Football Roundup: Rebels, Raiders dominate as conference play begins

Central senior Jobe Bryant (11) runs for a first down during the second quarter against Caruthersville on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, in Park Hills.

POTOSI – Kannon Harlow raced 64 yards to the end zone on his second interception of the game, and Central downed Potosi 43-8 in the conference opener for both teams on Friday night.

Jobe Bryant made his first start at quarterback with Casen Murphy out due to illness, and completed 10-of-17 passes for 204 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Central (3-0, 1-0) drove 84 yards just before halftime, including a short throw that Harlow turned into a 39-yard gain after dodging an initial defender.

Jaxon Jones notched a 6-yard touchdown through the middle that made it 28-0 with 5 seconds left, and punctuated the outcome on a 38-yard gallop with 9:06 remaining.

Bryant connected on his first seven pass attempts while adding 75 yards on 10 carries. Senior classmate Caden Casey posted a team-high four receptions, and slipped past the Potosi defense to break away for a 37-yard touchdown and 14-0 margin in the first quarter.

The Rebels then overcame a pair of holding penalties that negated long plays when Bryant scrambled 24 yards, exactly the total he needed to extend the drive on third down.

Braydon Berry reeled in a 70-yard touchdown catch moments later, and ended with 100 yards on three receptions. Layton McFarland chipped in 30 yards on three late carries.

Central shined defensively with five forced turnovers. Chad Cosby added a late pick while Jonathan Boyer and Berry each recovered fumbles

Sammy Callaway and Nathan Weinhold recorded consecutive tackles for loss ahead of the pick six by Harlow against Trojans quarterback Luke Brabham, who was 3-of-6 overall for 20 yards.

J.T. Cross carried the offense for Potosi (0-3, 0-1) with 109 yards on 17 carries, often breaking through contact with second and third effort. He also recovered a fumble.

Freshman Carter Pyatt had a 12-yard touchdown for the Trojans, and Cross was pushed across the goal line with the two-point conversion in the third quarter.

Potosi had a promising third possession that encompassed 15 plays and four first downs. But a false start penalty on fourth-and-2 from the Central 5 led to a missed field goal.

Brabham finished with 47 rushing yards. Karsen Boyer had a 12-yard catch, and Zane Richards sacked Bryant in the third quarter.

Central will host Cape Central on Friday while Potosi travels to Valle Catholic.

North County 35, De Soto 3

DE SOTO, Mo. – Zane Huff returned the opening kickoff 87 yards, and added three rushing touchdowns on Friday night as North County powered through De Soto 35-3.

The Raiders attempted only four passes, two of which were dropped, and cruised to victory in the MAFC Red Division opener behind a steady rushing attack.

Kollin Winch paced the defense with three tackles for loss and two more for no gain. Jaxon Scherffius recovered a fumble that Landon Whitfield forced on the initial kickoff to the Dragons.

North County (1-2, 1-0) took possession at the De Soto 11, and Huff scored from the 2 before Henry Allebach added the two-point conversion for a quick 14-0 lead.

De Soto (1-2, 0-1) went three-and-out on its first three offensive series, and avoided a shutout when Josh Golightly nailed a 23-yard field goal in the closing moments.

Allebach had 50 yards on eight carries, and made it 21-0 with a 12-yard scoring keeper after moving the chains with another 12-yard scramble to convert on fourth-and-7.

Huff finished off a streak of 10 straight rushes by the Raiders with a 12-yard bolt to the end zone, and delivered his fourth total touchdown from 28 yards to establish a 35-0 halftime cushion.

The senior running back amassed 104 yards on 15 carries. Johnathan Wruck had the lone North County reception while Tyler Pipkin and Kelton McFerron each made two tackles in the backfield.

Austin Missey completed 3-of-9 passing for 67 yards for the Dragons. Brenton Drummond picked up 42 yards on his longest of three catches, and Ben Hooper had a team-high 37 rushing yards.

Brayden McAnally recovered a fumble, and Connor Siebert registered a sack in defeat.

Landon Carroll had an effective punt that was downed at the De Soto 1. North County will host Hillsboro for week 4.

Ste. Genevieve 36, Orchard Farm 16

STE. GENEVIEVE – Jack Farlow rushed for three touchdowns and a career-high 210 yards on 25 carries as Ste. Genevieve defeated visiting Orchard Farm 36-16 on Friday night.

Sophomore quarterback Luke Farranto added 145 yards on 21 carries as the ground game dominated, and also threw a pair of touchdown passes to Wyatt Springkamper.

Ste. Genevieve (2-1) finished with a 503-145 advantage in total yards, and entered halftime with a 16-0 lead after Bryant Schwent kicked a 34-yard field goal.

Farlow capped the opening drive with a 28-yard scoring run, and Springkamper went 76 yards on a catch to create a 13-0 advantage in the first quarter.

Orchard Farm (2-1) drew within one possession on a touchdown and two-point conversion to open the second half, but a 28-yard reception by Springkamper restored a 23-8 margin.

Farlow added scoring runs covering 3 and 28 yards to put the contest out of reach. His longest single gain of the night picked up 32.

Ferranto was 6-of-7 passing for 152 yards, and Aiden Meyer made a team-high three catches for 46 yards. The Dragons will next travel to Fredericktown.

Tucker Reed matched Justin Schwent with five tackles. Springkamper and Reed made interceptions as each team committed two turnovers.

Valle Catholic 58, Fredericktown 0

STE. GENEVIEVE – Tyler Gegg caught touchdown passes of 35 and 33 yards, and Valle Catholic routed struggling Fredericktown 58-0 on Friday night.

Wil Kuehn was perfect on eight extra points, and Isaac Basler boomed all eight of his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks while the Warriors spread offensive touches around.

Alex Viox opened the scoring with a 26-yard run, and picked up a second touchdown from the 10. The initial scamper followed a 56-yard kickoff return by Colin Henderson.

Senior quarterback Grant Fallert was an efficient 7-of-8 passing for 192 yards and four touchdowns. He also maximized a 5-yard keeper that made it 28-0 in the first quarter.

Lineman Jacob Elbert joined the scoring column on a 1-yard run, resulting in a 56-0 halftime lead, and Valle Catholic (2-1, 1-0) tacked on a late safety.

Rylan Fallert gained 54 rushing yards on four carries plus 55 yards on two receptions. Both Viox and Rylan Fallert caught TD passes.

Kuehn made a team-high five tackles, and Basler grabbed an interception to highlight the defensive effort. Cohen Gibbs and Lane Okenfuss chipped in one sack each.

The Warriors were able to utilize back-up quarterbacks before intermission. Conner Clanton rushed six times for 40 yards, and Wyatt Fallert finished 3-for-3 on short passes.

Valle Catholic welcomes Potosi for Homecoming in week 4.

Fredericktown (0-3, 0-1) was limited to 47 total yards and three first downs.