Jackson hosts Poplar Bluff in rematch

Class 5 District 1

(3) Poplar Bluff (6-4) at (2) Jackson (6-3)

Winner plays: (4) Rockwood Summit (4-6) at (1) Vianney (6-3)

Last week: Poplar Bluff 34, Seckman 6; Jackson bye; Rockwood Summit 39, Fox 7; Vianney bye

Outlook: It's been 12 days since Jackson last played a game, and it's been 26 days since the Indians' last win.

The Indians will put an end to the former tonight and hope to address the latter in a Class 5 district semifinal against Poplar Bluff.

Tonight's winner plays in Monday's championship game.

The 12-day break was due to a first-round bye awarded to the top two teams in this six-team district. The 26 days since the last win has something to do with the level of competition the Indians faced before the bye.

Jackson lost its final two games of the regular season against Class 6 opponents Hickman and Francis Howell Central. Both games were there for the taking. Hickman won in overtime and Jackson took a 34-23 lead into the fourth quarter against FHC before falling 38-34. Last week's bye means the Indians haven't tasted victory since a 48-19 win against Battle High School on Oct. 11.

"Anytime you're in a competitive game for four quarters it's a positive, but the negative is it's always a fragile situation when you're looking at committing all that we're asking our guys to put in and fall short," Jackson coach Brent Eckley said.

Among the positives for Jackson is that it averaged 388 yards of offense in the Class 6 losses, winning the yardage battle in both contests. The Indians are averaging 447 yards offense on the season and yielding 267 yards on defense.

Jackson has won the last three meetings against fellow SEMO Conference North member Poplar Bluff.

The Indians overcame a slow start to defeat the Mules 26-6 in Week 4 during the regular season, scoring 26 unanswered points after trailing 6-0 at halftime. Jackson took a 7-6 lead into the fourth quarter and created breathing room with three touchdowns in a span of 6 minute, 6 seconds.

"We didn't play all that well against them, and I don't know if they thought they played that well against us, but it was a physical game," Eckley said. "It was a game their kids played fast on defense and were physical on offense. When we took care of the ball, executed and played with a good tempo, we were pretty good, and when we didn't, they controlled us."

Poplar Bluff junior running back Bi Nguyen rushed for 147 yards in the meeting, including 113 yards in the first half. It's been part of a record-breaking season for Nguyen. He set the school's single-game rushing mark at 320 yards in Week 1 against Union and set the school's single-season mark in Week 9 with 146 yards in a first-round win against Seckman. His season total is 1,738 yards, and he averages 6.9 yards per carry.

Jackson will counter with senior running back Colten Proffer, who has been on a tear with 1,180 yards combined receiving (628) and rushing (552) over the last six games. He had four yards offense over the first three games of the season due to a sprained ankle.

Junior quarterback Dante Vandeven is the team's leading rusher with 731 yards and has completed 53 percent of his passes for 1,711 yards. Senior Garrett Miller is third on the team in rushing with more than 400 yards but has been devoted almost exclusively to linebacker since the return of Proffer on offense. Senior Taylor Henson is second on the team with 28 catches for 452 yards,

On defense, junior lineman Preston Hobeck has a team-high 25 tackles for loss.

The forecast calls for rain today, which could be a factor on the Indians' natural grass field -- currently in good shape. Nguyen runs behind an offensive line that features four players ranging from 265 to 285 pounds.

"It could go a lot of different ways," Eckley said. "A lot of it will have to do with where our mindset is. If it's not where it needs to be, then the advantage could go to them.

"In my mind, what they do offensively, a sloppy field can be an advantage to them, but at same time if we're showing up and playing hard and running to the ball on defense and doing what we should be doing, then weather and field conditions shouldn't be much of a factor."

Class 4 District 1

(3) Festus (8-2) at Central (6-4)

Winner plays: (5) North County (7-3) at (1) Hillsboro (8-2)

Last week: Festus 55, Perryville 12; Central 63, Farmington 28; North County 21, Sikeston 13; Hillsboro 43, De Soto 7

Outlook: Central won a 62-56 shootout with visiting Festus less than two weeks ago in the final game of the regular season that featured 1,132 yards of total offense. The victory vaulted Central ahead of Festus in the district and allowed them to host the possible rematch that has in fact materialized.

Central scored two touchdowns in the final 69 seconds of that wild meeting, and kept producing points last week with a season-high 63 against Farmington as it extended its winning streak to five games. The Tigers have averaged 48.2 points during the span, scoring at least 59 points three times.

Central is averaging 422 yards of offense on the season. Senior Mikey Jones gashed the Tigers for 215 yards in the last meeting with Festus and broke loose for a career-high 292 yards last week against Farmington. Jones has 1,410 yards on the season (7.2 ypc). Junior Braion Owens also hit Festus for 203 yards rushing before being injured on his first carry of the second half. Owens missed last week's game but is expected back in the lineup tonight. Owens has 694 yards rushing (7,5 ypc).

Senior Dennis Vinson has thrown for 1,310 yards, completing 50 percent of his 103 attempts with 15 going for touchdowns. Sophomore receiver Al Young has accounted for the bulk of the production with 27 catches for 810 yards and eight TDs. Young has 18 TDs overall, which ties Jones for the team lead.

While Central produced 637 yards of offense in the first encounter with Festus, the visitor wasn't exactly a slouch with 495 yards. Corey Carr collected 162 yards rushing and averaged 7.7 yards per carry. Nathan Cummings averaged 9.2 yards per attempt and finished with 120 yards. Carr has 1,288 yards on the year, followed by Cummings (592), Jaden Reddick (585) and Travis Spraul (494).

Quarterback Andrew Hayden has been efficient when passing, completing 57 percent of his attempts. He's thrown eight TDs and been intercepted just once.

Festus has scored 111 points over its last two games, and its loss to Central was only its second of the season.

Which defense can make an occasional stop could be the difference. Central's defense is yielding 400 yards a game and 6.3 yards per rush. Opponents are averaging 32.7 points. Junior defensive back Jalen Reddin leads the Tigers with 78 tackles, while senior linebacker Ainsley Patrick has 73 and a team-high eight for loss.

Class 2 District 1

(6) Scott City (2-7) at (2) Malden (8-2)

Winner plays: (4) St. Pius (7-3) at (1) Caruthersville (9-1)

Last week: Scott City 20, Charleston 14; Malden 58, East Prairie 14; St. Pius 48, Jefferson 0; Caruthersville 61, Grandview 0

Outlook: Scott City sprung a first-round upset when it upended third-seeded Charleston for just its second win of the season. The Rams now have an opportunity to avenge a 42-7 loss to Malden sustained in Week 4 of the regular season.

Scott City posted 326 total yards offense against Charleston, which was its second-highest total of the season. The Rams posted a season-high 340 yards in their other win, which came in overtime against East Prairie in Week 3.

"We're getting better, and that's what our goal is -- to be better at the end than at the beginning," Scott City coach Jim May said. "With all these young kids, it's kind of shaping up a little bit."

May said the Rams have stayed away from turnovers the last two games and have only had seven penalties combined over the span.

The Rams threw a 19-play touchdown drive at Charleston on their first possession of the game and finished with two 100-yard rushers. Freshman quarterback Braden Cox ran for a season-high 114 yards and senior Gordy Bradley rushed for 102 to increase his team-leading total to 427 yards. Cox has 196 yards rushing over the last two games and has 391 yards on the season. He has passed for 990 yards, completing 50 percent of his 172 attempts.

Senior Zach Carlyle has a team-leading 25 catches for 371 yards, while junior Austin Spriggs has 23 for 322.

Malden's two losses have both been to state-ranked teams -- Caruthersville (No. 5 in Class 2) and Chaffee (No. 10 in Class 1). The Green Wave offense is heavily oriented to the run and features talented junior running back Dremond Robinson, who has rushed for 1,611 yards and 23 TDs this season.

Robinson had a big game against Scott City in the first meeting.

"I think it was kind of like his coming-out party," May said. "They've really been feeding him the rock ever since then."

Robinson ran for five touchdowns in the opening half of the first-round district game against East Prairie and finished with 247 yards. Sophomore Chapen Riley directs the offense and has come on strong late in the season, passing for more than 200 yards in each of the final two games of the regular season.

The Rams trailed just 14-7 at the half in its first game against Malden, and May said turnovers in the red zone hurt his team in the second half.

"We ended up losing by a lopsided score, even though it wasn't a lopsided game," May said. "We'll have to play much better and mistake-free in order to have a chance."

Class 1 District 1

(3) Thayer (6-4) at (2) Chaffee (9-1)

Winner plays: (4) Portageville (6-3) at (1) Valle Catholic (10-0)

Last week: Thayer 43, Crystal City 0; Chaffee 34, Hayti 12; Valle 55, Cabool 20; Portageville 28, St. Vincent 0

Outlook: Chaffee's football season ended in Thayer, Mo., in two of the past three seasons, including a 47-19 regional loss in 2010 when the Red Devils made their first postseason appearance in 27 years. The Bobcats prevailed 49-6 in the rain last year, which was the first year of the current district tournament format.

Chaffee coach Charlie Vickery voiced satisfaction in knowing his team will not have to make another three-hour plus journey on what is supposed to be another rainy day.

"It's not an easy three hours," Vickery said. "It's hilly, curvy and everything else."

However, he does expect to see the same type of Bobcats that his teams found at the end of their trips.

"I think you can look at them from one year to the next and not see a whole lot of difference," Vickery said about the ingrained power football style preferred by the Bobcats.

The teams have one common opponent in Hayti, which Thayer beat 16-7 in Week 1 and Chaffee beat twice (47-20 Week 3, 34-12 first round of district). Thayer had a four-game winning streak ended by a one-point loss to Willow Springs in Week 8, and entered district play with a two-game losing streak after a 14-0 loss to Mountain Grove, ranked No. 4 in Class 2, in Week 9. The Bobcats' other losses came against Class 4 Highland (Hardy, Ark.) and unbeaten Mountain View Liberty, ranked No. 1 in Class 2.

"We know they're a good team going in although their record is 6-4," Vickery said. "They played a good schedule -- a lot of 2A and 3A schools."

Thayer's offense is run heavy but balanced between seniors Shelby Barton and Mitch Webber, the quarterback and son of Thayer coach Billy Webber. Barton has rushed for 962 yards (8.1 ypc) and Webber has 880 (5.1 ypc). Both players topped 100 yards last week against Crystal City as the Bobcats rushed for 303 yards overall. Webber has completed 36 percent of his 64 passes and thrown for 239 yards on the season. Junior Peyton Risner is his top receiver with 11 catches for 135 yards.

Vickery said the Bobcats will run split backs, full house and double-tight end formations.

"They're a power team," Vickery said. "They'll throw the ball, but that's not their game."

On defense, sophomore Matt Griffith leads Thayer in tackles, while senior Jacob Foley has a team-high six interceptions.

Junior quarterback Peyton Montgomery returned to the Chaffee lineup last week after sitting out a season-ending loss to Charleston due to a strained shoulder. Montgomery completed only 2 of 8 passes for 27 yards against Hayti.

"He's still not 100 percent, but he's getting better," Vickery said about Montgomery, who injured his shoulder in a Week 8 win against Jefferson. "We only threw eight passes last week, but actually on Friday night that's the best he threw in warmups than he threw in two weeks. From that point on he's throwing better every day. He's not like I said, 100 percent, but yeah, we'll be able to throw the football."

Montgomery carried nine times for 63 yards last week to increase his season total to 576 yards -- third on the team. Senior Jimmy Golden leads the way with 870 yards (6.3 ypc), followed by senior Charlie Montgomery with 627 (6.3 ypc).

The Red Devils also are balanced in the air. Senior Devon Yahn leads the team with 462 yards receiving on 22 catches; senior Layton Tenkhoff has 369 yards on 29 catches; and Charlie Montgomery has 341 yards on a team-high 30 receptions.

Yahn leads the defense with 105 total tackles at linebacker, while junior lineman Trevor Morehead has a team-high 23 tackles for loss.

-- Jeff Breer