High school football capsules: Week 1

Kelly at East Prairie, 8 p.m.

Last year: Did not play

Outlook: After waiting 57 years for their first varsity football game, the Kelly Hawks are going to have to wait one more hour. Due to a forecast for high temperatures, the kickoff of tonight's game was pushed back from its original 7 p.m. starting time.

This game should be an intriguing matchup. Kelly does not appear in over its head against its opening opponent. The Hawks handled the Eagles' JV last year in a 5-3 season, and the East Prairie varsity is on an eight-game losing streak. East Prairie went 1-9 last season.

Central vs. Vashon at Sumner, 6:30 p.m.

Last year: Did not play

Outlook: Central is coming off a memorable 9-5 season in which the Tigers reached the Class 4 semifinals. Central lost starting quarterback Dennis Vinson and leading running back Mikey Jones to graduation, but the transfer of former Chaffee quarterback Peyton Montgomery was an unexpected addition for fourth-year coach Nathan Norman. Montgomery, who helped Chaffee get off to an 8-0 start last season before sustaining a shoulder injury, will have the area's most exciting receiver in Southeast Missouri as a target in Al Young. Young had a record-breaking sophomore season last year with 1,227 yards, the most ever for a Tigers receiver. Young also scored 22 touchdowns from scrimmage (11 passing, 11 rushing). The Tigers also have a returning running threat in senior Braion Owens, who had more than 900 yards rushing last season.

Those offensive weapons, along with their strong finish last year, have the Tigers tied for the 10th spot in the Class 4 preseason rankings.

The Tigers opened the past two seasons with losses to powerhouse John Burroughs, and look to get their first season-opening win since 2011 when it takes on Vashon, which was 3-7 last year.

Chaffee at Grandview, 7 p.m.

Last year: Chaffee 58, Grandview 15

Outlook: The Red Devils are coming off their first SEMO South Conference title in 34 years. It was a magical season that included an 8-0 start but ended abruptly with with losses in two of the last three games. Chaffee graduated several key players and surprisingly lost quarterback Peyton Montgomery, who transferred to Central for his senior year. Montgomery passed for 1,400 yards and rushed for over 700 yards despite missing a game and playing the final game injured. Either sophomore Brennen Miller or junior Jordan Wilburn will start at quarterback tonight.

Chaffee is playing Grandview in its season opener for the 17th consecutive year. The Red Devils have won the last two meetings and are 10-6 overall in the span. Grandview, 1-9 last year, enters with a six-game losing streak.

Sumner at Perryville, 7 p.m.

Last year: Did not play

Outlook: For the second year in a row, Class 3 Sumner is opening its season against a team from Perryville. In 2013, the Bulldogs hosted Class 1 St. Vincent and won 12-8.

Both Perryville and Sumner have been struggling in recent times. The Pirates were 2-8 in 2013 and have not won more than three games in a season since 2008. Sumner went 2-7 last year, including a 75-0 thumping to McCluer South-Berkley in the first round of district play. That followed a winless 2012 campaign.

Herculaneum at Scott City, 7 p.m.

Last year: Herculaneum 13, Scott City 0

Outlook: The teams are meeting in the season opener for the third straight year. Scott City won in 2012, but the Rams will be looking to avenge last year's loss.

The Rams took a step back with last year's 2-8 season after back-to-back 5-5 seasons. Herculaneum is coming off a 4-6 season. The Blackcats will not be handing the ball off to Dustin Johnson. The central figure in the Herculaneum ground attack for the past three seasons graduated in the spring.

Battle at Jackson, 7 p.m.

Last year: Jackson 48, Battle 19

Outlook: Jackson will look for its third straight season-opening win under third-year coach Brent Eckley. The first two came against North County, which no longer is on the Indians' schedule. The Indians, who open the season ranked No. 5 in Class 5, return three-year starter Dante Vandeven at quarterback to operate an offense that averaged around 450 yards and 36.8 points last season.

Battle, a school from Columbia, Missouri, in its second year of existence, is an interesting opening matchup for the Indians. Jackson spotted Battle a pair of touchdowns last year but came roaring back with 42 unanswered points. The Indians graduated 15 seniors from that team, including leading rusher Colten Proffer. Battle did not graduate a single player -- the then first-year school did not have a senior class. With four classes this year, the Spartans did graduate from Class 4 to Class 5.

Junior Nash Sutherlin rushed for 139 yards against the Indians last year. Battle featured a freshman quarterback last year in Brevinn Tyler.

St. Vincent at Valle Catholic, 7 p.m.

Last year: Valle 48, St. Vincent 0

Outlook: Nathan Rowland faces possibly the biggest challenge in Missouri high school football when he makes his coaching debut for St. Vincent against the defending Class 1 state champion Warriors. Valle is wearing that title of defending champs for the 12th time after completing a 15-0 season.

The Warriors, who have won state titles in three of the last four seasons, have been hard on most teams in recent years, and St. Vincent has been no exception. Valle has won the last six meetings by a combined score of 294-36. At least St. Vincent is getting the toughest team on its schedule out of the way earlier this time around. The longtime rivals met in the third week in 2013.

Some good news for St. Vincent: Valle graduated quarterback Nolan Wood and top running back Tyler Fallert. The Warriors also could be looking ahead to a Week 2 matchup against crosstown rival Ste. Genevieve.