RAMS, DEVILS RENEW ANNUAL RIVALRY TONIGHT IN CHAFFEE

Both the Scott City Rams and Chaffee Red Devils are off to their best starts under their respective head coaches entering tonight's rivalry game at Chaffee.

The Rams (3-1) have won four games in each of coach Terry Flannigan's first two seasons. A victory over the Red Devils would match the season victory totals of the last two years.

Second-year Chaffee coach Brian Horrell has yet to taste victory on the field, but the Red Devils (1-3) did earn a forfeit victory over Malden last week because the Green Wave used an ineligible player. The victory, which put the Red Devils at 1-1 in the SEMO South Conference, marked the first football victory for Chaffee since the opening game of the 1995 season.

Both teams like to air it out with the top two yardage passers in the area at quarterback. Scott City's Lance Amick leads the area with 440 passing yards. Chaffee's Matt Graham is right behind him with 416 yards.

Last year Scott City's Travis Burger ran for four touchdowns to lead the Rams to a 34-0 victory over the Red Devils.

Malden (1-3) at Charleston (1-3)

The records may be the same, but these two teams have come about their 1-3 starts in very different ways.

Malden's trying to battle back from two costly forfeit losses for using an ineligible player in its first three games. Malden's only loss on the field came to New Madrid 42-12 in Week 3.

Charleston knows all about New Madrid (3-1) after last week's 46-0 loss to the Eagles. The Blue Jays played the game without all-state running back Larico Coleman due to a suspension, but Coleman's expected back in the lineup this week.

Despite missing the equivalent of nearly two games, Coleman is ranked fourth in area rushing with 437 yards.

Last year, Charleston won 27-13.

St. Vincent (2-2) at Crystal City (3-1)

Both clubs enter this clash with 0-1 records in the Jefferson County Conference small school division.

The Indians lost last week to division-favorite Herculaneum 33-0, while Crystal City lost to St. Pius 14-6 in Week 3. Last year the Indians pounded the Hornets 44-0, but the contest looks to be more competitive this time around.

The Hornets' offense, which has struggled the past two games, is led by quarterback Robby Schilly with 293 yards passing and three touchdowns. Running backs Andy Johnson (176 yards) and Brandon Bieser (151 yards) add balance.

Perryville (1-3) at De Soto (1-3)

Perryville looks to have a good shot of snapping its three-game losing streak against the Dragons, coached by former Perryville assistant Dave Guemmer.

Both squads have played Class 3A powers Ste. Genevieve (3-1) and Herculaneum (4-0). Perryville lost by a combined score of 57-21, while the Dragons got blasted by a combined 82-7. De Soto's only victory came against winless Park Hills 12-7 last week.

The Pirates' only win came against Fredericktown (0-4) in the season opener 28-13. But after playing solid competition the last three weeks, the Pirates should be ready for the Dragons balanced offense.

De Soto has two runners over 200 yards and the quarterback tandem of Joey Lee and Adam Zoph has thrown for 435 yards and six interceptions.

Perryville running back Ben Kohm still leads the area in rushing with 626 yards and seven touchdowns on 74 carries.

Last year Perryville won 16-13 on a field goal with 46-seconds left.

Fredericktown (0-4) at Valle (3-1)

Fredericktown let one of its best opportunities for victory slip away last week in a 42-27 loss to previously winless Farmington.

It won't get any easier for the Black Cats when they go to state-ranked Valle of Ste. Genevieve. The Warriors are ranked second in Class 1A with their only loss coming to North County of Bonne Terre, ranked third in Class 4A.

Quarterback Joe Rozier leads the Warriors balanced offensive attack. Last year Valle struggled past the Black Cats 14-7.

Sikeston (2-2) at Dexter (2-2)

Sikeston running back Mark Blissett returned last week from a knee injury -- that kept him out of two games -- to rush for 74 yards in limited action in the Bulldogs' 34-21 loss to St. Louis-power CBC (4-0).

Blissett should see more action against the Bearcats, which the Bulldogs beat 36-15 last year.

Dexter, coming off a 17-0 loss to Malden, has failed to score in its two losses. Poplar Bluff (2-2) beat the Bearcats 37-0 in the season-opener.

Tonight's games

Scott City at Chaffee

Perryville at DeSoto

St. Vincent at Crystal City

Malden at Charleston

Fredericktown at Valle

Sikeston at Dexter

Poplar Bluff at Jefferson City

Caruthersville at East Prairie

Hayti at Thayer

Portageville at Kennett

Chester at Anna-Jonesboro

Cairo at Cristopher

Saturday's Games

Jackson at Lutheran North

Springfield Catholic at New Madrid