SCOTT CITY, ST. VINCENT EYE QUARTERFINALS; INDIANS MAKE LONG TREK TO FAIR GROVE IN 1A TEST

St. Vincent's High's football Indians might want to start considering the popular Willie Nelson song `On The Road Again' as their playoff theme music.

The Indians had to travel to St. Louis Wednesday for their Class 1A sectional playoff game and they came back to Perryville with a 10-0 win over Cardinal Ritter.

Today, St. Vincent will have to make a much further trek as the Indians will leave this morning for a 7 p.m. Class 1A quarterfinal contest at Fair Grove, which is located north of Springfield.

"I guess we're getting pretty used to traveling," said a laughing St. Vincent coach Paul Sauer.

Actually, Sauer probably doesn't care where the Indians play as long as they keep winning. Already assured of their best season in school history, the Indians are 11-0 and were ranked third in the final state 1A poll of the regular season.

"We're real excited about the season we're having," Sauer said. "Beating Cardinal Ritter was a relief for us. It was our first playoff win in school history and the kids really wanted that. Now we want to go on and win the next one."

Fair Grove, ranked ninth in the state in the final regular-season poll, is 9-2. The Eagles defeated Miller 46-22 in Wednesday's sectionals to also mark their first playoff win ever.

Sauer, after reviewing game film of the Eagles, came away impressed with them and expects a close, evenly-matched game tonight.

"They look pretty good," Sauer said. "They have some great skill people and a pretty big line."

The Eagles use a tailback tandem of Jason Johns and William Grant, who have combined for about 1,800 yards rushing. Johns gained 206 yards against Miller, giving him more than 1,100 on the season.

"We're excited," said Fair Grove coach Barney Crawford of tonight's game. "We expect a big crowd and I think it will be an exciting game."

St. Vincent's top offensive threat has been Bryan Meyer, with more than 1,100 yards rushing. The Indians' have had an extremely stingy defense, allowing just 85 points in 11 games.

"I think it should be a pretty even matchup," said Sauer. "It looks like it'll be a really good game."

Of the long bus trip -- Fair Grove is about a 4 1/2-hour drive -- Sauer said, "I guess it always worries you as a coach as far as how the kids will react. But these kids have handled everything thrown at them all year, so I think they'll handle it well. We'll leave about 10:30 in the morning, stop and eat and also stop a couple of other times to stretch and move around."

If the Indians do win tonight, they are assured of hosting a state semifinal game Saturday.

"If we win these first two on the road, then I think we'll definitely deserve a home game," said Sauer with a laugh.