High school football: Valle Catholic eliminates Caruthersville from playoffs

STE. GENEVIEVE — The Caurthersville High School football team scored back-to-back TD midway through the second quarter.

Those scores gave the Tigers a glimmer of optimism during a Class 2 District 1 semifinal game on Friday versus Valle Catholic at Father John Dempsey Field.

“We know we can score and we know we can stop people,” Caruthersville head football coach Dominick Guglielmo said. “But, it took too long for us to get into the game.”

Caruthersville's Jeremane Caruthers (left) and Oscar Dominguez make a stop during a Class 2 District 1 semifinal game dated Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, in Ste. Genevieve.(Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

See, Valle Catholic, with its name-brand reputation, opened the game with 35 unanswered points — leaving Caruthersville a bit shell-shocked en route to a 56-14 win.

“Their name and their coaching earns them some weight,” Guglielmo added.

Valle Catholic (9-1) will square off with Scott City at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, also at Dempsey Field for the district championship. Scott City whacked New Madrid County Central, 70-28, last Friday. Jefferson R-7 will play Lift For Life Academy in the other half of the bracket.

Jackson Napier blocks, trying to spring Bryant on a long gain during the second half. Valle Catholic topped Caruthersville, 56-14, advancing to the district championship. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

After stopping Caruthersville on its opening possession, Valle Catholic needed just one play to score on a Grant Fallert quarterback keeper covering 46 yards. Alex Viox scored the Warriors’ next TD on a 34-yard run.

Valle Catholic was off and running, adding three more scores (interception return, a Grant Fallert pass to Tyler Gegg and another Viox run from 10 yards away).

Caruthersville then struck on a 50-yard TD pass from quarterback Ryan Guest to Abeyon Motton. Sammy Bryant then punched in a 1-yard TD on fourth down with 6:15 remaining in the second quarter.

Caruthersville players form a circle around head coach Dominick Guglielmo after a Class 2 District 1 playoff football game dated Friday, Nov. 3, in Ste. Genevieve.(Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

Jared Hudgens recovered a Valle Catholic fumble on its next possession. However, the Tigers couldn’t capitalize as their drive stalled around midfield.

Valle Catholic added two more TD shortly before halftime, which included an onside kick recovery. The second half whisked away thanks to the state-mandated turbo clock, but not before the Warriors’ Josh Fallert scored on a 44-yard TD run.

Motton finished with five catches for 64 yards. Bryant had 80 all-purpose yards rushing and receiving. Guest was 9-of-22 passing for 84 yards, one TD and one INT. He was sacked just twice.

Caruthersville offensive lineman Ridge McGraw (77) prepares to engage a Valle Catholic defender at the point of attack during a Class 2 District 1 semifinal game dated Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, in Ste. Genevieve. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

Defensively, sophomore defensive lineman Jeremane Caruthers was impressive with nine tackles, including two for negative yards and a quarterback sack. Oscar Dominguez also collected nine tackles and Kenyon Bogan contributed six.

SEASON REVIEW

Even though Caurthersville was eliminated from the playoffs Friday, the future is bright for the Tigers.

Caruthersville quarterback Ryan Guest attempts to run past Valle Catholic's Tyler Gegg during a Class 2 District 1 playoff game dated Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, in Ste. Genevieve. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

“I’m proud of what the kids did this fall,” noted Guglielmo, who has guided the Tigers for three seasons now. “We’re graduating five seniors that will be tough to replace. But, we’re only losing three starters on offense and defense.”

Caruthersville seniors who played in their final scholastic football game were senior skill position player Abeyon Motton, Jaxson Hunter, Trey Thompson, Jake Stevens and Tevin Tillmon.

This past Friday’s game could have been different if talented junior wide receiver/defensive back Jermonte Alexander was able to play. Alexander was held out.

Caruthersville has grown into a potent team. The school won five games combined during the 2020 and 2021 campaigns. Last year, the Tigers won four games.

This year’s group finished 7-4, with its first playoff victory since the 2020 season (a 13-0 forfeit win over Portageville) and a signature conquest over Kennett in mid-September.