Scrimmages will give area fans first dose of gridiron

It may be little more than a dress rehearsal, but a mix of scrimmages across the area should give area high school football fans a quick fix with the regular season just two weeks away.

Jackson, Scott City, Chaffee and Perryville will all participate in intrasquad scrimmages tonight.

Jackson is asking fans to bring bottles of Gatorade to their scrimmage, which will begin at 6 p.m. Players will hit the field at about 5:15. Jackson's varsity will be on the field for 45 plays, while the sophomores will square off against the freshmen for 35 plays.

"This one's obviously more controlled, but there will be people in the stands which will make it different," Jackson coach Carl Gross said. "Next week when we play someone else [at a jamboree], I'm interested to see how they respond."

Chaffee will celebrate its fall sports teams with a fall sports introduction at 6 p.m. at the high school, followed by a football scrimmage at about 6:30. The Red Devils are in their second year under Missouri Football Coaches Hall of Fame coach Charlie Vickery.

Just down the road, Scott City fans will get to meet the Rams, as Scott City's fall sports teams are introduced at 6:30 p.m. at the high school. The football team will participate in a short scrimmage following the event -- about 7:15.

The Perryville football includes the school's first Alumni Recognition Game, scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Current players will take the field immediately following the alumni for the annual Green and White scrimmage.