Southeast Missourian Gridiron Guide: Week 6

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. Week 6 is filled with teams either teams likely running into buzzsaws or becoming the buzzsaw, with one clear exception.

__Scott City (3-2) at Kelly (5-0)__

Of all the games this week, the showdown between Kelly and Scott City is the one that dictates the direction of both teams.

After defeating Principia 36-26 this past Saturday, the Kelly Hawks have matched their win total from the previous year (5-5) in only the first five weeks of the season. The offense has gone from averaging 18.7 points per game in 2022 to a whopping 35.8 points in 2023. The Hawks’ defense has also reduced their opponents’ scoring from 20 points per game to 14.8.

Kelly has also defeated three winless teams and one 1-4 team to get to this point. The Hawks' signature win this season has been Chaffee, a team that has won three games for the first time since 2017.

It was the Week 3 Gridiron Guide that pointed out the fact that Kelly won its first two games against winless teams, one of which currently has a total of 12 points in five games. That was used by the Hawks as fuel to their fire in their win over Charleston in Week 3.

“These young men love bulletin board material and it drives them to be better,” said Kelly coach Lance Powers after the Hawks' win against Charleston.

Scott City rebounded from a tough loss to Portageville with a homecoming beatdown over Malden to improve to 3-2 leading up to this matchup.

Underwood now has 11 rushing touchdowns and 542 yards after five games, which puts him among the top three running backs in the area.

“It’s big for momentum going into the end of the season,” Underwood said. “Especially after a loss like that (against Portageville) and during homecoming, it’s a special feeling.”

__St. Vincent (2-3) at Bayless (0-4)__

If it works for Perryville, it should also work for St. Vincent.

After a 54-0 drubbing at home against Valle Catholic last week, the Indians travel north to take on a winless Bayless team that once gave up 62 points against Perryville a couple of weeks ago.

St. Vincent has played Bayless twice and won both times by a combined score of 107-6.

St. Vincent senior quarterback Christain Schaaf has 13 total touchdowns so far this season, nine passing and four rushing. Schaaf has been able to spread the ball around evenly at the end zone between Simon Barber (2), Jacob Schremp (3), John Schwartz (2), Clayton Gremaud (1), and Cruz Reitzel (1).

The defense, looking to rebound for its worst performance of the season, is still led by Drake Robinson and Carson House, who are among the area's top tacklers.

"The amount of work he puts in behind the scenes that people don't see," St. Vincent coach Tim Schumer said of Robinson, "him coming in when we're off or coming in early for practice ... he is able to have his success not just because of showing up on Fridays."

__Chaffee (3-2) at Portageville (4-1)__

We're already halfway through the season and it's already a success for Chaffee. The Red Devils have won three games for the first time since 2017, their last winning season.

“That was kind of one of those little goals – if you can just get over the hump early,” Chaffee coach Jack Altermatt said last week. “It's good to have our momentum going. Our guys are just really committed to showing up every single day. No one misses practice, and that's a huge thing for us. Everyone's bought in.”

2017 was also the last time Chaffee defeated Portageville. The Bulldogs have since won five straight games against the Red Devils, including a 50-7 drubbing last year.

Portageville has also been on a warpath since opening the season with a loss. The Bulldogs have won four straight games by overwhelming margins, averaging 50.2 points per game while the defense allows only 14.6 points.

__Jackson (5-1) vs. Sikeston (0-5)__

Jackson looks to continue its domination over the SEMO Conference with a lopsided matchup with a Sikeston team still looking for its first win on the season.

The Indians' passing offense has long gotten headlines but another star is the young running back Jaylon Hampton, who scored three rushing touchdowns in the first half in a 50-0 win over rival Cape Central last week.

“He’s gaining confidence,” Jackson coach Ryan Nesbitt said. “He’s still got things to work on, which is the encouraging thing when he’s having success like he’s having. He’s a dynamic player and doing a really nice job for us as a young guy.”

Every time Hampton has the ball, he runs with a force that is tough to take down.

The freshman joins the small group of local rushers with double-digit touchdowns the season with 11.

“If I get tackled I’m going to get killed,” Hampton said. “That’s how I run.”

Jackson has won 10 straight games over Sikeston dating back to 2013, and the Indians' decade-long dominance over the Bulldogs will likely continue.

__Perryville (3-2) vs. Jefferson (5-0)__

The Perryville Pirates are 3-2 for the first time since 2019, and they have their home-field advantage to thank.

The Pirates are 3-0 at home with wins over Windsor (12-0), Bayless (62-6), and Grandview (48-14). Quarterback Rilaynd Graham credited "our fans" and "our home turf" for the success.

"Everybody likes home turf," Graham said. "It definitely gives us an advantage."

Like in 2019, the Pirates offense is averaging 20.3 points per game. The Pirates finished that regular season 5-4, but this year, they are aiming for a higher mark.

"We said the last two weeks that these are the most important games right now," said sophomore running back Barrett Wheeler, referring to this game and their previous win over Baylees. "We get above .500, that's just the biggest thing we can do right now. Then we can keep building from this. 6-3 is our main goal and we're still on that track."

The Pirates host Jefferson during homecoming, which is traditionally held on Saturday at 1 p.m. While most teams usually schedule homecoming on a game against a weak opponent, Jefferson is anything but. The Blue Jays are 5-0 coming off a 70 - 14 win over Bayless. The offense is averaging 40.6 points per game while the defense is allowing only 7.6 points.

It will also be a test for receiver/defensive back Chase Richardet, who returned an interception for a touchdown against Bayless and amassed 200 yards and two touchdowns on six catches, plus a score on a kickoff return against Grandview.

__Cape Central (2-3) vs. Farmington (5-1)__

Cape Central looks to rebound from a disastrous loss to Jackson with a home game against Farmington on Friday.

The last time the two teams met, the Tigers snapped a five-game skid over the Knights with a 35-32 win last season.

The Tigers will need to make last week seem like an aberration. Keyshawn Boyd, who entered the contest leading the area with 775 yards and 13 touchdowns, was held to only five yards against the Jackson defense last week.

Farmington will be a tough out for the Tigers, who only lost to Jackson this season. The Knights are averaging 30.5 points per game while the defense allows only 17.7 points.