SIKESTON, NEW MADRID READY TO MATCH PRODUCTIVE OFFENSES

Anyway you look at tonight's football matchup in New Madrid between the Sikeston Bulldogs and Central Eagles, it looks like a barn-burner.

New Madrid, state-ranked earlier in the season, enters with a 4-2 mark. Sikeston, 35-0 winners last year, come in at 3-2. Both teams have high-powered offenses and have faced rugged schedules. Between the two teams, all four of their loses were to state-ranked teams.

"About everytime we line up against Sikeston its always a good contest," said New Madrid coach Ronnie Jones. "They have some kids that can burn you on any play and so do we. It's going to come down to who executes the best."

With an open date last weekend, Sikeston should come in the fresher team. Bulldog running back Mark Blissett took full advantage of the off week, resting the knee he injured in a 45-27 opening-season win over Carbondale, Ill.

"Mark's looking better," said Sikeston coach Charlie Vickery. "The week off probably helped him. He's pretty close to 100 percent and should be there by districts.

After missing nearly three games because of the injury, Blissett has come back to rush for 457 yards on 59 carries. Sophomore replacement Justin Robinson still leads the Bulldogs with 480 yards on 51 carries.

New Madrid, returning nearly every starter from last year's 5-6 playoff team, has used one of the largest offensive lines in the area to move past its opponents. Jones said the Eagles line averages about 6-foot-2 and 275 pounds.

"Their line is huge and they have good ball carriers," Vickery said. "(Sylvester) Tate is a real strong, powerful runner and then they have another couple kids that really run well."

Mike Walker actually leads the Eagles with 411 yards. Tate adds 341 for a team that has rolled up over 1,500 yards on the ground.

Although several players return from last year's blowout loss, Jones hasn't put any special emphasis on this game. But Vickery is still wary of the revenge factor.

"It helps them having those people back," Vickery said. "I know they'll be ready to play and I hope we will be too."

Scott City (5-1)

at Hayti (1-5)

Last year the Rams won a 69-42 shootout with the Indians.

The Rams appear to have enough firepower to equal last year's offensive output; Hayti doesn't.

After starting the season slowly on offense, Scott City has scored 31, 59 and 34 points the past three weeks in easy wins. Scott City halfback Howie Stubenrauch has been the main reason behind the Rams' offensive surge. Stubenrauch has scored four TDs in each of the past two weeks.

In fact, Stubenrauch (56 points) has outscored the entire Hayti team, which has scored just 55 points thus far. The Indians' lone victory was a forfeit win over Malden. Hayti's allowed 239 points on defense.

Festus (1-5)

at Perryville (2-4)

Both squads have played tough schedules, but the Pirates have kept their scores more respectable against tougher competition.

On the other hand, when the Pirates play a lesser opponent, they appear to play down to there competition. The Pirates have played tough in losses to state-ranked teams Ste. Genevieve, Herculaneum and Windsor, a combined 17-1 on the year. But Perryville hasn't convincingly beat lesser teams like De Soto (20-12) and Fredericktown (28-13), a combined 2-10.

Festus is trying to recover from two major blowouts the last two weeks. Festus lost to Herculaneum 40-0, and then Country Day 66-0 last week. On the season, Festus has been outscored 249-32.

Pirate halfback Ben Kohm finally fell from the top of the area rushing list this week, dropping back to fourth with 845 yards on 103 carries.

Last year, Festus won 22-14.

Grandview (1-5)

at St. Vincent (4-2)

After two consecutive Jefferson County small school thrillers, St. Vincent should have an easier time for its homecoming game with Grandview.

Both teams are young and inexperienced, but the Indians have built a winning tradition under the coaching of Paul Sauer the past three years that Grandview doesn't have. Grandview returns only three starters from last year's 1-9 team.

Both clubs have lost to Herculaneum (6-0) and Scott City. But the Indians beat St. Pius in a thriller last week 21-19, while Grandview lost to the Lancers 39-16 in week 5. Last year, St. Vincent rolled to a 49-0 win.

With a victory over the Eagles, St. Vincent can clinch second place in the small school division for the fourth consecutive year.

Halfback Bryan Meyer and quarterback Joey Ponder have combined to balance the Indians' offense almost perfectly. Meyer has gained 527 yards on the ground; Ponder has 537 through the air.

Fredericktown (1-5)

at North County (6-0)

The good news: Fredericktown got its first victory of the season with a 26-18 win over Potosi last Friday.

The bad news: The Black Cats now travel to Bonne Terre to face the state-ranked North County Raiders.

Last year North County pounded the Black Cats 35-0 and this year could be the same story. The Raiders enter this contest ranked third in Class 4A.

Fredericktown's Jeremy Penwell continues to rush his way to a 1,000-yard season with 672 yards on 119 carries. Quarterback Andy Clark adds 504 yards on only 28 completions.

John Burroughs (0-5)

at Charleston (2-4)

There are a few surprising facts about this Saturday afternoon contest.

Surprise No. 1: John Burroughs -- normally a Class 2A power -- is winless. Surprise No. 2: The Bombers haven't scored a point on offense or defense, getting outscored by their opponents 139-0.

Both the Bombers and Blue Jays were hit hard by graduation last year, but at least Charleston returns all-state tailback Larico Coleman. Last week, Coleman had his second five-touchdown game of the season in a 46-22 win over Dexter.

Coleman is the area's leading rusher and scorer with 911 yards and 15 TDs respectively. Last year, Charleston beat the Bombers 18-13.

Chaffee (1-5) off this week

The Red Devils have the week off before starting districts against state-ranked Valle of Ste. Genevieve Oct. 24.

Chaffee is still looking for its first win on the gridiron, although the Red Devils earned a forfeit victory over Malden earlier in the year.

Offense has been a problem for the Red Devils lately, coming off consecutive shutouts against Scott City (59-0) and East Prairie (13-0) last week.