SURPRISING FREDERICKTOWN FACES A BIG CHALLENGE IN NEW MADRID

FREDERICKTOWN -- After the first couple of games of the season it seemed a foregone conclusion that Ricky Smith and his New Madrid Eagles would win the Class 3A, District 1 championship.

And after disposing of a tough Kennett team 48-16 last week, the Eagles are still on course when they visit Fredericktown tonight.

Fredericktown may not be as good a team as New Madrid, but it has been one of the surprise teams this year and could give Smith & Company a game."I think we're playing our best ball of the season," Fredericktown coach Kent Gibbs said after his team knocked off a solid Dexter team 28-0 in a game that was predicted to be a tossup. "We'll definitely have our work cut out for us. Our defense is playing real well. We need to gang tackle (tonight). We don't have anyone who can catch them (Smith, Byron Minner and Dereke Tipler) if they get loose."Smith is one of the two top running backs in Southeast Missouri this year, rushing for 1,282 yards on 139 carries. Minner has 468 yards on 60 attempts and Tipler, the fullback has run the ball 51 times for 431 yards. Smith leads all of Southeast Missouri with 24 touchdowns.

Hillsboro at PerryvillePERRYVILLE -- The Class 4A, District 2 title will likely be on the line tonight when Hillsboro visits Perryville.

Hillsboro, currently ranked No. 10 in the statewide media poll, is likely overrated at 6-2.

Perryville (2-6) and Hillsboro have two common opponents in Farmington and Festus. While Perryville knocked off Festus 42-6, Hillsboro lost to Festus 25-12. Perryville lost to Farmington 38-19, while the Knights hammered Hillsboro 33-7.

Hillsboro, though, has averaged 31 points per game to Perryville's 25."I would have to think this is for the district championship," Perryville coach Jerry Tucker said. "They're just big, physical and tough."Kevin Wiegert is Hillsboro's leading runner with 1,142 yards on 179 carries. Joe Romaine doesn't carry the ball that often just 25 times this year but he averages almost 12 yards per carry.

The other two teams in the district DeSoto and Windsor are both 0-1 in district play and will not likely figure into the district championship.

Perryville, led by 240 yards rushing on 29 carries by Shawn Statler last week, defeated Windsor 48-34.

Hillsboro thrashed DeSoto 42-0.

Perryville beat Hillsboro last year 32-0.

Scott City at Crystal CityCRYSTAL CITY -- The Rams will likely continue their streak of blowouts tonight.

After outscoring their last seven opponents 270-19, the Rams take on a Crystal City team which was crushed by Charleston (2-5) 42-0 last week.

Crystal City (1-7) has been outscored 263-87 this season and has scored just 17 points since beating Aquinas-Mercy 70-0 in the season opener.

Crystal City has been shut out five times this season, while Scott City has posted four shutouts of its own.

Chaffee at HaytiHAYTI -- A .500 season is not out of the question for the Red Devils, who won just one game last year.

In all likelihood, St. Vincent won the Class 1A, District 1 title when it knocked off Chaffee 41-7 last week.

But a win over Hayti on Saturday (2 p.m. kickoff) would give the Red Devils a shot at a 5-5 record when it takes on Valle-Ste. Genevieve in a non-district game next week.

Chaffee (3-5) will be favored to beat Hayti (1-6) but will have to regroup after a poor performance last week against St. Vincent.

Chaffee beat Hayti 32-14 last year for its only win.

Missouri Military at St. Vincent PERRYVILLE -- In a non-district game, St. Vincent will likely go to 8-1 after playing a traditionally weak Missouri Military Academy team Saturday (1:30 p.m. kickoff).St. Vincent's offense has scored 102 points in its last two games while holding its opponents to 20 points.

The Indians, ranked No. 2 in Class 1A, have not allowed more than 20 points in a game this year.

Grandview at CharlestonCHARLESTON -- The Bluejays should have a prime opportunity to improve to 3-6 when they take on Grandview (2-6).Scott City defeated Grandview 42-0 last week, while Charleston stomped Crystal City 42-0 also.

A win for Charleston would set the stage for another Scott City-Charleston district title showdown.