Craft sits out Southern Miss win

A couple of weekend highlights involving familiar Southeast Missouri high school players:

Former Cape Girardeau Central quarterback Mitch Craft was expected to split time on the field at middle linebacker Saturday in Southern Mississippi's win over North Carolina State, but the chance never came.

Craft, who was suspended for the first two games of the season, never played Saturday once junior starter Jerome Lyons got on a roll and made the most of his first career start. Lyons led the team with seven tackles. Lyons had never played prior to last week's 45-0 win over Southeastern Louisiana.

"When you play that good, you don't come out of the game," USM defensive coordinator Jay Hopson said of Lyons.

Coach Jeff Bower gave Lyons a clear vote of confidence Monday, which mean Craft's chance of making an impression this week is probably up in the air.

Bower on Lyons: "He's just come on and has gotten better. He's a smart player and is instinctive. I think he is a physical player. He played well." .....

Greg Klund had nine tackles in Lindenwood's 27-17 loss Saturday to Georgetown (Ky.). Klund is a senior defensive back from Cape Girardeau Central. Teammate Billy Ray Uren, a sophomore from Jackson, had four tackles; Chris Kline, a sophomore from St. Vincent, had one.

The three are part of a strong local group that includes sophomore Kyle Kline of St. Vincent, sophomores Adam Cecil and Plessie Ellitt of Caruthersville, and freshman Stuart Sago of Farmington.