmo has traversed this country throughout his life being a “military kid and a football coach.” Two-plus years ago, he moved to Caruthersville to serve as a physical education teacher and varsity football coach, and he has seemingly found a home.
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Charleston FB working hard, gaining interest for bounce-back year (6/29/24)There is a world of difference between coaching football at a school like Charleston, as opposed to a much larger school district.
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On to the next level: Hite joining SE Missouri State football as walk-on (6/27/24)Getting the opportunity to play football at the college level is challenging for any young athlete — and sometimes, the journey requires a different route than others. Poplar Bluff High School graduate and football standout Logan Hite will get the chance to continue playing the game he loves as he will walk on at the linebacker position with the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team...
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Bearcat FB working as if it is a known entity, because it now is (6/24/24)The big question facing the Dexter High School football program in 2024 is which is more difficult, the climb up a notch in success or maintaining that level of achievement?
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Kelly, Charleston, Portageville and East Prairie turn up the heat at Dexter 7-on-7 (6/20/24)DEXTER, MO. — Kelly, Charleston, East Prairie and Portageville were among the teams putting months of offseason training to the test at the Dexter 7-on-7 and Big Man Challenge on Wednesday, June 19. The event provided valuable experience for these smaller programs, highlighting areas of strength and improvement as they prepare for the fall season...
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Sikeston shows mixed results at Dexter 7-on-7 (6/20/24)DEXTER, Mo. — Sikeston didn’t set the world on fire but it did show a glimpse of its potential at Dexter's 7-on-7 and Big Man Challenge on Wednesday, June 19, offering a raw, unfiltered look at a program in the early stages of coach Jim May's rebuild...
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Young Tiger athlete 'is a beast' and working to get even better (6/18/24)The very-well known University of Colorado football coach, Deion Sanders, aka Coach Prime, made the phrase “We comin’” famous last fall once he took over the Buffaloes, and third-year Caruthersville High School football coach Dom Guglielmo has every right to preach the same mantra, as his program is certainly on the upswing following last fall’s seven-wins, which were the most since 2019. “We’ve got a really good skill group,” Guglielmo said recently of his 2024 squad, “and we have four out of five returning up front (on the offensive line). “We’re very fortunate.”
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Area FB programs partake in day of measuring, motivating (6/14/24)DEXTER – It’s difficult to believe, particularly with the heat index reaching over 100 degrees in the next few days, but high school football season in Missouri begins in less than two months.
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Eftink swings for the fences before tackling college football (6/13/24)SIKESTON — While most college football signees devote their summer to pumping iron and X’s and O’s, Reece Eftink is juggling dumbbells with double plays. The recent Kelly grad is set to trade his baseball cleats for football pads this fall at Evangel University, but not before taking one last shot at glory with the Southeast Tropics, the defending Babe Ruth World Series Champions...
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Penrod returns to alma mater, aims to rebuild winning tradition (6/12/24)EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — The winds of change are blowing in East Prairie, bringing a sense of optimism and excitement as Ian Penrod, fresh off an impressive four-year stint at Portageville, returns to his roots to lead the Eagles’ athletic programs to new heights...
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Caruthersville Athletics creates initial Hall of Fame class to honor in fall (5/31/24)The lore of athleticism flowing through the halls of Caruthersville High School over time has been a storied one.
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LIKE GOOD NEIGHBORS: Dexter athletes serve community through storm cleanup (5/28/24)DEXTER — Memorial Day is a day of rest and relaxation for many people in Southeast Missouri. But for members of the Dexter Bearcats high school football team and others, Monday was a day to help their community. About 30 football players and several others broke away from a day off on Monday to help the city’s residents clean up after a severe weather outbreak ravaged the community Sunday, damaging homes and knocking out utilities to much of Dexter...
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C2SB State Semifinal: Kennett gets offensive in rout of Lone Jack (5/20/24)SPRINGFIELD – The Kennett High School softball squad has been offensive with its play all spring. The Indians have averaged nearly 12 runs per game, which is the most by any Kennett team in nine years, and that was evident on Monday, as Kennett obliterated Lone Jack 11-4 in the semifinal of the MSHSAA Class 2 State Semifinal at the Killian Softball Complex in Springfield.
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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...