The Kirksville Tigers picked up a huge early season statement win over Chillicothe Friday 42-7 at Spainhower Field. The Tiger defense made a non-factor out of Chillicothe’s feature back Silas Midgyett, so much so he was pulled out of the game in the second quarter. The defense held the Hornets to just 27 first half yards. Kirksville’s first possession started on their own 11 yard line, quickly got out of trouble and marched into Hornet territory before a touchdown got called back on an ineligible receiver downfield penalty. The Tiger would convert on 4th and 15 with a pass to Cole Kelly and Jace Kent capped off the drive with an 18 yard run to make it 7-0 KHS with 3:45 in the first. Chillicothe left a lot of Tiger receivers wide open all night and Kirksville’s Ryder Lyons took full advantage. He found Hayden Davis open on a 23 yard touchdown pass with 10:47 left in the second. Then Kent scored his second touchdown of the night on a 29 yard catch from Lyons to make it 21-0 with 7:59 to go. Lyons found Carter Pinkerton in one on one coverage downfield on a 64 yard TD pass to make it 28-0 with 2:19 to play. Coach Gregg Nesbitt kept his foot on the accelerator by trying to score right before halftime, and Lyons found Pinkerton again on a 9 yard TD pass with one second left before halftime, making it 35-0 at the break. With continuous clock in effect for the second straight week, Logan Martin found the end zone late in the third on a six yard run to give the Tigers a 42-0 lead and the eventual 42-7 win. Lyons three for 225 yards before turbo clock set in. Freshman Blake Nesbitt was the leading tackler for the second straight week with 8. KHS gets to 2-0 and will host Savannah next Friday on Hall Of Fame night.