Sikeston's Wiggins earns Carr Trophy

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Juqualin Wiggins and the Sikeston Bulldogs finished a historic season Wednesday night by taking home some hardware at the 64th annual Poplar Bluff Letter Club Gridiron Banquet.

Wiggins picked up the Carr Trophy, which is presented to the best high school football player in the 16-team SEMO Conference, in a ceremony that also honored the SEMO all-conference teams.

He is the third Sikeston player to earn the award and first since Raphael "Tiger" Boyd won it in 1991.

Wiggins, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior, ran for 1,051 yards, threw for 1,509 yards and scored 31 touchdowns and six 2-point conversions. As a safety, Wiggins intercepted six passes, recovered a fumble and was fourth on the defense with 87 tackles, including 52 solo and a pair for a loss.

The Bulldogs, who won the SEMO North title by outscoring opponents 125-26, finished 13-1, reaching the Class 4 semifinals for the first time in the program's history.

It was a big night for the Bulldogs.

Sikeston took home a conference title, Kent Gibbs was named coach of the year in the North while Eli Jackson earned the scoring award with 122 points.

The Bulldogs, who earned 10 spots on the all-conference squad, also picked up the SEMO Conference School Sportsmanship Award presented by the conference officials.

New Madrid County Central, which finished 9-4 by reaching the Class 3 quarterfinals, won the SEMO Central. The Eagles, who had 10 players named to the all-conference team, also had the top lineman in the Central in senior Kony Ealy, G'Darius Stevenson earned the scoring award with 202 points while Arlen Pixley was named coach of the year.

East Prairie won the South title as Jason Aycock was named coach of the year while Alan Miller shared lineman of the year honors with Hayti's Darnell Clay.

Hayti's Byron Norris was the scoring champion with 68 points.

Poplar Bluff senior Ward Watts was the lineman of the year in the North.

The Carr Trophy, which has been presented since 1979, is selected by a seven-member committee.