High school football: Doniphan to show Kennett new style

DONIPHAN — The Kennett High School football team hits the road for the first time this season on Friday.

The Indians play a Doniphan team smarting after a 35-6 opening-week loss to Kelly in Benton, who happens to host Malden — also on Friday.

The Kennett-Doniphan and Malden-Kelly contests both kick off at 7 p.m.

Jameson Allen was hired as the new head football coach at Doniphan this past May, and he’s attempting to modernize the Dons’ offense.

“They’ve run double-tight, double-wing (traditionally),” Kennett head coach Andrew Webster said. “But they also ran some spread (vs. Kelly).”

Brody Wellington scored Doniphan’s lone TD last week. The Dons’ opening play in the loss to Kelly resulted in a fumbled snap.

Allen, who played at Central Methodist University, has served as coach on the collegiate level at Hastings (Neb.) and Westminster (Fulton, Mo.). He also coached at Lutheran South in St. Louis County.

Webster said Doniphan ran primarily a 4-4 with two different coverage schemes in the secondary.

Look for Kennett to try and hit underbelly pass plays to keep the Dons’ defense off-balance. Kobi Kaminski, also a former Westminster coach, is serving as Doniphan’s defensive coordinator.

Cliff Hodo had Doniphan’s best play on defense last week, snagging an interception in the end zone to stop a Hawks’ drive.

Kennett is facing a program that’s lost 14 straight games. Doniphan’s last win was on Oct. 8, 2023, a 32-12 conquest over East Prairie.

Webster said the Indians can’t look at the Dons’ recent past.

“We have to focus on us,” the coach commented. “I know that sounds cliché, but we have to clean up the little mistakes we made (in the 49-20 victory over Hayti). We have to play the right way.”

Webster explained the Indians committed too many penalties versus Hayti, whether the flags were from players dealing with the heat or from becoming accustomed to new positions.

The coach believes the team that wins the turnover margin, also will take the victory.

In last year’s win, tight end Caleb Duncan featured on a breakaway TD.

First United Methodist Church of Kennett will provide snacks for the players for this road game, which will help the Indians fuel up as they look for their second straight win.