Jackson-Miller Career Academy highlights final football week of regular season

Miller Career Academy (8-0) at Jackson (7-1)

Last week: Miller Career Academy 41, Gateway Tech 6; Jackson 55, Seckman 0

Last year: Did not play

Outlook: A marquee game between two state-ranked schools.

Regardless of the outcome, Jackson, ranked No. 7 in Class 5, has a lock on the top spot in District 1. The Indians own the head-to-head tie-breaker over current No. 2 seed Vianney by virtue of its 30-23 win in Week 2 and holds more than a nine-point edge over Parkway South, which resides in the No. 3 spot.

Unbeaten Miller Career resides at No. 4 in the Class 4 state rankings and atop District 2. The Phoenix can assure they will hold off unbeaten Affton (8-0) for the top seed in their district with a win over Jackson.

Miller Academy returns many of its top players from a team that nearly ousted Central from the Class 4 playoffs last year in the quarterfinals. The Tigers scored in the final minute to overtake the Phoenix. It was the only loss of the season for the Phoenix, who are 19-1 since the start of the 2013 season.

Among the returners are senior quarterback Jalin James and senior running back Marquis Stewart.

"They are pretty amazing athletically," Jackson coach Brent Eckley said. "They've got a bunch of guys that we won't be able to catch up if we let them behind us. They've got a quarterback, a running back and two receivers that are real special athletes."

Marquis Stewart, the team's leading rusher and receiver, has scored a team-high 18 TDs for the Phoenix, with 16 coming on the ground. James has 14 TDs and senior Travis Riley has nine. All three players average more than 11 yards per carry on the season.

Stewart, who rushed for more than 1,800 yards last season, has rushed for 1,339 yards year and averages 12.3 yards per carry this season, according to stltoday.com. James has 872 yards and averages 11.3, while Riley has 200 yards and averages 11.1.

James has 63.6 percent of his passes (56 of 88) for 10 TDs and three INTs.

Stewart has 454 receiving on 16 catches for an average of 28.4 yards per reception. Alijah Fuelen, senior Javon Collard and Riley all have more than 200 yards receiving. Collard averages 30.3 yards per catch, while Riley leads the team with four TD receptions.

The Phoenix defense has 35 sacks, 12 interceptions and recovered 20 fumbles. Senior defensive end Donovan Forrest leads the way with 10 sacks, while senior linebacker Valentino Armendariz has a team-high 93 tackles.

"They're freakish fast on defense," said Eckley, who was including the defensive line in his assessment.

Jackson's only loss came to Central in Week 6, and Eckley said the Phoenix resemble the Tigers somewhat in having speed at quarterback, running back and receiver.

"I guess in addition to having speed at all of those spots, they are pretty athletic on the offensive line," Eckley said. "They're not real big, but they're very athletic. If we were running a race, they'd probably have 10 guys faster than our fastest, at least, if not 15."

He joked that the school toyed with turning on the sprinklers on a field that has seen a lot of rain in the last week.

Eckley said it will be important for his players to pursue, but for the backside pursuit to maintain position for cutbacks.

"It makes us kind of nervous, there's not much room for error, it's good preparation for us for the postseason if we want to have a chance to push very deep," Eckley said.

Class 5 District 1 standings -- 1. Jackson (7-1) 45.18; 2. Vianney (5-3) 40.52; 3. Parkway South (4-4) 35.94; 4. Oakville (4-4) 35.81; 5. Fox (4-4) 35.14; 6. Rockwood Summit (4-4) 35.14; 7. Poplar Bluff (4-4) 29.21

Riverview Gardens (0-8) at Central (6-2)

Last week: Hazelwood East 41, Riverview Gardens 0; Chaminade 40, Cenral 0

Last year: Did not play

Outlook: These teams have not met since splitting four games in the 1960s. They first met in 1962 and last met in 1967. The Tigers won the last meeting 20-6 under then-coach Lon White.

It's 47 years later and both teams are coming off shutout losses, but it's a situation Riverview Gardens has grown accustomed. The Rams scored 10 points in their first game of the season in a loss to Jennings and haven't added to that total since. The Rams' next seven losses have come by a combined score of 299-0. McCluer North and Hazelwood Central both hung 60-0 losses on the Rams.

Central, which dropped to No. 10 in the Class 4 rankings and lost some of its cushion in the district standings after last week's surprising thrashing at the hands of Chaminade, looks to hang onto the No. 1 seed in its district against a hard-charging Hillsboro team, which vaulted past Festus into the number No. 2 spot. The Hawks have won their last three games and six of their last seven.

Class 4 District 1 standings -- 1. Central (6-2) 45.06; 2. Hillsboro (6-2) 43.95; 3. Festus (6-2) 39.2; 4. Sikeston (4-4) 33.68; 5. Farmington (3-5) 31.87; 6. Perryville (2-6) 19.87; 7. North County (1-7) 18.83; 8. De Soto (1-7) 16.2

St. Vincent (2-6) at Jefferson (3-5)

Last week: St. Vincent 28, Grandview 7; Jefferson 19, Chaffee 0

Last year: Jefferson 58, St. Vincent 32

Outlook: The Indians are coming off their second win of the season and will be looking for momentum for district play.

Outside of a 56-0 loss in its season opener, St. Vincent has been competitive the following seven weeks despite five losses. Their biggest loss in the stretch was a 19-point loss to Scott City in Week 2 -- the Indians scored first in the game and trailed 14-7 at halftime -- and three of the losses have been by six points or less. St. Vincent has fared better against the four common opponents its shares with Jefferson -- Herculaneum, St. Pius, Crystal City and Grandview. Among those opponents, St. Vincent defeated Grandview 28-7, while the Blue Jays fell to the Eagles 34-7. Jefferson also suffered a 50-point loss to St. Pius, while St. Vincent fell to the Warriors by five points.

Class 1 District 1 standings -- 1. Valle Catholic (8-0) 57.64; 2. Monroe City (5-3) 43.79; 3. Mark Twain (3-5) 36.34; 4. Barat Academy (3-4) 35.91; 5. St. Vincent (2-6) 33.11; 6. Crystal City (2-6) 29.83; 7. Louisiana (0-8) 23.34; 8. Chaffee (0-7) 21.9

Kelly (3-5) at Chaffee (0-7)

Last week: Portageville 48, Kelly 7; Jefferson 19, Chaffee 0

Last year: Did not play

Outlook: This could be the last call for a win for the Red Devils, who will find much stiffer competition than the first-year varsity program of Kelly in Week 10. The Red Devils reside in the basement in the Class 1 District 1 standings and are facing a date with two-time defending Class 1 state champion Valle Catholic in the first round of district play if they can not extricate themselves from their current position.

A win or close game against Class 2 Kelly could be enough to vault the Red Devils past winless Louisiana (0-8), which is seventh in the standings but only 1.44 points ahead of Chaffee.

Kelly appears to be stuck at its No. 7 position regardless of the outcome of this game, which would put it a rematch with East Prairie in the first round of Class 2 District 1 play.

Class 2 District 1 standings -- 1. Malden (8-0) 50.59; 2. East Prairie (6-2) 37; 3. Caruthersville (5-3) 36.47; 4. Portageville (5-3) 36.28; 5. Hayti (3-5) 28.35; 6. Scott City (3-5) 27.94; 7. Kelly (3-5) 25.77; 8. Charleston (0-8) 17.36

Scott City (3-5) at Perryville (2-6)

Last week: Red Bud (Ill.) 36, Scott City 34; Windsor 38, Perryville 21

Last year: Did not play

Outlook: Both teams are currently in No. 6 in their district standing and in need of breaking losing streaks to build momentum for district play, where they will face teams with winning records.

Scott City, a Class 2 school on a three-game skid, is playing up two classes against the Pirates, who are looking to end a six-game losing streak. The Pirates likely will need a win tonight to avoid a repeat of last season, where they won their first two games and closed with eight consecutive losses.

A win tonight by the Rams will keep a winning record feasible.

-- Jeff Breer