High school football Week 5: Rivalry games arrive

Central (1-3) at Jackson (3-1)

Last week: Fort Zumwalt East 47, Central 21; Jackson 26, Poplar Bluff 6

Last year: Jackson 29, Central 26

Outlook: Five points has been the total difference during Central coach Nathan Norman's first two meeting against his alma mater Jackson. Norman led Central to a two-point victory in his debut season, with the Tigers winning 14-12 in 2011 on the field he once starred on as an Indian.

The rivalry celebrated its 100th anniversary last year and got another infusion when Jackson coach Brent Eckley entered the ring for the first time. The game lived up to its centennial hype with Jackson answering a late Central TD with one of its own to win by three points.

"The past two years, they've both been real close, which is good for the communities, but it's hard on the coaches," Norman said.

Jackson enters on a two-game winning streak, allowing a combined 13 points to Farmington and Poplar Bluff.

Central faced unbeaten teams the last two weeks with mixed results. The Tigers gave up a season-high 47 points in a lopsided loss to Fort Zumwalt East last week. That came seven days after the Tigers' posted an impressive 34-13 win over Poplar Bluff.

"I think [Central] looked like two different teams because they were playing against two very, very different teams," Eckley said.

Class 5 Fort Zumwalt East had defeated three Class 6 schools before routing the Tigers, while Class 5 Poplar Bluff had played down in class its first two games.

"We didn't play well [last week], but part of that is because the team we played made us look like that," Norman said. "Sometimes it's hard to admit, but they're better than you, and that's kind of what happened."

Central senior Mikey Jones returned from a knee injury last week and was handed a heavy load, rushing 27 times for 96 yards. Jones, who Norman has declared 100 percent healthy, leads the team with 326 yards (4.7 ypc). Junior Braion Owens is second with 266 yards (5.1 ypc).

"I think that's who they are, and what their identity is, is to run the ball," Eckley said. "And they're set up well to do that, and I think they're set up to defend [the run] as well. It'll certainly be a challenge for us. We're going to have to play real physical on defense and play very responsible on the backside because of their ability to get on top."

Central senior quarterback Dennis Vinson struggled last week in the face of intense defensive pressure. Vinson passed for 51 yards after throwing for a season-high 219 yards against Poplar Bluff.

"That's some balance that makes you nervous as a coach," Eckley said about Vinson's game against the Mules. "You'd like to think they're only one-dimensional, but they proved that they're not."

Central receiver Al Young has emerged as an offensive weapon as a sophomore with a team-high 10 catches for 283 yards. He has a team-high six TDs -- four rushing, two receiving.

"I think they're athletic. I think they're going to play great against us and with confidence," Eckley said. "I think they'll be pretty close to as athletic as anybody we'll play against, and they're physical up front."

Jackson senior running back Colten Proffer, who sprained an ankle in the jamboree, saw his first considerable playing time last week and produced 132 yards of total offense -- 62 rushing and 70 receiving -- and three touchdowns in helping the Indians overcome a 6-0 halftime deficit.

Eckley said Proffer has gotten healthier with time.

"I suspect, and we're planning on them being full strength, and I think they are with their running back, which is good." Norman said. "I hope they're healthy, and I hope everyone is healthy and ready to go."

Jackson outscored Poplar Bluff 19-0 in the fourth quarter when it broke loose for 221 of its 384 yards for the game.

"We'll see if it carries over. I'm sure Cape doesn't care anything about our momentum," Eckley said.

Proffer's return allowed senior Garrett Miller to return his primary focus to defense. Miller, who is second on the team with 338 rushing (13.5 ypc), carried just five times last week for 1 yard. He's the Indians' leading tackler at linebacker.

Jackson quarterback Dante Vandeven leads the team with 386 yards rushing (5.4 ypc) and has passed for 559 yards. The Indians are averaging 399 yards of offense, with an average of 260 on the ground.

"It should be a real good battle between our defensive line and their offensive line, and I think that group that plays best, will certainly have a leg up," Eckley said.

Norman had similar thoughts about his offensive line that includes five returning starters from last year, and a Jackson defensive line anchored by disruptive junior Preston Hobeck.

"They're strong on the defensive line, and we'll have our hands full," Norman said. "Our kids have done a good job all year facing strong linemen, so hopefully they'll continue to do that. We'll have to see how that matchup plays out."

Chaffee (4-0) at Scott City (1-3)

Last week: Chaffee 38, Portageville 7; Malden 42, Scott City 7

Last year: Scott City 27, Chaffee 12

Outlook: Chaffee is off to its first 4-0 start since 1969 and brings an unbeaten record into its rivalry game against Scott City for the first time in 44 years. The Red Devils defeated the Rams 40-7 in 1969 in Week 4 as part of a 6-0 start.

Scott City has historically fared well in this rivalry but the teams have split the last six meetings after Chaffee ended a 21-year losing streak to the Rams and it's been a while since the Red Devils have been a clear-cut favorite in the rivalry game.

Chaffee coach Charlie Vickery, who will be honored before the contest for his recent 200th career victory, expects nothing short of Scott City's best shot from its rival.

"We'd have a target on our back whether we were 4-0 or 0-4, I can tell you that," Vickery said about the rivalry with a laugh. "It doesn't matter to them, but it's a lot better being 4-0 than 0-4."

The Red Devils have outscored their first four opponents -- Grandview, St. Pius, Hayti and Portageville -- by a combined 126-13 in the first half.

Chaffee ended a personal 14-game losing streak to Hayti in the process, but Vickery expects to find plenty of resistance in the Rams.

"It's a typical rivalry game where you can just throw the records out, because I've been involved in a lot of them where the favorite did not win," Vickery said.

The Rams' lone win this season came in overtime against East Prairie in Week 3, and a young Scott City team will be tested on both sides of the ball.

Scott City has yielded more than 300 yards total offense in all three of its games, while Chaffee has averaged more than 400 yards per game.

"They're very capable of playing solid defense," Vickery said. "Last week against Malden it was 14-7 at the half, and then Malden got some plays on them the second half."

Senior Jimmy Golden leads the Chaffee rushing attack with 380 yards (5.9 ypc). Brothers Peyton Montgomery, a junior, and Charlie Montgomery, a senior, both average 6.4 yards per carry or better.

Peyton Montgomery has completed 57 percent of his passes in the Red Devils' spread offense. He averages 135 yards passing a game but has not needed to pass much.

Montgomery has three receivers in double figures for catches and with more than 150 yards receiving: Charlie Montgomery (14-174), senior Devon Yahn (11-167) and senior Layton Tenkhoff (11-156).

Scott City has eclipsed 100 yards rushing just once this season -- 261 yards in its win. It has averaged 60 yards rushing in its three losses. The Rams did pass for a season-high 212 yards last week as freshmen Braden Cox and Ty Wilthong split time at quarterback. Cox has been the starter all season and has completed 53 percent of his passes for 430 yards.

Senior Gordy Bradley leads Scott City rushers with 246 yards (3.8 ypc).

"They've got some weapons, they just haven't put it all together, and hopefully it will be another week before they do," Vickery said.

Lift For Life (0-4) at St. Vincent (2-2)

Last week: St. Vincent 20, Herculaneum 14 (OT)

Last year: St. Vincent 28, Lift For Life 12

Outlook: St. Vincent will try to ride the momentum of a late-game comeback in its overtime win against Herculaneum.

The Indians' defense stepped up late in regulation and in overtime to complement the running of senior Alex Winkler, who carried 32 times for 166 yards. Winkler has been the backbone of the offense with about 100 carries through the first four games for 497 yards.

Sophomore quarterback Joe Whistler threw for a season-high 95 yards last week and completed more than 50 percent of his passes for the first time this season.

"He's getting better each week," St. Vincent coach Paul Sauer said.

The Indians won despite three fumbles.

"We've got to protect the football," Sauer said. "I've been unhappy with the number of fumbles we've had."

Lift For Life, winless this season after going 0-9 in 2012, has lost by a combined score of 146-38. Its closest contest was a 19-6 loss to Perryville in Week 2.

"They're very athletic. They're just a little undisciplined and do a lot of things that stop themselves," Sauer said.

Perryville (2-2) at Maplewood (0-4)

Last week: Fredericktown 48, Perryville 0; Park Hills 39, Maplewood 6

Last year: Maplewood 49, Perryville 10

Outlook: Maplewood has faced a brutal schedule with its four opponents a combined record of 14-2. The Blue Devils' closest loss was by 20 points to Brentwood, the only Class 2 school it has faced.

Maplewood's opponents have been Class 4 MICDS, and Class 3 schools Ste. Genevieve and Park Hills.

The Blue Devils are young this year, with catalyst quarterback Kahlid Hagens and all-state defensive lineman Antar Thompson, who signed with Missouri, among those that were lost to graduation.

Junior Elijah Keely leads the Blue Devils running attack with 202 yards (6.7 ypc), according to stltoday.com. Sophomore quarterback Brian Beasley has completed 50 percent of his passes for 464 yards. His top targets are junior Rakid Hill (10-171), Keely (6-116) and junior Reggie Gwynn (11-107).