High school football: Feels like the very first time for Indians, Blackcats

HERCULANEUM — Kennett versus Herculaneum.

If that sounds different to you, there’s a reason why.

This will mark the first-ever game between the two schools, and it will take place in a postseason setting at Dugan Memorial Field as the Class 3 District 1 playoff tournament begins. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

“It’s pretty cool,” Kennett head coach Andrew Webster said of this premiere engagement. “We don’t know much about them, other than what we saw on film. We’ve also seen them at state track. It’s going to be a new challenge.”

Herculaneum has been coached the past few years by Blane Boss, who also served as head coach at Perryville from 2017-2020.

Boss was a standout running back at Windsor High School in Imperial, where he once rushed for 508 yards in a single game versus Hillsboro in the early 2000s — still in the top-5 on the all-time list in Missouri.

The Blackcats have featured middle-of-the-road records the past few seasons, including this year’s 4-5 mark. University City eliminated Herculaneum in the second round of the 2022 postseason.

The school plays in the Interstate-55 Conference, with the likes of Perryville and St. Vincent.

Expect Herculaneum to be a primary run-first team in the mold of its coach. Four Blackcats have combined for just 70 pass attempts in nine games. Keaton Reeves is 19-of-44 (.438 completion percentage).

Luke Brice and Reeves have been the featured runners, although six Herculaneum players have more than 23 carries. Brice has 412 yards and Reeves 338 to lead the way.

Sophomore tight end Clark Struckoff caught the game-winning TD in last week’s 6-0 victory over Crystal City.

Webster said the Blackcats like to use isolation, zone option and counter trey plays.

Senior middle linebacker Demian Light has been the anchor of Herculaneum’s defense with 75 tackles, including 53 solo stops, and two fumble recoveries.

Nose tackle Shea Eberhardt, another senior, has a team-high three fumble recoveries and 49 tackles. Struckoff leads in sacks (four) and Mac Waddell interceptions (three).

“The can bring pressure, and I think they are sound,” Webster said of Herculaneum’s odd-front defense with zone coverage in the secondary.

Meanwhile, for Kennett, Tyquavious (D.J.) Jones is 10 passing yards away from a 1,000-yard season. Jones has been slowed in recent weeks by stiffer competition.

In last week’s game versus Valle Catholic, Marquiese Pittman crossed the 1,000-yard threshold, and he leads the team with 16 total TD.

Jack Morrison, Caleb Duncan and Pittman have caught a combined 58 of the Indians’ 74 receptions, and Kennett has averaged 256 yards and 23.9 points per contest.

Valle Catholic and Poplar Bluff combined for 98 points against Kennett the past two weeks, gashing the Indians.

Linebacker Austin Gattis has had his hands full of tackles, with a team-leading 67 stops this season (including 17 for losses), four quarterback sacks, five forced fumbles (tying Kaden Taylor and Kevin Thompson for the team lead), four recoveries and five big hits.

Statistical leaders on defense are Caleb Duncan (six big hits, 22 tackles for loss), Je’Micko Toliver (six quarterback sacks), Ashton Dismukes (nine passes defensed) and Jack Morrison (two interceptions).

“We’ve had a great week of practice, some of the best we’ve had all season,” Webster said. “We’re getting better, even though we didn’t show it last week. We’re looking forward to another chance to play. I think it ought to be a good game.”