High school football analysis: Execution issues doom Kennett in loss to NMCC

NEW MADRID — Execution.

That’s what Friday’s 54-6 loss to New Madrid County Central boiled down to according to Kennett head coach Andrew Webster.

“Honestly, we needed to execute better,” Webster said. “The score did not have to be 54-6. We should have executed better on either side of the ball.”

Kennett's Marquiese Pittman (left) and Ty Jones both factored into the Indians' lone score during a football game dated Friday, Sept. 29. On this play, Pittman took a perfect pitch from Jones, and rushed 61 yards to the end zone for a TD.(Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

Offensively, Marquiese Pittman showed he’s a premium running back and possible college prospect.

Pittman rushed for 151 yards on 24 carries. That amounts to a healthy 6.3 yards per attempt. He also scored the Indians’ lone TD.

In fact, Webster said Pittman could have rushed for even more yards had the blocking been up to snuff.

“When you look at the film, he should have gotten more,” the coach commented.

Ashton Dismukes, Kaden Taylor and Pittman all defended all-state player Jadis Jones.

Jones, the future Coastal Carolina wide receiver, scored New Madrid’s first TD on a dazzling pass from quarterback B.J. Williamson — beating Dismukes on coverage by about three yards.

After that play, it appeared Jones was going to dominate the proceedings by himself.

However, the Eagles showed they have plenty of skill position players who can contribute and they did — Williamson, A.J. Ruff, Ty Williams and JaKown Jones, the last is just a sophomore.

Those players helped make up for not having Kayden Minner, who didn’t play on account of an unspecified injury.

“They made great plays and they have great athletes,” Webster said. “You have to pay attention to more than one player.”

Defensively, Webster said the Indians had some “gap issues” and didn’t generate enough pressure on New Madrid’s skill players.

“Our scheme was fine, but we weren’t aggressive enough attacking their speed,” Webster explained.

Williamson finished with 150 passing yards, according to a story written by Dennis Marshall of the Sikeston Standard-Democrat. Jones had 103 receiving yards. Williams rushed for 85 yards. The Eagles played with efficiency, and with balance.

New Madrid held Kennett quarterback Ty Jones to just three pass attempts and 11 yards overall — which is partially due to the second half running with the “turbo clock.”

Defensively, Caleb Duncan finished with a team-best five tackles from his inside linebacker spot. Nelson Felix also had one quarterback sack.

Coming up

Kennett (4-2) will square off with rival Dexter at Metz Cherry Stadium in the Indians’ Senior Night game — and final home contest of the season.