STE. GENEVIEVE — A stack of trophies and photos from champions past line the first floor inside Valle Catholic's Fr. John Dempsey Field press box.
The facility features reserved seating with an ample supply of chairs for alumni on the second floor, and plenty of space for the media on the third. The concession stand boasts coffee as strong as the players. Did I mention there was an elevator, too?
That's the kind of tradition Kennett faces on Friday evening.
Quarterback Grant Fallert has directed the Valle Catholic offense this season, taking over for graduated cousin Chase Fallert. Jacob Elbert spearheads the work of the offensive line now that his brother, Noah, has graduated.
There are plenty of other skill position players to worry about: Tyler Gegg, Colin Henderson, Rylan Fallert, Wil Kuehn and Isaac Basler.
Kuehn and Grant Fallert are quite speedy, and they've helped the Warriors score 344 points through eight games. Oh, and last year, Alex Viox rushed for 150 yards versus Kennett in a Warriors' regular-season win at Metz Cherry Stadium.
Grant Fallert has enjoyed a strong season, going 70-for-109 passing, 1,211 yards and 15 TD. He also has rushed for 723 yards. Viox is next with 521, and both have 12 TD rushing. Gegg has caught 20 passes for 371 yards, a healthy average of 18.6 yards per catch.
End Cohen Gibbs and middle linebackers Andre Oberle and Josh Fallert are players to watch in Valle Catholic's defense. Fallert is the leading tackler with 37 solo stops, 19 assists and seven tackles for loss. Gibbs leads in the category of tackles for loss (10).
Valle Catholic has surrendered just 81 points this season. The defense held a strong Ste. Genevieve offense to just 133 total yards as Valle Catholic won 31-0 on Oct. 6. The Warriors kept Class 6 Vianney under 230 yards Oct. 13 (49-7 win).
This has been another stout season for Valle Catholic, with its lone blemish an opening-night loss to Seckman — an undefeated Class 6 school in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Kennett will look to get sophomore quarterback Tyquavious Jones on track after a couple of tough games. Jones has completed more than 54 percent of his throws for 936 yards and seven TD.
Marquiese Pittman is just 119 yards short of producing a 1,000-yard season, and he has the most TD on the team with 16 (including 14 rushing).
Three receivers have caught at least 19 passes (Jack Morrison, Caleb Duncan and Pittman), and the Indians are averaging 262 yards and 26 points per contest.
Defensively, Austin Gattis has become a standout linebacker this season. Seventeen of Gattis' 60 tackles have went for negative yardage.
Other statistical leaders are the following players: Duncan (22 tackles for loss), Je'Micko Toliver (six quarterback sacks), Kaden Taylor, Kevin Thompson and Gattis (five forced fumbles), Ashton Dismukes (eight passes defensed) and Duncan (six big hits).
Malden at Dexter
DEXTER — Malden will wrap up the regular season with a game at rapidly improving Dexter Friday.
The Green Wave offense struggled versus Hayti last Friday, with Quentin Kilgore catching both TD passes in a 40-14 loss. Quamareous Farmer went 7-of-20 passing for just 35 yards. Malden finished with 79 total rushing yards.
Freshman Devin Lewis had 14 tackle points (six solo tackles, two assists) and an interception. Zi'Yon Hester, Hayden Broom and Jonah Halliburton all had tackles for losses.
In related news, former head football coach Shane Kearbey has been removed from all coaching assignments for this year — stemming from an incident during a game versus East Prairie on Sept. 29.
A school representative, speaking on the condition of anonymity, reported Kearbey remains as a physical education instructor. He will have the chance to reapply for the same position in the 2024-25 academic calendar year.
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