JAMMIN': AREA FOOTBAL TEAMS UNVEILED

JACKSON -- It was rivalry time for four area high school football teams here Friday night.

Cape Girardeau Central and Jackson, who play each other every season, along with Perryville Public and Perryville St. Vincent -- who apparently haven't squared off since the 1950s -- got together for a four-team scrimmage.

The scrimmage -- dubbed a `jamboree' by the Missouri State High School Activities Association -- allowed the squads to play against outside competition without worrying about the final score.

In fact, scores weren't even kept. There was also no kicking or punting. In a session that lasted a little more than two hours, each squad participated in 12 offensive and 12 defensive plays against the other three teams.

Each team began offensive drives from its own 30-yard line. No downs were kept. Squads were allowed to score as many times as they could within the 12 plays.

"It was definitely an enjoyable night for us, as I'm sure it was for all the teams," said Central coach Jerry Dement. "We needed to play somebody. Overall, I was pleased with what I saw."

Perryville coach Jerry Tucker, a St. Vincent graduate who had been coaching in the St. Louis area before coming back to his home town last season, said it was nice to go against his alma matter -- even if the action didn't count for real.

"The last time Perryville and St. Vincent played was in the 1950s," said Tucker. "It was nice to see this tonight. The competition was great and we got to see a lot of different looks. And I thought Jackson did a great job putting this on."

All four teams certainly had their moments and the scrimmage was basically fairly even as a whole.

Central and Perryville both scored two touchdowns and allowed two. Jackson scored one touchdown -- that coming on defense -- and gave up one. St. Vincent scored one TD and allowed two.

"It was good to get out there and hit somebody else," said Jackson coach Carl Gross, whose team was decimated by graduation from last year's 11-1 squad that made the Class 5A quarterfinals. "We're still trying to figure out who our starters are. This will give us something to work with."

Said St. Vincent coach Paul Sauer, whose squad also made the playoffs last year, "It was great to play. Overall, I thought we looked pretty good at times. We certainly can learn a lot more from tonight."

Jackson and Perryville squared off to start the evening, with Perryville scoring the lone TD on a seven-yard Joel Heuring run.

Then Central and St. Vincent each scored once against each other. Central's Donnie McClinton showed his speed by breaking loose for a 38-yard scamper. St. Vincent quarterback Joey Ponder went over from two yards out.

Next, Central scored twice and held Perryville without a TD. Demarco Williams broke three tackles on his way to a highlight-reel 70-yard run while quarterback Frank McGinty hit a wide-open Chris Allen with a 59-yard strike.

Jackson and St. Vincent then battled to a scoreless standoff.

Then things got really interesting -- and the fans and players certainly got a lot more excited.

Jackson scored once while holding Central scoreless. Jackson's lone TD came when Ryan Beltz intercepted a McGinty pass and coasted 25 yards to the end zone.

"I thought we were kind of flat until we went against Cape," said Gross. "Then we looked like a difference bunch."

Perryville and St. Vincent closed things out, with Perryville getting the lone TD on Heuring's 24-yard run.

Overall, all the coaches thought it was definitely a fun and beneficial night of football.

And from now on, things will count because the regular season opens next Friday night.