Class 4 District 1
(7) Farmington (1-8) at (2) Central (5-4)
Last week: Central 62, Festus 56; Affton 62, Farmington 28
Outlook: Central will be looking for its second win of the season over Farmington after it jump-started its current four-game winning streak with a 59-21 win over the Knights in Week 6.
A victory tonight would advance to Tigers to the district semifinals Nov. 6.
Farmington is in the throes of a seven-game losing streak. The Knights lone victory came in Week 2 with a 33-7 win against Trinity Catholic, a Class 3 school that finished the regular season at 3-6. The Knights' closest loss during their skid is a 21-14 setback to Sikeston. Their last five losses -- to North County, Central, Poplar Bluff, Vianney and Affton -- all have been by at least 27 points. Quarterback Justin Boehm directs the Farmington offense.
Central rang up 52 first-half points on the Knights in the first meeting. Three Tigers each rushed for more than 100 yards against the Knights.
"We ran ball well on them the first game, and we hope to be able to do the same," Central coach Nathan Norman said.
Central has exhibited resiliency during its current streak, which includes double-digit, second-half comebacks against Sikeston and Chaminade before last week's thriller vs. Festus.
Central senior quarterback Dennis Vinson has thrown more than 200 yards in each of the last two games. He's thrown for 1,157 yards on the season and completed 47 percent of his passes.
Central churned out a season-high 637 yards against Farmington and had two 200-yard rushers in senior Mikey Jones and junior Braion Owens. Owens injured a shoulder early in the third quarter and did not return. Owens, who has 681 yards rushing (7.2 ypc) on the season, will not be active this week, but Norman expects him to be available for future games.
Jones has 1,115 yards rushing on the season (6.2 ypc).
Sophomore Al Young is the team's leading receiver by a wide margin with 24 catches for 666 yards. Jones is next with five catches for 173 yards. Young also has seven TD catches and a team-high 16 TDs overall. Jones, who had five TDs last week, has 13 overall.
The Tigers are averaging 265 yards rushing a game and 395 yards of total offense.
"If we come out ready to play and get excited, I think we can be very successful," Norman said. "We sure don't want to encourage the opponent by not playing well early and let them in the ballgame."
Senior tight end/linebacker Jacob Boerboom is questionable with an ankle injury.
(6) Perryville (2-7) at (3) Festus (7-2)
Last week: Herculaneum 27, Perryville 21 (OT); Central 62, Festus 56
Outlook: Perryville enters with a seven-game losing streak that includes a pair of tough losses the past two weeks.
After a series of lopsided defeats, the Pirates dropped a 21-20 decision to Windsor in Week 8, then closed their regular season with an overtime loss.
Festus had a three-game winning streak snapped with last week's last-second loss to Central. The Tigers are averaging 47.1 points a game and have a variety of weapons in its ground-oriented attack, including 1,000-yard rusher Corey Carr, who averages more than 10 yards a carry. Carr had 162 yards on 21 carries last week against Central. Junior quarterback Andrew Hayden directs the offense.
Class 4 District 1
First round: (8) De Soto (1-8, 17.42) at (1) Hillsboro (7-2, 41.04); (7) Farmington (1-8, 20.62) at (2) Central (5-4, 38.22); (6) Perryville (2-7, 21.42) at (3) Festus (7-2, 39.81); (5) North County (6-3, 35.73) at (4) Sikeston (6-3, 35.98)
CLASS 2 DISTRICT 1
(6) Scott City (1-7) at (3) Charleston (5-4)
Last week: Scott City open; Charleston 43, Chaffee 28
Outlook: Scott City enters on a five-game losing streak, while Charleston has won its last two.
Scott City's lone win of the season was a 33-27 overtime win against East Prairie in Week 3.
Charleston has won four of its last five games, ending Chaffee' bid for an unbeaten season last week. The Bluejays have a dangerous running attack that features senior Robert Bogan and junior Rontavious Clark. Bogan topped 100 yards rushing and scored four touchdowns last week.
Scott City is averaging 250 yards offense per game which has been fairly evenly split between passing and rushing. The defense is yielding 350 yards with opponents averaging 225 yards rushing.
Senior Gordon Bradley leads the Rams with 325 yards rushing. Freshman quarterback Braden Cox has completed 50 percent of his passes for 936 yards and rushed for a team-high six TDs. Senior Zach Carlyle leads the receivers with 22 catches for 341 yards. Junior Austin Spriggs is second with 21 receptions for 309 yards.
Class 2 District 1
First round: (8) Grandview (1-8, 16.23) at (1) Caruthersville (7-1, 47.69); (7) East Prairie (1-8, 19.59) at Malden (7-2, 41.78); (6) Scott City (1-7, 17.68) at (3) Charleston (5-4, 38.38); (5) Jefferson (6-3, 37.18) at St. Pius (6-3, 36.01)
Class 1 District 1
(7) Hayti (2-6) at (2) Chaffee (8-1) on Friday
Last week: Hayti open; Charleston 43, Chaffee 28
Outlook: Chaffee enters on the heels of its first loss of the season. However, the Red Devils were without starting quarterback Peyton Montgomery, who was nursing a shoulder strain and is expected to be fully recovered for tonight's district opener.
Chaffee rolled to a 47-20 victory over the Indians in Week 3 of the regular season, breaking a 14-game losing streak to the Indians.
It's been a difficult season for Hayti with its lone wins over East Prairie and Scott City -- teams that finished the regular season with one win apiece.
Senior Jimmy Golden filled in for Montgomery at quarterback last week but should return to running back, where he leads the Red Devils with 772 yards (6.4 ypc) rushing on the season. Senior running back/receiver Charlie Montgomery had a career-high 192 yards rushing last week against Charleston to raise his season total to 592 yards (7 ypc). He has a team-high 926 yards of total offense.
Peyton Montgomery has rushed for 515 yards (7.1 ypc) and completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,234 yards. The Red Devils attempted just two passes for three yards in his absence last week. Montgomery has three main targets in seniors Devon Yahn (22 catches, 462 yards), Layton Tenkhoff (28, 351) and Charlie Montgomery (29, 334).
Chaffee built a 40-6 lead by halftime in the first meeting with Hayti. It limited the Indians to 58 yards rushing in the contest.
This game, which was scheduled to be played tonight, has been pushed back to 7 p.m. Friday due to the threat of rain.
(5) St. Vincent (5-4) at (4) Portageville (5-3)
Last week: Jefferson 58, St. Vincent 32; Portageville 34, New Madrid 18
Outlook: Portageville is coming off its most noteworthy win of the season and carries a four-game winning streak.
St. Vincent senior Alex Winkler has rushed for 1,285 yards (6.3 ypc). He was held below 100 yards for just the second time all season last week against Jefferson. However, he did have five catches for 60 yards to finish with 150 yards of total offense.
Sophomore quarterback Joe Whistler threw for a season-high 184 yards against Jefferson. He's completed 43 percent of his passes for 764 yards on the season.
Senior tight end Kevin Mattingly, who has a team-high 23 receptions for 402 yards, also leads the defense with 86 tackles.
Sophomore Jon Garrett Kellams directs a Portageville offense that includes running threats in sophomore Daniel McCray and Carlos McGee. Receivers include Hunter Cook and Ben Story.
Class 1 District 1
First round: (8) Cabool (0-9) at (1) Valle Catholic (9-0, 57.37); (7) Hayti (2-6, 28.86) at Chaffee (8-1, 51.31); (6) Crystal City (2-7, 29.65) at (3) Thayer (5-4, 43.59); (5) St. Vincent (5-4, 40.93) at (4) Portageville (5-3, 43.07)
Class 5 District 1
(2) Jackson bye
The Indians will host the winner of tonight's first-round game between No. 3 Poplar Bluff (5-4) and No. 6 Seckman (0-9) in the district semifinals Nov. 6.
It's the second consecutive year the Indians have received a bye in district play.
Class 5 District 1
First round: (1) Vianney (6-3, 40.62) bye; (2) Jackson (6-3, 41.15) bye; (6) Seckman (0-9, 12.85) at (3) Poplar Bluff (5-4, 34.69); (5) Fox (2-7, 26.7) at (4) Rockwood Summit (3-6, 25.46)
-- Jeff Breer
Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:
For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.