GRID DISTRICTS RESHUFFLED FOR UPCOMING SEASON

It's still a couple of weeks away from the start of high school football practice and almost three months away from the start of district play.

But once the all-important district competition that determines playoff berths does begin, a host of area teams will be competing against new opponents.

The Missouri State High School Activities Association -- based on a school's enrollment -- realigns its districts across the state every two years.

And there will be several new-look districts for area teams for the 1998 and 1999 seasons.

Among the biggest changes are Charleston and Sikeston both moving down a classification.

Charleston, which has competed in Class 3A for quite a while, saw a drop in its enrollment and will be in Class 2A for at least the next two seasons.

Sikeston, previously a Class 5A team -- 5A is Missouri's largest classification for football -- also saw its enrollment drop and has been moved down to Class 4A.

Caruthersville has also been bumped down a class, from 3A to 2A, while other area teams have remained in their previous classification although many will take on some new district foes.

The area's Class 5A district will now consist of three Southeast Missouri teams and one St. Louis squad, as it had until Jackson moved up to 5A two years ago.

Class 5A, District 1 will now feature locals Cape Girardeau Central, Jackson and Poplar Bluff, along with Vianney from the St. Louis area.

Sikeston replaces Perryville in 4A, District 1, where the Bulldogs will compete against district holdovers Farmington, North County and Potosi.

Perryville has been moved to 4A, District 2, where the Pirates will compete against De Soto, Hillsboro and Windsor.

Fredericktown, which previously competed in 3A, District 2 along with Charleston, is now in 3A, District 1. There the Black Cats will compete against Dexter, Kennett and New Madrid County Central.

There will be two local 2A districts, with Caruthersville, East Prairie, Malden and Portageville competing in District 1, while Charleston, Scott City, Crystal City and Grandview make up District 2.

There is also something of a change in the local 1A, District 1, which now consists of only three teams: holdovers Chaffee, St. Vincent and Hayti.

Ste. Genevieve Valle, which had been the fourth member of 1A, District 1, has been moved to 1A, District 2, where the Warriors will go up against Cardinal Ritter from St. Louis and Lutheran from St. Charles.

Even though some of the districts have changed, the conferences haven't, meaning the area teams will still be playing virtually all of their traditional rivals.

Cape Central, Jackson, Sikeston and Poplar Bluff will still comprise the SEMO North Conference while Charleston will still compete in the SEMO Central Conference along with Caruthersville, Dexter, Kennett and New Madrid.

The SEMO South Conference also remains intact, with Chaffee, Scott City, East Prairie, Hayti, Malden and Portageville making up that league.

Aug. 12 is the first day high school football teams across the state can begin practice, according to MSHSAA guidelines. Equipment players can wear during the first three days of workouts is limited to helmets. Full-pad workouts begin after that.

Area teams will open the regular season Sept. 4, with district play set to begin Oct. 23.