High school football: Kennett runs past Hayti

The Kennett High School football team bolted to a 35-0 halftime cushion en route to a 49-20 conquest over Hayti on Friday at Metz Cherry Stadium.

Hayti prevented the shutout early in the third quarter with a TD, and the clock discontinued running.

Like last season, Kennett opened the season with a victory over Hayti. The Indians will travel to Doniphan next Friday.

The Indians won’t play at home until a Sept. 15 date with Caruthersville, who also won on opening night.

Several Kennett players were in the spotlight on Friday evening, including Kaden Taylor, who snared a D.J. Jones 11-yard pass for a TD — giving the hometown team a 22-0 lead at such time.

Marquiese Pittman opened the scoring for Kennett with a short TD run. Taylor then scored his first TD. Kaden jumped the route, picked off the pass and ran down the home sideline for the score, and Pittman added a two-point conversion.

Pittman made a touchdown-saving tackle in the second quarter, and Jack Morrison later snagged an interception in the end zone on the same Hayti drive.

Spencer Potts added a 90-yard TD reception on a post route from Jones.

Kennett was driving for another potential score late in the first half; however, Hayti’s Jameryn Turner stopped the drive with interception.

Both teams endured blistering heat, and several players cramped up during the game.

The contest was pushed back to 8 p.m. At 10:30 p.m., the heat index was still 96 degrees according to the Weatherbug application.

Pittman scored another Kennett TD in the third quarter, which made the score 41-6.

Hall of Fame

During halftime of tonight’s game, John Patton and three members of the chain gang — Robert Pulliam, Mike Rhew and Jim Warrington — were recognized during a special Hall of Fame ceremony at halftime.

Read Tuesday’s newspaper for more on the Kennett-Hayti game, including analysis and statistics.