THE LATEST LINE: AREA FOOTBALL TEAMS HEADED FOR PLAYOFFS

While the majority of the area high school football teams will be turning in their gear this week after finishing the season, a select few will continue to practice -- with their eyes squarely focused on the playoffs.

Scott City in Class 2A, along with both Perryville schools -- Perryville Public in Class 4A and St. Vincent in Class 1A -- will all be involved in first-round playoff games Wednesday.

All three squads have had sensational seasons, St. Vincent 10-0 and Scott City and Perryville both 9-1.

Scott City and Perryville will both be at home Wednesday, against Malden and North County, respectively. St. Vincent will play at Cardinal Ritter in St. Louis.

Good luck to those three squads as they enter the playoffs.

* Still on the subject of area prep football, can anybody remember the last time the local Class 5A district was so weak? I sure can't.

The three area teams in the district combined for a 13-17 record. Throw in the fourth member, Vianney of St. Louis, and that mark is 17-23.

* The Associated Press just released its preseason top 25, Southeast Missouri State University has already played an exhibition game...

Ah yes, the scent of college basketball is definitely in the air. And isn't it sweet.

For all college hoop junkies out there -- and I count myself as one of them -- this is a wonderful time of the year. In just a few days, teams across the country will be opening their seasons and ESPN will be filling most nights with a plethora of games. You've got to love it.

Who needs the NBA anyway?

* Speaking of SEMO hoops, both the men and women will have their final exhibition games Monday night at the Show Me Center, with both squads opening the season Saturday night at home.

Even though they still have plenty of rough edges to work out -- what teams don't at this early stage of the year? -- I couldn't help but be excited by the talent SEMO's men displayed during Thursday's exhibition game.

And the SEMO women, after two straight disappointing seasons, look to be considerably better.

It could be a good year of basketball in Cape Girardeau.

* Two of the nation's undefeated college football teams -- Arkansas and Tennessee -- have some local ties.

Probably everybody who has followed area prep football knows about Jackson's Nathan Norman, who starts at fullback for Arkansas.

But most people probably don't know that Tennessee's freshmen Wil Overstreet is also somewhat connected locally to the area.

Although Overstreet grew up and went to high school in Jackson, Miss., his mother, Vicky Rueseler, is from Cape Girardeau and now lives in Jackson, Miss. Also, Wil's grandmother, Kitty Rueseler, still lives in Cape. His grandfather, Vince Rueseler, had lived in Cape until passing away earlier this year.

Wil has seen limited action this year for the Vols, mainly on special teams, but he could be a player to watch for the future.

Arkansas and Tennessee will square off next weekend in a huge national and Southeastern Conference clash.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian