High school football: Kennett writes history on ‘HoCo’

Kennett High School football players Kaden Taylor, Carter Shewmaker and Caleb Duncan were all part of last Friday’s Homecoming Court.

In fact, Shewmaker was running late onto the field for the halftime coronation ceremony.

In the end, Shewmaker, Taylor and Duncan all contributed to one of the most memorable Kennett come-from-behind victories in recent memory.

Kennett senior wide receiver Spencer Potts (12) is forced out of bounds by an East Prairie player during the first quarter of a Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, game at Metz Cherry Stadium. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

“It’s something we practice,” Kennett head coach Andrew Webster said, remarking about stripping the ball. “There wasn’t a lot of quit in those boys. We kept fighting.”

East Prairie tight end Hunter Palmer caught a pass, and ran with the ball for a few yards until Taylor forced the fateful strip.

Palmer could have simply taken a knee after the catch, but that wasn’t the instinct on display. Rather, he turned up the field and eventually fumbled.

The magic of this play wasn’t completely finished.

Shewmaker, who plays safety on defense, raced across the field and fell on the ball — giving possession to Kennett on its own 29 with 1:12 remaining in the fourth quarter.

“I am so proud of Kaden,” Webster said. “He’s grown and matured as a leader. If he doesn’t make that play, we lose the game. They would have had a first down and run the clock out.”

Webster complimented Shewmaker, too.

“He sprinted across the field,” Webster said. “It was a hustle play, and he didn’t give up.”

Euphoria abounded. However, the Indians still had to score in order to win.

Three plays into Kennett’s scoring drive, sophomore quarterback Ty Jones hooked up with Duncan on the game-winning 59-yard TD pass. Duncan shook off a tackler, and won the footrace to the end zone.

“Caleb is a big, strong kid, and competitor,” Webster said. “It was great effort.”

The coach said at least six players have to successfully carry out their assignments for Duncan to catch a pass. The Indians carried out the mission with flying colors, in this case, black and gold.

Webster complimented the Kennett crowd for staying until the end. This game could be the only “snapshot the fans have of the season,” the coach noted.

Duncan finished with four catches for 93 yards.

Other offensive skill players contributed: Marquiese Pittman had another workmanlike 118 yards on 15 carries and two TD, Ashton Dismukes powered his way to a 19-yard TD run and Jones added a rushing TD and the two-point conversion after Duncan’s catch.

Kevin Thompson, yet another member of the 2023 Homecoming Court, and Duncan registered a team-leading 11 tackles on defense.

Austin Gattis and Taylor had eight stops each and Je’Micko Toliver seven. What’s more, Duncan and Dismukes recovered fumbles. Dismukes also had two passes defensed.

Kennett will face New Madrid County Central on the road. This will mark the Indians second straight game with an Eagles mascot. NMCC blanked Caruthersville, 27-0, at home last Friday.