High school football: Friday the 13th turns horrific for Kennett, Malden

Poplar Bluff junior quarterback Jay Edmundson and the Mules' passing attack was as advertised during Friday night's game versus Kennett.

Edmundson passed for two TD to Dereck Burton and Darius Graham as Class 5 Poplar Bluff smothered Class 3 Kennett, 42-7.

The entire second half of Kennett's game was played using the state-mandated turbo clock.

Marquiese Pittman (24) attempts to follow Kennett�s offensive linemen � including Chris Jefferson � during the first half of a high school football game in Poplar Bluff dated Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. (Photo by D'Courtland Christian, Daily American Republic)

Meanwhile in Pemiscot County, two winless teams with recent stout traditions played as Malden clashed with Hayti.

Hayti rolled to a 20-0 halftime lead en route to an x win — with Malden's losing skid reaching 21 straight games. This marked the second full game under interim head coach Nick Nealey.

In Kennett's game, Jack Morrison helped set up the Indians' lone score, snagging a pass from Tyquavious (D.J.) Jones. A couple of plays later, Caleb Duncan bounced off a series of Mules to score a TD.

Kennett is now riding a three-game losing streak heading into the season finale Friday, Oct. 20, versus state powerhouse Valle Catholic in Ste. Genevieve.

Now is the time of year when postseason points matter, and Kennett had 31.1 before the loss to Poplar Bluff.

The Indians should receive bonus points for playing a school from a larger classification.

Poplar Bluff (5-3) plays host to Hillsboro for the Mules’ Senior Night.

In the Malden-Hayti game, Quentin Kilgore scored on a TD pass from Quamareous Farmer only to see Hayti return the subsequent kickoff for a score.

Kilgore later added another TD catch, and Trenez Lane added the following two-point conversion.

For Hayti, it was a night to celebrate — with its first win of 2023, which also snapped a more modest eight-game losing skid on Homecoming.

The Green Wave wrap up the season next Friday on the road at Dexter.

As of this point, it appears Malden will face Jadis Jones and New Madrid County Central in the opening round of district play.

The first round of the playoffs are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 27, across Missouri.