Check out the high school football schedules (and other regional notes)

The high school football schedules for Southeast Missouri have been released.

You can view the schedules team by team by clicking this Web page on Semoball.com.

Some interesting tidbits on the football schedules:

* The Dexter-New Madrid County Central game which decided the Class 3 District 1 championship last year (NMCC won and went to the quarterfinal round) has moved from Week 10 to Week 8.

It should be a great meeting this year, with NMCC returning standout running backs Lennies McFerren and end Kony Ealy and Dexter countering with quarterback Ben Mills and running back Nick Hessling.

It's possible that Kennett or Perryville could figure into the district title picture, but Dexter and New Madrid County would seem to be the favorites. I am wondering if moving the game earlier in the season puts less of a spotlight on the coaching battle between the brothers Pixley — Arlen (NMCC) and Aaron (Dexter). One sign at New Madrid along the fence last year said "Our Pixley is better than yours," but the two coaches reportedly aren't much into the head-to-head rivalry.

* Jackson will travel to Eureka in Week 8 for a rematch of the 21-20 battle that Jackson won last year en route to the Class 5 state semifinal. Considering the controversy in last year's meeting of unbeaten teams, this one ought to be interesting.

* Following its best season in about two decades, Chaffee opens with three road games — at Grandview, at Fulton County (Ky.) and at Class 2 playoff participant Crystal City.

* Cape Central will play two Thursday night home games (hosting Blytheville on Sept. 11 and Seckman on Oct. 9) and three Friday home games (New Madrid, Poplar Bluff and Eureka). That might help increase the crowds for Rich Payne's first season.

* Here's an interesting stretch of schedule that will test Jackson's ability to maintain its status as one of the state's elite teams: the Indians host new SEMO North foe Farmington (9-1) in Week 6, 2007 SEMO North runner-up Poplar Bluff (5-5 with 10 offensive starters potentially returning) in Week 7 and Eureka (9-1) in that Week 8 clash.

Kaverman and Ferris State

Marty Mishow reports that Southeast Missouri State athletics director Don Kaverman withdrew from consideration as associate AD at Ferris State before the decision on the job was made.

It's possible, but I had heard from sources on Wednesday night that Ferris State AD Tom Kirinovic had made his recommendation that evening following Kaverman's interview and public forum earlier in the day (and before Kirinovic left for vacation). Kaverman was the third of three candidates to interview and the only one currently an AD at a Division I university. The source told me Kirinovic, 51, was leaning toward someone who could be his successor, which likely wouldn't be Kaverman, who is 55.

Kirinovic's quotes to The Pioneer in Big Rapids, Mich., for its Thursday edition:

* "The best news is that we've got three solid candidates that could do the job if need be."

* "I'd like to get the new person in here as quickly as possible."

* "We're looking for the one who has the skills we need. Sometimes that might not be the one that seems to have the most qualifications."

ESPYs update

Susan Beth Scott, the swimmer from Cape Girardeau headed to the Paralympics, did not win an ESPY on Thursday night.

College softball player Shay Oberg was named the Best Female Athlete With a Disability.

But Susan Beth's father, Mike Scott, said it was a great trip to Los Angeles and he enjoyed meeting and visiting with Poplar Bluff grad and North Carolina basketball standout Tyler Hansbrough and his brother, Greg.

Last week, in British Columbia, Canada, Susan Beth prepped for Beijing by setting the 800-meter world record in her division. Her 400-meter record fell, however, to U.S. teammate Ashley Owens.

Charleston Web site

With the Senior Babe Ruth state tournament underway and the regional coming up in Charleston, I was recently pointed toward the Charleston Squirrels' Web site, which has a great name: www.nutsbaseball.com.

Golf roundup

Blake Driskell of Cape Girardeau finished tied for 13th at the Missouri Stroke Play championship with a score of 1-over-par 289.

The three-day tourney ended Friday at

He had rounds of 71, 72, 75 and 71 and finished 10 strokes behind Darren Lundgren of Grover.

Other locals: Ben Godwin, Poplar Bluff, tied for 19th, 3-over 291; Todd Obergoener, Cape Girardeau, tied for 19th, 3-over 291; Kent Phillips, Cape Girardeau, tied for 25th, 4-over 292; Bobby Godwin, Poplar Bluff, tied for 34th, 7-over 295; and John Schock, Poplar Bluff, tied for 51st, 16-over 304.

See more tournament coverage at www.mogolf.org.

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In the women's state amateur, which ended Thursday, Harriette Myers of New Madrid finished 11th in the championship flight at 29-over 245. She was in much better shape with an opening 74 (which had her tied for second) but followed with rounds of 82 and then 17-over 89.

Myers and Diane Fowler played in the state am this year instead of defending their Lassies Classic crown and trying for a ninth title.

Fowler finished tied for 10th in Open Flight A with a 50-over 266.

That flight was won by a Kennett woman, Jo Billings, who shot a 22-over 238 with rounds of 79, 78 and 81. She was the only golfer in the flight to break 80.

See the scores here.

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You'll be able to follow along with the American Junior Golf Association tournament set for Dalhousie Golf Club at www.semoball.com/ajga. Check out tournament preview and course information coming soon. Currently, the page has a link to last year's coverage.