The Thayer High School Bobcats were ranked No. 2 in the Missouri Media Class 1 state poll last week and could very well be No. 1 this week.
If the Salem Tigers had a vote, they’d sure make them No. 1.
With the help of lost fumbles that have plagued Salem throughout 2025, Thayer scored two touchdowns inside the first minute of play. Things didn’t get any better for the home team, as the Bobcats rolled to a 55-16 South-Central Association victory Friday, Sept. 19 at Schuchardt Stadium.
Salem falls to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the SCA. Thayer improves to 4-0 and 2-0.
Salem head coach Neal Myers admits the Tigers made it easier for them, but feels the Bobcats are something special this fall.
“I’d be blown away if they don’t win Class 1,” Myers said of Thayer. “It was just men against boys - they’re that big and strong up front. They were more physical up front at the point of attack than we were.”
After Thayer’s senior wideout Cordell Washington caught a lateral pass from senior quarterback Dawson Harris and took it 63 yards for a touchdown, the Tigers committed their fourth lost fumble that went for a TD this season, as Thayer picked up the loose ball and returned it 78 yards for the score, and a minute into the game it was 14-0.
“The St. James, Houston and Thayer games all started that way,” Myers said. “I’ve never seen that many fumbles returned for touchdowns.”
The Bobcats continued to dominate things the rest of the quarter, rushing for three more touchdowns to take a 35-0 advantage into the second period.
Thayer would rush for two more TDs in the second quarter while holding its shutout to go into intermission up 49-0.
With the turbo clock running throughout, the Bobcats would add one more touchdown in the second half.
Salem got on the scoreboard twice in the second half on TD runs of six in the third quarter and 12 yards in the final period by junior running back-turned-QB Sylis DuBois. DuBois moved to quarterback after senior Hayden Ragsdale had to exit the game with a deep bone bruise on his shin. Myers calls Ragsdale’s status day-to-day.
Sophomore Alton May ran in both Tiger two-point conversions.
Salem had 120 yards of total offense - all rushing.
Thayer had 293 rushing yards (9.5 yards-per-carry) and 70 passing yards.
Sophomore running back Rowan Johnson led the balanced Thayer ground game with 73 yards on 11 carries.
This week Salem travels to Ava for another conference game. Ava is 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the SCA after falling on the road to Mountain View Liberty last week. The Bears have played three straight road games.
Rushing: DuBois 12 for 21, Ray 9 for 30, May 5 for 20.
Passing: Ragsdale 0-1-0-0, DuBois 0-1-0-0.
