High school football preview: Week 1

Central at John Burroughs

(Saturday)

Last year: John Burroughs 43, Central 14

Outlook: The heat will be on when the Class 5 Tigers open their season Saturday against the Class 3 state runner-up Bombers for the second straight year. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. on a day where temperatures in a previously mild August are expected to top out in the mid-90s.

Central coach Nathan Norman said players and coaches had been spoiled by otherwise mild conditions until Mother Nature turned up the dial in the last week and a half.

"Our kids are as used to it as they're going to be," Norman said about the heat. "You can't ever get fully acclimatized to this heat. But they have to play in it as well."

Both teams have lost vital pieces in their running game, but that didn't prevent John Burroughs from gaining the No. 2 ranking in the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters' preseason poll. John Burroughs lost its "atomic bomb" in all-stater Ezekiel Elliott, who has moved on to Ohio State after rushing from more than 2,100 yards his senior year. The Bombers also graduated their top three receivers -- Elliott was second -- but return senior quarterback Nick Duncan and receiver Greg Booker, who was fourth in receiving and third in rushing as a junior.

"They've got a good back, but not quite (Elliott's) caliber, but he's a very good high school back and good quarterback," Norman said.

Norman looks for the Bombers to be more balanced in the absence of Elliott.

"They really throw the ball well," Norman said. "They have a veteran quarterback. He does a nice job running the offense. They're balanced. I would say they're a little more pass-first."

Central has lost two 1,000 yard rushers -- Chris Martin and Jacob Campbell -- and top receiver Garan Evans to graduation but return a formidable line in front of returning senior quarterback Dennis Vinson. Senior Mikey Jones averaged more than six yards a carry on 53 rush attempts as a junior.

John Burroughs finished last season at 14-1, while Central reached the Class 5 District 1 championship game in a 5-7 campaign.

(Today's games)

North County at Jackson

Last year: Jackson 48, North County 21

Outlook: The start of Jackson's turnaround season, a 7-3 record in coach Brent Eckley's first year, started last year at North County. The Indians ushered in a new era -- they had just six wins combined over the previous three seasons -- by unloading 639 yards of offense on the Raiders. It was part of a 5-0 start and a season that ultimately ended in the Class 5 District 1 championship game. Jackson lost its top receiver from Eckley's up-tempo spread offense in speedster Brannon Wright, but there are other options for junior quarterback Dante Vandeven, who excelled while starting the final four games of the 2012 campaign. Vandeven is a weapon himself, an accurate quarterback who can give opponents fits with his running ability. Versatile senior running back/receiver Colten Proffer rushed for 925 yards last season and had 463 yards receiving. Receiver Taylor Henson also is among the receiving options after finishing third with 24 catches for 340 yards as a junior.

North County, which returns senior running back Seth Nickles and senior quarterback Wyatt Compton, rebounded from last year's loss to post a solid 7-4 record and reach its district semifinal.

Grandview at Chaffee

Last year: Chaffee 36, Grandview 14

Outlook: This has been an annual season-christening game since 1998. In 2012, a short-handed Red Devils team rolled past the Eagles to improve to 9-6 in the 15 meetings. Chaffee also has won six of its last seven season openers. Chaffee, coming off a 3-7 season, looks to be well-prepared for this 16th edition with junior quarterback Peyton Montgomery having two years of starting experience under his belt and his senior brother, Charlie, healthy after missing last year's opener with a sprained ankle. Leading receiver Layton Tenkhoff, who had 38 catches for 659 yards as a junior, also is back. Chaffee graduated just two lettermen from last year's team and returns 19, including starters at all but one position on defense. Grandview finished 4-6 last season.

Scott City at Herculaneum

Last year: Scott City 9, Herculaneum 6 (OT)

Outlook: The Rams surprised Herculaneum with an overtime victory in last year's season opener. Herculaneum went on to a 7-3 record and Scott City used the win to help build its second straight 5-5 season under coach Jim May.

An upset may be tougher to pull this time around. Scott City has lost its top skill players at every position on offense, while Herculaneum returns its primary offensive weapon in senior running back Dustin Johnson and is ranked No. 7 in Class 3. Johnson assembled a monster junior season with 2,258 yards rushing and 35 TDs. No other Black Cat scored more than three TDs.

Freshman Braden Cox will get the start at quarterback for the Rams tonight after taking all the snaps at last week's jamboree.

Perryville at East Prairie

Last year: Perryville 41, East Prairie 0

Outlook: Perryville commenced a winless season for the Eagles last season with a first-week trouncing. East Prairie also had lost its final eight games of the 2011 season and enters tonight's game with an 18-game losing streak.

Perryville is coming off a 3-7 season, which beat the win total -- two -- of its three previous seasons combined.

The Pirates have not had a winning season since going 9-2 in 1998.

East Prairie has fallen on tough times since going 6-4 in 2010.

St. Vincent at Sumner

Last year: St. Vincent 45, Sumner 22

Outlook: The Indians didn't let two steps up in Class size bother them in last year's season opener.

Sumner lost by 23 points in what would be the start of an 0-8 season. The Bulldogs are 1-17 in their last 18 games.

St. Vincent returns leading rusher Alex Winkler to the offensive backfield after he tore his ACL in Week 9. Sophomore Joe Whistler will get his first varsity start at quarterback after serving in that capacity with the JV as a freshman.

Sumner is one of two Class 3 schools on the schedule for the Class 1 Indians, who also have five Class 2 schools on their slate.

-- Jeff Breer