Farmington keeps it simple to pound Sikeston in soaker

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By MATT KING
mking@dailyjournalonline.com
FARMINGTON – Kaesen McClain was heavily relied upon to endure punishment as the primary ball carrier throughout his first three varsity football seasons at Farmington.
The offensive workload has been eased in comparison this year for the two-way starter, who also organizes the defense at his inside linebacker position.
But with sheets of rain affecting playing conditions on Friday night, the Knights featured their reliable senior fullback often while never attempting a pass against Sikeston.
McClain rushed for 166 yards and three first-half touchdowns on 19 carries, and Farmington powered past its SEMO Conference opponent 45-6 to celebrate Homecoming.
Tatem Tinsley returned an interception 73 yards to score on the initial defensive series, and the Knights yielded just 39 yards of total offense to the Bulldogs prior to intermission.
Josh McCarthy added 114 yards on nine carries, and senior quarterback Brett Drye tacked on a couple of dazzling touchdown runs for insurance in the second half.
Farmington (3-2, 2-1) hoped to build off a solid effort in defeat last week against Jackson, and needed five plays to establish a lead for the remainder of the contest.
McClain turned the right corner and raced past the pursuit for a 50-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked, and the Knights failed on three subsequent two-point conversion attempts.
Sikeston (2-3, 0-2) struggled to respond on the wet turf, however, and trailed 12-0 after Tinsley jumped the route on a throw by quarterback Pierce Baker toward the right sideline.

Drye had trouble securing three shotgun snaps in the first quarter, and the Bulldogs got a fourth-down stop after facing a first-and-goal situation inside the 1-yard line.
An impressive fourth-and-6 play earlier in the drive was wasted, as McCarthy kept his balance and spun through a jersey tug to lunge past the marker.
But the Farmington defense forced another three-and-out, and soon increased its advantage following a punt under heavy pressure.
McClain rumbled ahead for gains of 12 and 17 yards before notching his second touchdown from the 4 with 10:22 to play in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs were again pinned deep when Ian Zohner utilized the wind to drive a 58-yard punt that Coy Fripp downed at the 1, and had to kick again without obtaining a first down.
Farmington took over at the Sikeston 34, and needed three carries by McClain to create a 24-0 cushion with 1:06 remaining until the break.
Drye joined the scoring summary with an explosive 49-yard keeper on the Knights’ first offensive snap of the third quarter.
Farmington suffered just one glaring defensive blunder, but generated three sacks in the second half by Chase Buchanan, Joey Bales and Noah Brewer.
Sikeston snapped the shutout bid on fourth-and-7 when Keane Atkins emerged all alone behind the secondary to catch a 25-yard scoring pass from Baker.
Farmington answered as McCarthy churned for gains of 17 and 18 yards, setting up a slippery 16-yard touchdown as Drye hesitated and juked past three separate defenders up the middle.
McCarthy capped the scoring on a 16-yard scamper with 10:38 to play. The Knights will step outside of conference play when traveling to Union in week 6.
Baker was 5-of-12 passing for 63 yards, and found more room to maneuver down the stretch for 109 yards on 18 carries. Atkins made three receptions for 59 yards.
Kenneth Holcomb chipped in 34 rushing yards for the Bulldogs, and Marcus Saunders Jr. had two tackles for loss.