Area teams left watching state playoffs

While their seasons are over, several local squads are still interested in how things play out.

After the Scott City football team lost Thursday night to conclude a 3-7 season, Rams players and coaches could be forgiven for wanting to put this season behind them and recuperate.

No such thing.

"The first thing three of the guys asked me after the game was what time was a I going to open the weight room on Monday," Rams coach Terry Flannigan said. "I told them to take a break, go deer hunting or whatever."

Perryville coach Rick Chastain reported a similar incident after Friday's game, which is saying something since the Pirates ended an 0-10 season with another tough loss -- 6-0 at Dexter.

"I had a kid ask me if we're going to watch game film on Monday," Chastain said. "You do things for nine or 10 weeks and it gets to be a habit."

One habit for the six teams in the Southeast Missourian coverage area will be broken this week: appearances in the state football playoffs. For the first time since 1992, the area has been shut out.

And it wasn't really close.

St. Vincent, the defending Class 1 state champ, lost 26-0 in a Week 9 showdown with Valle Catholic. Central finished 2-1 in its district but was beaten 42-20 by Class 4 district champ West Plains that same week. Jackson started 0-2 in its Class 5 district before salvaging a win. Scott City won its district opener but lost 50-6 to Class 2 district champ Crystal City in Week 9 before losing to Charleston.

Chaffee and Perryville didn't win a game in district play.

Nor did the two teams win a game all year.

Perryville, a playoff team last year, has an 11-game losing streak; Chaffee's is at 34. Only St. Vincent (7-3) and Jackson (6-4) finished above .500. Central matched Scott City at 3-7.

But some local players and coaches aren't ready to close the book on football just yet.

Flannigan said he expects several of his players to get another glimpse of Crystal City in the Class 2 sectional Wednesday at Caruthersville.

"I try to go to games in our class," Flannigan said. "I like to see who we'd have to play and what we'd need to do.

"I think it's a big thing for the players to see what the playoffs are like. I think it lights a little fire under them.

"When I was here the first time, we use to load up a bus and go to the state championship games," added Flannigan, who is in the second year of his second stint at Scott City.

Chastain and some of his Pirates players will watch playoff games, possibly returning to Dexter on Wednesday to watch its district rival tangle with one of Perryville's conference rivals, Ste. Genevieve.

"I'll take as many kids as I can to the playoff games," Chastain said. "I think it's good for them to get some exposure to that. I want the kids hungry for that."

Central coach Lawrence Brookins approaches it differently.

"My mantra has always been: I ain't going unless I'm playing," he said. "I'll keep a close eye on them in the newspaper or on the news, and I'll watch the ones on TV, like the Class 6 or Class 5 state championship games.

"But I want to get there."

Brookins isn't sure there's any positives of scouting teams for next year.

"The most important team on our schedule next year is the Cape Central Tigers. We've got to get stronger."

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Playoff teams

Since 1992, the last time the area didn't have a playoff team, the following schools won district championships:

1993

Scott City

1994

Jackson (Class 4A finalist)

St. Vincent

1995

Jackson (Class 4A finalist)

1996

Jackson

St. Vincent

1997

Jackson

St. Vincent

1998

Perryville

St. Vincent

Scott City

1999

Jackson

St. Vincent

Scott City

2000

Central

St. Vincent (Class 1A finalist)

2001

Central

Jackson

2002

Central

2003

Central

St. Vincent

2004

Perryville

St. Vincent (Class 1 champs)