SHORT-HANDED CHARLESTON VISITS NEW MADRID TONIGHT

New Madrid County Central was an overwhelming pre-season pick to replace Charleston on top the of the SEMO Conference Central division.

Tonight the Eagles (2-1) will try to take the first step to dethroning Charleston when the Blue Jays (1-2) come to New Madrid. Last year, Charleston won 12-0 on the strength of 140 yards rushing by Larico Coleman.

But Coleman, and his all-state ability, won't be available to the Blue Jays for this crucial game because he was ejected early in last week's 29-0 win over Caruthersville (0-3) for unsportsmanlike conduct. Missouri State High School Athletic Association rules state that Coleman must sit out at least one game following the ejection.

"It's the same as if he got hurt, we can't worry about him not being there this week," said Charleston coach Dan Kesselring of Coleman. "He knows what he did was wrong and he has to pay for it."

New Madrid, ranked ninth in Class 3A, should be licking its chops after pounding SEMO South favorite Malden 42-14 last week. Eagles' running back Sylvester Tate led the rout with 106 yards and five touchdowns.

Grandview (1-2) at Scott City (2-1)

The Rams have taken advantage of inexperienced teams (St. Vincent and Fredericktown) for their two victories and Grandview may prove to be inexperienced victim No. 3.

The Bulldogs return only two offensive starters and one on defense from last year's 1-9 club that finished last in the small school division of the Jefferson County Conference. Last year, 24 consecutive points in the second half helped the Rams beat Grandview 38-20.

Charles Boyer leads Grandview's running attack with 310 yards and three touchdowns on 72 carries. Carl Crouch adds 188 yards and three TDs on only 24 carries.

Scott City's offense has been balanced by the passing of quarterback Lance Amick (287 yards) and the running of Howie Stubenrauch (130 yards) and Travis Burger (122 yards).

Chaffee (0-3) at Portageville (2-1)

Portageville will be shooting for its third shutout in a row after blanking Caruthersville 26-0 in Week 2 and Corning, Ark., 13-0 last week.

Chaffee's coming off its worst performance of the season -- a 47-6 loss to Fulton County, Ky. -- but will return two key members of its backfield after injuries. Tommy Stidham, who sat out the second half of last week's loss with an eye injury, leads the Red Devil rushers with 229 yards. Nick Swinford, a fullback recovering from a concussion, had 144 yards in a 48-18 loss at Gosnell, Ark.

Portageville also lost to Gosnell in its season opener 42-32. Last year, Portageville held off Chaffee 15-6.

Perryville (1-2) at Hillsboro (1-2)

Chances are there won't be much passing going on when the two punishing ground games of the Pirates and Hawks duke it out in a JeffCo large school clash.

Hillsboro started slow, with two blowout losses to Northwest (33-6) and Cape Central (32-12), but the Hawks got their ground game running last week with a 54-0 rout of Potosi. Hillsboro has gained over 700 yards on the ground, with three running backs over 100 yards on the year.

Ted Bradford leads the runners with 198 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Josh Lanz has thrown for only 33 yards and three interceptions.

Perryville's Wishbone offense is led by senior halfback Ben Kohm, who leads the area in rushing with 510 yards on 52 carries. Perryville quarterback Derek Cattoor has completed three passes for 18 yards and one interception.

Last year, Hillsboro won 38-19 at Perryville.

Herculaneum (3-0) at St. Vincent (2-1)

Last year, this game decided the Jefferson County Conference small-school division when Herculaneum won at home 26-7. This year, the Black Cats are once again predicted to finish atop the league.

Herculaneum has rolled through its first three opponents by a combined score of 97-6. Running back Dan Harness and quarterback Mike Beckham lead a balanced Black Cat offense. Harness has rushed for 435 yards and seven touchdowns and Beckham adds 268 yards and four touchdowns through the air.

St. Vincent has also gotten balanced offensive production as they ride a two-game winning streak into its JeffCo season-opener. Brian Meyer has 185 yards rushing, Josh Moll 173 yards receiving and quarterback Joey Ponder 284 yards passing.

CBC (3-0) at Sikeston (2-1)

The Sikeston Bulldogs schedule just gets tougher every week.

After suffering their first loss last week at Kentucky Class A powerhouse Mayfield 42-21, the Bulldogs will host undefeated and state-ranked CBC of St. Louis. CBC, ranked sixth in Class 5A, is 3-0 and has outscored its opponents 110-14. Last year, CBC beat Sikeston 42-22.

Sikeston will have to contend with another offensive force in CBC quarterback Houston Randall. Last week, Randall passed for 277 yards and three scores on 8-of-15 passing in a 45-0 league win at Chaminade. Five different players caught Randall's eight passes.

Sikeston's Mark Blissett, a 1,500-yard rusher last year, will remain out of the lineup with a knee injury. Sophomore replacement Justin Robinson had 88 yards on 13 carries last week.

Farmington (0-3) at Fredericktown (0-3)

The Knights and Black Cats will be battling for a rare victory when the two winless teams decide who stays out of the Mineral Area Athletic Conference cellar. Last year, Fredericktown won 26-7.

Farmington has played the tougher schedule, getting outscored 93-6 in losses to Cape Central, Valle of Ste. Genevieve and Windsor. Fredericktown has lost to Perryville, St. Vincent of Perryville and Scott City by a combined 67-29.

Fredericktown running back Jeremy Penwell has supplied over half of the Black Cat offense with 266 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Tonight's games

Marshall Co., Ky. at Cape Central

Jackson at Graves Co., Ky.

CBC at Sikeston

Beaumont at Poplar Bluff

Grandview at Scott City

Chaffee at Portageville

Ballard Co., Ky. at East Prairie

Kennett at Hayti

Malden at Dexter

Charleston at New Madrid

Perryville at Hillsboro

Herculaneum at St. Vincent

Farmington at Fredericktown

Nashville at Anna-Jonesboro

Cairo at Eldorado