Area teams open season tonight

The area's six high school football teams finally stop hitting each other and get to take on foes from other schools as the football season opens tonight.

Only two of the area's six teams will play at home tonight, as Perryville hosts Pacific and Chaffee welcomes Grandview.

Perryville went on the road and knocked off Pacific last year, winning 21-7. Pirates running back Kris Cottner gained 158 yards against Pacific last season. He also scored a touchdown.

The Pirates hit the road for their next three games after their opener.

Chaffee broke its 34-game losing streak last season when it beat Grandview 43-14 in the Red Devils' season opener. Andrew Hendrix, who moved to quarterback for this season, rushed for 91 yards and three touchdowns in the Red Devils' season-opening win last season.

Chaffee plays six of its 10 games on the road this season.

The Scott City Rams start their season under new coach Ronnie Jones on the road. They travel to Malden to face a team they lost to last season. This is the 10th straight year the Rams have opened with Malden, which beat Scott City 33-14 last year. The Green Wave had three players rush for more than 100 yards last season. The Rams have posted a winning record in two of their last three seasons.

The Jackson Indians hit the road for St. Charles, Mo., where they take on Francis Howell Central. Jackson won the meeting last year between the teams as the Indians' defense held Howell Central scoreless in the second half. The Indians head home for their next two games after the road opener.

The Cape Central Tigers opened with a 29-7 loss to Parkway North last season in Cape Girardeau. This year, the Tigers head to Creve Coeur, Mo., to face Parkway North for the season opener. The Tigers lost their first three games last season before rallying to reach the playoffs.

All six games start at 7 p.m.