Most schools would look at the chance for an undefeated regular season as a rare accomplishment.
While it must be a huge source of pride for Valle Catholic, the Warriors are making it look almost routine. The program will be going for its third consecutive perfect regular season and for the sixth time in the past ten years.
This year’s Valle squad has statistically been one of the most dominant during this amazing decade-long run of dominance, especially considering it has played a pair of Class 6 teams and another top ten Class 3 contender in Park Hills Central.
The regular season finale is no guarantee. Kennett will not be a pushover. The Indians are 6-2 and this will be the eighth straight season they will finish with a winning record. Plus, they will be smarting on Senior Night after a 35-14 loss to Poplar Bluff last week.
But make no mistake, the hosts from the Bootheel will have to play their best game of the season to hang with the Warriors, who have beaten four teams with winning records by an average margin of nearly 38 ppg. Meanwhile, the Indians have played just one team that currently owns a winning record. That match-up did not go well in a 60-28 loss to New Madrid County Central.
Valle’s dominance this season belies the statistics for individual players because of the lopsided margin of victory and limited playing time for the starters. Quarterback Chase Fallert has passed for almost 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns while running back Bryce Giesler has over 1,000 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns. Sam Drury leads the team with 25 receptions and six touchdowns. But it also proves the team’s depth. Eight different players have at least two rushing touchdowns and six different players have caught touchdown passes.
It might be easy to overlook the defense on a team that averages 57 ppg, but the Warriors’ defense has been assertive as well. Carson Tucker leads the team in total tackles and has scored three touchdowns. Tim Okenfuss has 28 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.
Kennett’s ground game is led by Daniel Boatman, who went over the 1,000-yard mark last week against the Mules. Quarterback Tanner Pierce control the passing game. The special teams have been special at times with multiple kickoff returns for scores.
This is a possible district preview since both teams compete in Class 3, District 1. Valle is the top seed; Kennett is in a battle for the 3rd and 4th slots with Ste. Genevieve.
Both Valle and Kennett last won district titles in 2019.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Friday deep in the Bootheel.
Good luck Warriors!
