THE LATEST LINE: PREP FOOTBALL REGULAR SEASON WINDING DOWN

With just one week left in the regular season, most of the district championships for area high school football teams are still up for grabs.

Which means Friday night's action will feature all kinds of drama and excitement.

Of particular interest for fans in the immediate area will be the game in Jackson pitting the undefeated Indians against Poplar Bluff. Both teams come into the contest with 2-0 Class 5A, District 1 records, meaning the winner gains the title.

The same scenario will take place in Charleston as the Blue Jays face Ste. Genevieve. Both teams are 2-0 in 3A, District 1.

In area games of particular note this past Friday night, Jackson more than lived up to its first-ever state ranking in Class 5A while St. Vincent proved that it probably deserves to move into the 1A state rankings.

Jackson simply demolished host Sikeston 34-0 as the Indians improved to 9-0. After winning the district title last year during its first season in 5A, Jackson wasn't really looked upon as the clear-cut district favorite entering this season.

But so far the Indians have had absolutely no trouble in the district, rolling past both Cape Central and Sikeston. Poplar Bluff is the last obstacle in the Indians' way as they chase a perfect regular season.

Meanwhile, St. Vincent might have surprised a lot of people -- except itself -- by beating visiting Ste. Genevieve Valle 14-3.

Valle came into the game ranked third in the state in 1A while St. Vincent has had to replace virtually every starter from last year's district champion team.

But the Indians sure didn't play like a rebuilding team as they head for their second straight district title.

* The college basketball season hasn't even officially started yet and nobody knows just what is in store for SEMO's Indians.

But the more time I spend around first-year SEMO head coach Gary Garner and his new staff, the more I can't help but be impressed by this man with the sensational coaching resume.

And, as a result, the more I can't help but think that Garner will, in the next several years, build SEMO into a solid Division I program and elevate the Indians to one of the Ohio Valley Conference's better teams.

* At least to start the season, Southern Illinois' basketball program will have two former stars playing in the NBA.

Chris Carr, who already has a couple of solid NBA seasons as a reserve under his belt, is being counted on as a key reserve for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

And Troy Hudson, who left SIU after his junior season last year but was not drafted, made the opening-day roster of the Utah Jazz.

* More information will be released during the week, but the Cape Youth Tackle Football League is going to receive quite a financial windfall from the St. Louis Rams.

According to league president Mike Dunaway, Rams' officials will be in Cape Saturday to present a check for $5,000 to the league. The presentation will take place prior to SEMO's game with Eastern Kentucky at Houck Stadium.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian