Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Nick Cobb (left) looks to tackle East Prairie's M.C. Williams during last week's football game at Metz Cherry Stadium. Kennett will be looking to improve on its defense and special teams play when it travels to Portageville on Friday. [Click to enlarge]

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- On paper, Friday's matchup between the Kennett Indians and the Portageville Bulldogs does not appear to be much of a match at all.

On one side, the Tribe is 4-0 for the first time since 1999, brings in the area's best passing attack and have beaten Portageville three years in a row by a combined score of 140-20.

On the other side, the Bulldogs have had back-to-back winless seasons, have not won a game since 2005 and have been outscored 169-14 this year.

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Cameron Wallace (6) is tripped up by an East Prairie defender during last week's homecoming game at Metz Cherry Stadium. Wallace and the Tribe will be looking to improve to 5-0 when they play at winless Portageville Friday night. [Click to enlarge]

"Portageville is going through some tough times," Kennett coach Kirk Welch said. "We just tell our kids (that) we've got to go out and play the game of football. It doesn't matter who we play."

One thing the Tribe has done very well this season is throw the football, having passed for an area-high 1,188 yards in its first four games, including back-to-back 300-yard games through the air.

"That's been our mindset since Day 1 and we're going to continue to do the same things," said Welch. "This is a ballgame where we have a lot of things we need to work on and get better at."

One of those things is special teams play, where Kennett has given up several big kickoff returns that have given their opponents short fields and more scoring opportunities this season.

"That's one of the main things we need to work on and improve is special teams," Welch said. "We've just got to get guys on there that want to perform and perform well."

The Tribe will also work on improving a defense that has allowed at least three touchdowns in each of its four games and was burned for over 300 rushing yards last week against East Prairie.

"We've just got to go out, play ball and improve on things we need to work on," said Welch.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. It is also Portageville's homecoming.

Parr recognized: Kennett quarterback Blake Parr is getting some notice around the state of Missouri.

Parr was named the Class 3 Player of the Week by MoSports.com after passing for 375 yards and a pair of scores against East Prairie last week. He also ran for 83 yards and another score in the game.

Additionally, MoSports.com posted an article Wednesday profiling Parr. The article is on the site's front page.

"Anytime you can get some positive things (said) about your program -- and not just locally -- (it) is always nice," Welch said.

Opponents: The Tribe's opponents were 3-7 last week and are 12-28 this season. Here's how they did against their opponents:

Charleston (1-3) lost to NMCC, 39-0
Caruthersville (0-4) lost to Hayti, 40-21
Hayti (3-1) def. Caruthersville, 40-21
East Prairie (2-2) lost to Kennett, 41-35
Portageville (0-4) lost to Malden, 41-8
Malden (1-3) def. Portageville, 41-8
Sikeston (2-2) lost to Jackson, 42-14
NMCC (2-2) def. Charleston, 39-0
Dexter (0-4) lost to Poplar Bluff, 38-13
Perryville (1-3) lost to Park Hills, 24-21

Weather: The National Weather Service is calling for mostly clear skies and a kickoff temperature in the mid-70s, dropping into the mid-60s by the end of the game. Winds are expected to be from the north-northwest at 5 miles per hour.