MSHSAA Playoffs Week #1: Fredericktown @ NMCC

Tonight Missouri high school football teams open the postseason. Aways a fun night. I love the intensity and the finality of the games. All the hard work which began back in the summer will pay off for some teams as they move one step closer to a state title...For others the season comes to a screaching halt.

I get Fredericktown at New Madrid County Central. On paper it looks to be a fairly balanced game.
For what it's worth.... I like NMCC to win 37-21.

I'm a huge fan of stats and taking a closer look inside the numbers. Enjoy.

NMCC (7-3)

Offense: 34.4 ppg
Defense: 23.9 ppg

Current streak: Won 3
Record in league play (SEMO Central): 4-0

Fredericktown (6-4)

Offense: 25.2 ppg
Defense: 22.0 ppg

Current streak: Won 2
Record in league play (Mississippi Area White): 3-2

Last time three times NMCC and Fredericktown played:
*All regular season games
2007: NMCC 30 Fredericktown 20
2005: NMCC 47 Fredericktown 28
2004: NMCC 28 Fredericktown 23

This season the two schools have played 3 common opponets (Potosi, Charleston, Perryville) and both lost to Potosi.

NMCC vs common opponets:

September 11th: (L) NMCC 39 Potosi 7
September 18th: (W) NMCC 54 Charleston 12
October 30th: (W) NMCC 34 Perryville 6

Fredericktown vs common opponets:

October 3rd: (W) Fredericktown 21 Perryville 0
October 9th: (W) Fredericktown 14 Charleston 8 (ot)
October 16th: (L) Fredericktown 6 Potosi 44

HFF Preview: Sikeston (5-0) @ NMCC (4-1)

One of the better games of Week #7 of Heartland Football Friday should be undefeated Sikeston at NMCC. Arlen Pixley's Eagles enter with a record of 4-1 and feature an offense averaging 35 pointer per game.
The Eagles only loss came three weeks ago at Potosi (39-7).

Following the week three road block the Eagles regrouped on both sides of the ball outscoring Charleston and Caruthersville a combined 90-19. Coach Pixley knows it won't be easy for his offense to light up the scoreboard against the tough Bulldog defense.

"We've got to rely on some misdirection against a team as big as they are, as physical as they are." said Pixley, "I think they (Sikeston) are outstanding on defense, the best defense we're going to see this season...I guarantee it."

One of the best may be an understatement. I'll go a step further and suggest the Bulldogs may actually have the best in Southeast Missouri.

Since allowing 20 points to Fredericktown in the season opener the Bulldogs have allowed only six points. Cape Central scored a touchdown in the second half last Thursday night ending Sikeston's streak of three consecutive shutouts. The defense is allowing a Baltimore Raven-esque 5.2 points per game. To make life even tougher for their opponents the offense is chewing up the clock with running back Eli Jackson and his 127.8 yards a game.

As he prepares his team for Friday nights game Sikeston head coach Kent Gibbs says the his defense will face the tough challenge of trying to contain an Eagles team loaded with quickness.

"They have a great amount of team speed." said Gibbs, "G'Darius Stevenson is probably the best player in SE Missouri right now, so we know for us to have a chance in the game we are going to have to do a good job of trying to contain him and limit their big plays."

NMCC has dominated the series the past few years winning four of the last five meetings including four straight.

2008 Sikeston_29 NMCC_40
2007 Sikeston_7 NMCC_29
2006 Sikeston_20 NMCC_27
2005 Sikeston_16 NMCC_19
2004 Sikeston_43 NMCC_14

I will post the interview with Sikeston Head Coach Kent Gibbs as soon as possible. I'm having video issues.