Portageville wins SEMO South title with win over Kelly

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Jamarion Smith dazzled the hometown crowd with a Carr Trophy-worthy performance as Portageville steamrolled Kelly at PHS on Friday, October 13.

Smith and Bulldogs (7-1) routed the Hawks (6-2) for a 56-12 win to secure the SEMO South Conference title, the Bulldogs’ first conference championship in more than a decade.

“It’s huge, not just for me but for our seniors,” said Portageville coach Ian Penrod. “This is a group that when we all first started we were 2-8 and we didn’t get to finish our last game because we didn’t have enough kids.”

Smith scored on his first possession of the game just 18 seconds on a 40-yard touchdown run after Xayvion Bogan returned the kickoff to the 40-yard line.

Smith scored a second touchdown moments later on a 41-yard run. 

“It’s huge, not just for me but for our Seniors.  This is a group that when we all first started we were two and eight.” Penrod noted, “We didn’t get to finish our last game because we didn’t have enough kids.”

“I was really looking forward to this game because it was the first conference championship for us in 11 years,” Smith said. “It was a big game for us. The offensive line blocks great for me every game, I always have to give them the credit, that’s why I love them.”

Mason Adams added a touchdown run of 42 yards to quickly put the Bulldogs up 20-6 in the first quarter.  Adams ran for 99 yards in the game with two touchdowns while passing for 99 yards on 4-of-10 completions with one touchdown.

The Bulldogs led 49-6 at the half after Smith added another touchdown of 58 yards on his third carry and Beau-Hunter Warren set up the final score in the first half with an interception to set up a 31-yard touchdown pass from Adams to Aaron Dunlap.  

“It was a big because it was going to set the tone for the whole team the rest of the game,” Smith said. “It kind of helped the momentum to keep us going and playing hard.”

With a SEMO Conference South title on the line, Smith led the Bulldogs with 11 carries and 260 yards, scoring five touchdowns.

“[Smith] makes our job easier, even if we miss a block he can still get a touchdown,”  said offensive lineman Owen Roberts. “We don’t get recognized that much and it is really nice having a guy that appreciates us.”

Dominating the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs held the Hawks’ offensive attack to just 89 yards of total offense.  Keying on the senior running back Reese Eftink.

Kelly quarterback Skyler Still completed five passes for 62 yards including a 25-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Graham in the first quarter.

“We want to dominate in the trenches, be over the top physically and set a tone up front,” Penrod said. “We feel if we are able to win in the trenches it doesn’t matter what else goes on.”

Kelly junior Grant Burleson scored on a 90-yard interception in the fourth quarter.

“Hats off to [Penrod] and his ballclub, that’s a very good football team,” said Kelly coach Lance Powers. “I felt like our guys never gave up all night long. They are going to keep fighting and keep scrapping and that was evident with Burleson’s pick-six late in the fourth quarter.”  

The bragging rights of the county will be played in a Thursday night matchup when Portageville travels to New Madrid County Central (8-0).

Kelly hosts Ste. Genevieve (5-3) on Friday, October 20.