THE LATEST LINE: LOCAL PREP GRID SQUADS EYE SEASON

The August weather has been plenty muggy (although not the last couple of days), but probably not as hot as the intensity at high school football practices across the area.

That's because the season for all prep grid squads in Missouri officially kicks off in less than two weeks. For every young man participating in the sport -- not to mention all of the coaches -- this is definitely an exciting time.

While few local teams generally are serious challengers for state championships, that doesn't mean Southeast Missouri doesn't turn out its share of top-flight squads.

Last year, Jackson, Scott City, St. Vincent, New Madrid County Central and Malden all turned in stellar regular seasons and made the playoffs. All but Jackson and Malden advanced to the quarterfinals, with St. Vincent moving on to the semifinals before being eliminated.

Word is that those five teams should all be among the area's best again this season and several other squads could also be prime contenders for playoff berths.

Southeast Missouri might not produce a state champion this year -- although a few teams appear extremely capable of advancing deep into the playoffs -- but area football fans should be in store for another exciting season.

And it's going to be here in just a matter of days.

* While the area high school football season is still almost two weeks away, some other prep sports will be getting under way in earnest in the next few days.

Most of the local girls tennis and softball teams are scheduled to begin their seasons this week, with boys soccer, cross country and volleyball set to begin the next week.

Couple that with the various Southeast Missouri State University teams that are ready to begin their seasons in the next couple of weeks and it sure is a busy -- yet extremely exciting -- time for sports in Southeast Missouri.

* I'll have plenty on SEMO's football opener at Marshall -- and the Indians' season in general -- in next week's column, but here are a couple of quick thoughts on my impressions of the Indians during two-a-days.

First, the new coaching staff appears to be first rate. Every practice is extremely well thought out and organized, and teaching galore takes place at every position. And the coaches are really good guys, to boot.

Second, there appears to be sufficient talent -- particularly at the skill positions -- to field an extremely competitive team in the first season of the Tim Billings era. But it's hard to get a handle on how many games the Indians might be able to win because the schedule is a bear.

Third, while there is no telling what SEMO's record might turn out to be, the Indians figure to be extremely exciting and fun to watch, with their one-back, no-huddle offense and their speed-oriented, attacking defense. Both units should be very diversified and unpredictable, which should suit Indian fans just fine.

* Good luck and best wishes to Anthony Beane as he embarks on a new chapter of his basketball coaching career as an assistant at Illinois State.

Beane, who spent the past three seasons as a SEMO assistant, is about as classy a young man -- both on and off the court -- as you could possibly imagine.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian