UNBEATEN RAMS SET SAIL FOR HOSTILE PIRATE COVE

Now that they are the fourth ranked Class 2A football team in the state, the Scott City Rams know what it feels like to wear a big target around their necks.

This week, a big, accurate gun is pointed at it.

Perryville, coming off an 18-14 victory over Jackson last Friday night, will host the game at 7:30 tonight.

Perryville is a Class 4A school with good size up front on both sides of the ball, a strong option running game and some confidence after a 2-1 start.

"It puts a little pressure on us being in the position we're in," Scott City coach Terry Flannigan said. "Everybody's looking at knocking off a ranked team. It's time for us to find out if we play somebody who's going to smack us in the mouth. We need to be able to smack back."

Scott City is 3-0, but the Pirates will provide their biggest test of the season to this point.

Perryville, which stopped the run effectively against Jackson, has superior size in the middle of its defensive line and all-district player Wes Amberger (6-foot, 235 pounds) at defensive end.

Amberger also is a dominant offensive tackle.

"He's probably the best lineman we'll see all year," Flannigan said. "He's the type of kid who if you (get lazy) or get up high on him, he's gonna own you really quick."

Scott City relies heavily on its running game, which is averaging over 200 yards per week.

Tackle Brandon Delrosa (6-1, 290) should play at least part time Friday. He has been recovering from an ankle injury.

Matt Underwood, who has rushed for more than 500 yards this season, is the primary ballcarrier.

"The key for us is to make sure we don't give up any big plays or let them throw the ball against us," Perryville coach Jerry Tucker said.

Perryville is vulnerable in its defensive backfield. Scott City, which normally throws less than 10 times in a game, threw more often last week. Rams quarterback Lance Amick may go up top as many as 20 times this week.

New Madrid County Central at Charleston

As usual, this game should crown the Southeast Missouri Conference Central Division championship game.

Both teams are 2-1, and coming off victories last week. Charleston beat Caruthersville 18-0. New Madrid destroyed Malden 42-6.

"We've always had trouble with New Madrid," Charleston coach Danny Kesselring said. "They have one thing that hurts our option: speed."

Blue Jays quarterback Jason Ward may be forced to throw the ball more often Friday. Charleston has had little success in that area this year, with most of their yardage coming on the rushing efforts of Jeff Ewing, Ward and Kevin Brown.

New Madrid won last year's meeting 46-0.

St. Vincent at Herculaneum

The Indians are not often underdogs, but in this game they most definitely are.

Herculaneum, a Jefferson County Class 3A power, beat the Indians 33-0 last year and are off to a 3-0 start this year.

St. Vincent is also 3-0 after its unimpressive 10-6 win over Park Hills last week.

"They're a whole lot bigger than we are," St. Vincent coach Paul Sauer said. "This will be one of the best lines we'll see. They'll make you stop their run."

St. Vincent will have to go around 6-6, 302-pound tackle Brock Tettleton, a three-year starter, among several experienced players on a line which averages better than 250 pounds.

Offensively, St. Vincent will switch from its standard I-formation to a double-tight wishbone this week.

Portageville at Chaffee

Portageville has struggled to an 0-2 start, but the Red Devils cannot take lightly a team which beat them 36-6 a year ago.

"I know they're better than what their scores suggest," Chaffee coach Brian Horrell said.

The Red Devils are 0-3, but they played better last week in a 34-6 loss to Kentucky powerhouse Fulton County.

Chaffee quarterback Matt Graham completed 13-of-28 passes for 168 yards last week.

"We'd like to really get back to running the ball," Horrell said. "But we would like to mix it up a little, and I think we showed we can do that last week."

Fredericktown at Farmington

The Black Cats are the homecoming guest for Farmington at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Farmington (2-1) runs a wishbone option directed by quarterback Mike Thebeau and holds a size advantage over Fredericktown (1-2).

Black Cats linebackers Chris Reagan, Tim Pirtle, Scott Stevens and Clay Hendrix will be keys to containing the option.

Offensively for Fredericktown, running back Jeremy Penwell will get his 20 carries, but coach Kent Gibbs has started to rely more on quarterback Luke McKinnis' arm.

Tonight's Games

(7:30 p.m. kickoffs)

Cape Central at Oakville

Graves Co., Ky. at Jackson

Poplar Bluff at Sikeston

Scott City at Perryville

Portageville at Chaffee

East Prairie at Thayer

Hayti at Kennett

New Madrid at Charleston

Dexter at Malden

St. Vincent at Herculaneum

Anna-Jonesboro at Nashville

Eldorado at Cairo (7 p.m.)

Saturday's Game

Fredericktown at Farmington, 2 p.m.