High school football capsules: Week 3

Chaffee (2-0) at Hayti (0-2)

Last week: Chaffee 31, St. Pius 14; Charleston 34, Hayti 6

Last year: Hayti 34, Chaffee 8

Outlook: Chaffee is off to its first 2-0 start since 2011, and the Red Devils have been winning convincingly.

However, Hayti has owned Chaffee, winning the last 14 meetings.

"We've got experience," Chaffee coach Charlie Vickery said. "We've just got to come out and play good ball. If we do that, we've got a decent shot to get 'em."

The Red Devils have been quick out of the gate despite mistakes. They led St. Pius X 18-0 at halftime last week after outscoring Grandview 44-7 in the first half in Week 1.

Chaffee had two TDs called back last week because of penalties and lost four fumbles.

Despite those problems, Chaffee is averaging more than 300 yards rushing per game in its spread offense, and the yards have come from a variety of sources. Senior Jimmy Golden has averaged 100 yards over the first two games. Senior running back/receiver Charlie Montgomery also turned in a 100-yard performance against St. Pius, while junior quarterback Peyton Montgomery has rushed for 158 yards on the season and is averaging 12.1 yards per carry.

"We've been able to run the football," Vickery said. "That's something we couldn't do last year. ... If somebody gives us the run, we can take the run. Our line is doing a real good job and our backs are running hard."

Peyton Montgomery also has completed 13 of 28 passes for 198 yards.

A maturing Chaffee defense also has been stout against the run, allowing less than three yards per attempt on the opposition's 67 carries after ranking at the bottom of the SEMO Southern Division in that category in 2012.

Hayti only has scored 13 points this season under first-year coach Neal Cruce but played perennial power Thayer to within nine points in Week 1 and faced Class 2 Charleston in Week 2. Hayti graduated elusive quarterback Kanard Humes last spring and has been splitting time between two quarterbacks, which includes senior Austin Neisler. Senior Dylan Riddick, a big, strong power back returns after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 of last season.

Vickery said the Indians, who run a spread offense, are throwing the ball more this year, citing 26 attempts against Charleston last week.

Poplar Bluff (2-0) at Central (0-2)

Last week: Dexter 34, Poplar Bluff 7; St. Charles West 40, Central 38

Last year: Central 35, Poplar Bluff 14

Outlook: Central has won this SEMO Northern Division matchup the last three seasons.

The Mules are off to a 2-0 start for the second straight year, while the Tigers are off to an 0-2 start for the first time since a winless 2009 campaign. However, Central, Class 4, has played tougher competition thus far, falling to state-ranked Class 3 John Burroughs and Class 4 St. Charles West. Poplar Bluff, a Class 5 school, owns wins against Class 4 Union and Class 3 Dexter.

Central saw a spirited comeback fall short last week when it failed on a two-point conversion in the final minute, a week after playing Burroughs to a "The way the kids competed and never quit, you couldn't ask for more," said Central coach Nathan Norman, who saw his team trail St. Charles West 27-13 at halftime and 34-20 entering the fourth quarter. "We need to come out and play well in the first half. We need to come out and put a whole game together."

The Tigers rushed for 320 yards last week and compiled 502 yards overall.

"We ran the ball well, and we're going to have to do that again," Norman said.

Senior Mikey Jones led the way with 182 yards on 29 carries, but he will not be available tonight due to a knee injury. Norman termed Jones week-to-week.

The Tigers will lean more heavily on junior Braion Owens, who had 119 yards on 14 carries last week.

Senior quarterback Dennis Vinson passed for 182 yards, completing 9 of 20 passes. His top target was sophomore Al Young, who pulled in three receptions for 130 yards, including a 61-yard haul that nearly pulled the Tigers even with 43 seconds left. Young should also figure more heavily into the running game along with junior Jalen Reddin tonight in the absence of Jones.

Poplar Bluff features the biggest lines the Tigers have seen thus far.

"It sounds funny, but their offensive line is their biggest weapon," Norman said. "I mean they're big and physical kids."

Poplar Bluff running back Bi Nguyen carried 20 times for 125 yards last week after rushing for a school-record 320 yards in Week 1. Quarterback Kameron Misner was 6 of 11 for 98 yards, while Tristen Francisco and Jordan Emmons were his top targets with two catches apiece.

Jackson (1-1) at Farmington (1-1)

Last week: Vianney 52, Jackson 27; Farmington 33, Trinity Catholic 7

Last year: Jackson 34, Farmington 15

Outlook: The Indians, who open SEMO Northern Division play, broke a four-year losing streak to the Knights in 2012.

Jackson was without its top two running backs -- seniors Colten Proffer and Garrett Miller -- for much of last week's loss to Vianney, and the offense struggled as a result. The Indians mounted 271 yards of offense after posting 490 yards in their opening win against North County. About half of Jackson's 112 yards rushing against the Griffins came on a 55-yard run by Miller.

Miller, who was injured late in the first half and did not return, is expected to play tonight. Miller, the team's leading tackler at linebacker last season, will play on both sides of the ball tonight, according to Jackson coach Brent Eckley.

Miller will be needed on offense, since Proffer, last season's leading rusher, continues to struggle with a sprained ankle sustained in the jamboree. Eckley all but ruled out Proffer, who limped off the field several times in Week 2 after playing just one series in Week 1.

Miller leads the team with 227 yards rushing on just 15 carries.

In the absence of both players, junior quarterback Dante Vandeven assumed the bulk of the rushing load with 22 carries for 51 yards last week.

Jackson committed four turnovers and has six on the season.

"We didn't play with quite enough effort on the offensive side of the ball," Eckley said about last week's loss. "Our receivers did not play as well as the week before, and our offensive line did not execute very well last week and we talked about turnovers."

The Knights, who run a spread offense like Jackson, scored 111 points combined in its wins the previous two years against the Indians, but with key players graduated mustered just 15 points against the Indians in the last meeting.

Farmington debuted under first-year coach Erik Kruppe with a 70-27 rout at the hands of Festus -- the Tigers led 63-13 at halftime and amassed 500 yards rushing overall -- but bounced back last week against Trinity Catholic, which it also crushed in 2012.

Josh Boehm directs the Farmington offense. Running back Brayden Bohn rushed for 108 yards on 22 carries last week. Other key offensive players for Farmington are Garret Duncan, Conner Forsythe and D.J. Hardy.

East Prairie (1-1) at Scott City (0-2)

Last week: East Prairie 43, Grandview 8; St. Vincent 25, Scott City 14

Last year: Scott City 36, East Prairie 0

Outlook: Scott City is looking to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2009, when it opened 0-4.

East Prairie broke a 19-game losing streak last week.

The Rams have struggled on offense after returning only one starter to the unit from 2012. The Rams were shutout in Week 1 by Herculaneum and again had problems finding points in Week 2.

The Rams did mount 286 yards of offense against St. Vincent. Freshman quarterback Braden Cox passed for 189 yards, completing 9 of 17 attempts. His top receiver was junior Austin Spriggs, who had two catches for 110 yards. The Rams have not had much luck running the ball. They're averaging 2.8 yards a carry and topped out with 121 yards on 36 attempts in Week 2. Senior running back Gordy Bradley led the Rams with 43 yards on 13 carries last week.

The Eagles are young on the defensive line, and at a lot of other positions.

"They play a lot of young people like we do," Scott City coach Jim May said.

Sophomore Brett Ellis directs the East Prairie offense. Running back Deverance Jones, who ran the opening kickoff 80 yards for a TD last week, is one of the Eagles' top threats as a freshman, along with Damion Tipler.

"They're much, much improved," May said. "They have some very good looking players. That's for certain. They've got some speed. We've got to be very good or we're going to be in trouble."

Valle (2-0) at St. Vincent (1-1)

Last week: Valle 36, Ste. Genevieve 28; St. Vincent 25, Scott City 14

Last year: Valle 36, St. Vincent 7

Outlook: St. Vincent picked up its first win last week, but faces a monumental task this week in the Warriors, a perennial state power that reached the Class 1 final last year.

Valle is off to another notable start, defeating Class 3 crosstown rival Ste. Genevieve last week after thumping second-year program Tolton Catholic in Week 1.

Valle, which has won 11 state championship (most recently back-to-back in 2010 and 2011), has won the last five meetings against St. Vincent by a combined score of 246-36.

The Indians got into the win column last week behind a 182-yard rushing peformance by senior running back Alex Winkler, who provided the bulk of St. Vincent's 303 yards of offense.

Winkler also had one reception for 34 yards from sophomore quarterback Joe Whistler, who completed 5 of 12 passes for 84 yards.

Senior Nolan Wood again directs Valle's offense. He completed 5 of 11 passes last week for 133 yards and two TDs. Tyler Fallert, a 5-11, 207-pound senior, carried 40 times for 244 yards in Week 2 and has 398 yards rushing on the season. Senior receiver Justin Roth had three catches for 94 yards against Ste. Genevieve and has 134 yards on the season.

Potosi (1-1) at Perryville (2-0)

Last week: Potosi 28, Pacific 26; Perryville 19, Lift For Life 6

Last year: Potosi 30, Perryville 14

Outlook: Perryville is seeking a 3-0 start for the second consecutive year.

The Pirates extended East Prairie's losing streak to 19 games in Week 1, then edged newcomer program Lift For Life for the second straight year.

The Pirates have been averaging 205 yards rushing a game, and turned heavily to the run in Week 2 with 52 carries for 242 yards.

Senior Cody Crawford led the Pirates in rushing in Week 1 with 103 yards, while senior Jonny Pruiett led the way in Week 2 with 76 yards.

The Pirates have had five touchdowns called back in their two games thus far.

"Our running game has been pretty good when we don't shoot ourselves in the foot," Perryville coach Mike Wojtczuk said.

Junior quarterback Tyler Holligan is 6 of 20 passing on the season for 52 yards.

The Pirates will see the most pass-oriented offense thus far in the Trojans.