Pirates, Bearcats kick off district action

Last season, the Perryville football team stood toe-to-toe with eventual Class 3 District 1 champion Dexter for four quarters but lost 6-0 in the season finale.

The loss concluded a winless season in which the Pirates lost by one point in two of their final four games.

Perryville has bounced back to go 4-3 through the regular season, and will get a big district test Friday when it hosts Dexter (6-1).

"It's a must-win," Perryville coach Rick Chastain said. "We'll face a team that's very good, but once you get into district, you can throw the records out. Everyone's back at ground zero."

The Pirates have had to face their share of adversity again this season. Starting quarterback Ryan Schilling went down with an injury in Week 3 against Ste. Genevieve and is out for the season.

"They've come through it well," Chastain said. "It's more like a family atmosphere here. One player takes over for another one."

Junior wide receiver Ryan Lorenz has been thrust into the limelight and has filled in with mixed results. The Pirates are 2-2 without Schilling. Interceptions have been a problem at times for Lorenz, who has had to learn on the job.

"We're getting there," Chastain said. "I've been working diligently with him the last few weeks on his reads. He's had some growing pains, but he's coming along well."

Running back Kris Cottner has been the offensive catalyst with 847 yards this season. Cottner rushed for 88 yards in one half of action last week against Herculaneum but he missed the second half with a concussion that still was being evaluated this week.

"He was on pace to have an outstanding day," said Chastain, who said Cottner has been working out in noncontact situations this week. "Safety is the important thing."

For the season, Cottner has rushed for more than 100 yards four times, and has been held below 80 yards just once.

"Kris has had a good year," Chastain said. "Our offensive and defensive lines have been outstanding. So we feel we can run the ball as well as anyone else. We feel we can match up with them."

Slowing down the running game of Dexter will be the true test for Perryville. Dexter running back Zach Ventura has rushed for 348 yards and six touchdowns the past two weeks.

Dexter's punishing rushing attack has worn down SEMO Central division foes Malden, Charleston and Caruthersville over the past three weeks. The Bearcats have won five straight.

Perryville's defense has improved tremendously over last season. The Pirates are allowing just 14 points a game, and have held five opponents to 12 points or fewer.

"We've stressed the last three years getting our defense to where we used to be flying around," Chastain said. "We have 10 or 11 guys on defense flying around. They've got the hunger back their bellies at PHS."

It will be hard to top the last meeting between the teams at Perryville. The Pirates prevailed 47-41 in triple overtime to clinch the district title in 2004. That Week 10 game was filled with one big play after another, including a 21-point second-half rally by the Pirates.

But the winner Friday still has to face New Madrid County in district play.

"It's a good district. All the teams are pretty well-rounded," Chastain said. "You can't throw Kennett out, they're quick and powerful. New Madrid and Dexter are comparable opponents. We face New Madrid next week, which is like going from the frying pan into the fire."