Southeast Missourian Gridiron Guide: Each team's MVP entering the playoffs

Each week of the high school football season, Southeast Missourian sports editor Tony Capobianco will provide a quick matchup rundown for each of the seven area teams. The regular season is over so in the final edition of the Gridiron Guide, we name the MVP of each area team.

Jackson quarterback Adrian Fox runs past Francis Howell defenders on Sept. 1, in Jackson. Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

__Jackson: QB Adrian Fox__

The senior single-caller of the Indians completed 128 of 213 passes for 1,977 yards and 19 touchdowns against three interceptions. Fox also carried the ball 83 times for an average of 6.6 yards and six touchdowns. Fox split the quarterback duties last season, both his first and coach Brent Eckley's last year in Jackson. Now with Ryan Nesbitt running the show, Fox had the entire position to himself, and the Indians offense has averaged 49 points per game, the most since the state championship squad of 2020. Jackson finished the season 8-1, won the SEMO North Conference, and host Lindbergh on Nov. 3 to start the Class 6 playoffs.

Cape Central's Keyshawn Boyd (8) scores during a 48-8 win over Sikeston at Sikeston Public Schools Stadium on Friday, October 6, 2023. Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

__Cape Central: RB Keyshawn Boyd__

Sophomore running back Keyshawn Boyd came out of nowhere to lead the rebuilding Cape Central offense and lead the Tigers to another 6-3 season leading up to the Class 5 playoffs. Boyd ran for 1,352 yards on 133 carries, averaging 10.2 yards per carry, and 22 touchdowns. Boyd's impact was felt doubly so when the original starting quarterback was injured early in the season and sophomore Jathan Spain had to learn on the job. Despite finishing the regular season with the same record as last year, the Tigers offense averaged 37.4 points per game, which is a seven-point improvement. Cape Central hosts winless Mehlville on Friday to start the playoffs.

Scott City quarterback Mark Panagos stiff-arms St. Vincent safety Christian Schaaf on Friday, Sept. 1, in Scott City, Missouri. Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

__Scott City: QB Mark Panagos__

The Rams are as balanced as they have ever been but it still runs through quarterback Mark Panagos. The star senior threw for 1,329 yards and 11 touchdowns against three interceptions and also rushed for 796 yards and 11 scores. Only Adrian Fox is the only other local offensive player with over 2,000 total yards, and he and fellow Scott City teammate Tyson Underwood are the only other local offensive players with over 20 touchdowns. Scott City averaged 41 points per game and was only the second team to score at least 20 points against 8-1 Portageville (they lost 56-32). The Rams enter the playoffs 7-2 and host East Prairie (3-6) in the first round.

St. Vincent linebacker Drake Robinson gets set for a play against Jefferson last week at St. Vincent High School in Perryville, Mo. Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

__St. Vincent: LB Drake Robinson__

Only two area players have racked up 100 tackles this season, and they both play for St. Vincent. Gridiron cover athlete and senior captain Drake Robinson lived up to the hype by leading Southeast Missouri with 127 tackles and had the Indians' defense average 16.7 points allowed per game this season. St. Vincent won four straight games to win the I55 Conference and enter the district portion of the Class 1 playoffs with the top seed at 6-3. St. Vincent will host the winner between Russellville and Fayette on Nov. 3.

Perryville's Chase Richardet returns a kick against St. Puis X last week in Perryville, Mo.Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

__Perryville: WR/DB/KR Chase Richardet__

Chase Richardet was everywhere for the Perryville Pirates and scored all three phases of the game. He returned a kickoff for a touchdown against Grandview, took an interception for a touchdown against Bayless, and caught half of senior quarterback Rilaynd Graham's 12 touchdown passes. With Richardet as the lethal Swiss army knife, Perryville has averaged 24.1 points scored and 27.8 points allowed per game, both are four-year highs. The Pirates finished the regular season with four wins for the first time since 2019 and have the opportunity to make it five wins with 1-8 Sikeston boarding their ship on Friday to start the Class 4 playoffs.

Chaffee's Levi McKinnie (21) and Carter Cossou (25) lead block during a 14-12 win at John Harris Marshall Stadium in Charleston, Missouri on Thursday, August 31, 2023. Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

__Chaffee: DE Levi McKinnie__

Levi McKinnie got his wish this past summer when he got to move down to defensive end, his dream position, to start the season. The move paid off, as he led the area with seven sacks despite one less week of play due to a forfeit win against Doniphan. He and the rest of the senior class led the Red Devils to a 5-4 record, their first winning season since 2017. Chaffee travels to Van-Far on Nov. 3 to start the Class 1 playoffs.

Kelly running back Reece Eftink tosses the football toward the official after scoring a touchdown against Principia last month in St. Louis. Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

__Kelly: RB Reece Eftink__

Where their senior running back went, the Kelly Hawks went. Reece Eftink turned in his third straight 1,000-yard season and found the end zone 11 times. The Hawks offense averaged 25.6 points per game on their way to a 6-3 regular season record, an improvement over last year. Kelly travels to Caruthersville (6-3) on Friday to begin the Class 2 playoffs.

St. Vincent defensive back John Schwartz celebrates intercepting a pass against Jefferson last week at St. Vincent High School in Perryville, Mo. Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

__Honorable mentions__

* Jackson freshman running back Jaylon Hampton rushed for 945 yards and 19 touchdowns entering the playoffs.

* Jackson senior wide receiver Kai Crowe leads local pass-catchers with 861 yards and eight touchdowns.

* Cape Central junior running back/receiver Zai'Aire Thomas totaled 1,353 yards and 15 touchdowns.

* Cape Central senior linebacker Davarious Nunley led the Tigers with 84 tackles, which is tied for third-most in the area alongside Jackson's Gavin Guilliams.

* Scott City senior running back Tyson Underwood rushed for 1,002 yards and 19 touchdowns, as well as added another score on the receiving end. He did so with only eight games to play due to a forfeit from Doniphan.

* Scott City senior linebacker Lawson Graff led the defense with 83 tackles. He also had three sacks and two interceptions.

* St. Vincent sophomore linebacker Carson House is the second-leading tackler in the area with 106.

* St. Vincent junior defensive back John Schwartz leads the area with six interceptions and has also caught three touchdowns.

* St. Vincent senior quarterback Christian Schaaf has the second most passing yards (1,634) and touchdowns (15) in the area.

* Perryville senior quarterback Rilaynd Graham is one of four local quarterbacks to top 1,000 passing yards and double-digit touchdowns.

Chaffee senior quarterback Carson Spies led the ground assault with 977 yards and 13 touchdowns. All three of his touchdown passes went to senior tight end Blake Yarbro.