Week 1 high school football preview capsules: Central to host Vashon

The 2015 football season officially begins today. Here is a glance at this week's local games. (All games start at 7 p.m. unless indicated)

Central at Vashon

Last year: Central 44, Vashon 34

Central begins its season at home for the first time since 2012. The Tigers are coming off a 12-3 season that ended with a 48-21 loss to Webb City in the Class 4 state championship game. It was Central's most wins in a season in school history.

Central coach Nathan Norman said he's looking forward to getting the chance to see this year's team in game action.

"We're excited. We need to play a game," Norman said. "We're at the point of no return when it comes to practice. ... You never feel like you're prepared enough, but we just need to experience a game with somebody else so we can use this game to get better. Our ultimate goal is to get better every week and peak at the right time at the end of the year."

Vashon was 2-8 last season but returns senior quarterback Clifton Dickens, who shredded the Tigers' pass defense in last year's opener with 243 yards and two touchdowns on 15-of-31 passing. The Tigers racked up 417 rushing yards in the road victory, a game that started in 95-degree temperatures.

Norman said it was a benefit for his players to get the chance to see Vashon during last week's jamboree at Hillsboro High School.

"We didn't compete against them, but we got to watch them," Norman said. "We know what they're all about. They've got a very athletic quarterback who can throw the ball. He's got good accuracy, and he runs extremely well. They've got multiple kids who can run and catch, so they're very dangerous. They play hard. They want to win as well, so we look forward to a very tough challenge [tonight]."

Central will be led by returning starters Al Young and Kway'Chon Chisom. Young, a senior wide receiver, racked up 1,446 yards from scrimmage and 25 touchdowns on 122 touches last season. Chisom will take over at quarterback, replacing the dual threat of last year's starter in Peyton Montgomery. Chisom and Young are also the only returning starters on a defense that allowed only 4.2 yards per rush and 5.1 yards per pass last season.

"Our ultimate goal every week is to get better as position players, and that's what we focus on every day at practice," Norman said. "We feel like if we can do that, then we're going to be better as a team and as a unit, and that's what we stick with."

Grandview at Chaffee

Last year: Grandview 20, Chaffee 6

The two teams will meet in the season opener for the 18th consecutive season. Chaffee is coming off a winless season and is looking to pick up its first victory since Nov. 1, 2013, when the Red Devils defeated Hayti 34-12 in the opening round of the Class 1 District 1 tournament.

Chaffee coach Charlie Vickery said he's excited to be playing the season opener at home, where the Red Devils have installed a new press box and bleachers.

"Everyone's anxious to see the new facilities and everything," Vickery said. "I think at this point, you're ready to play with all the stuff we've gotten done over the summer in the preseason."

The Eagles finished 3-7 a year ago and lost several key contributors, including quarterback Sam Huskey and running back Dylan Mitchem. They scored an average of 11.5 points per game and gave up an average of 35.5 points per game.

"We traded jamboree tapes and everything, but they ran vanilla stuff. They weren't going to show too much," Vickery said about the Eagles. "It'll be a good test for us, and we're going to have to come out and play well to stay in the game."

It will be either freshman Landon Tenkhoff or junior Brennan Miller who will guide the offense for Chaffee. Vickery said the biggest key for his team is focusing on limiting turnovers.

"At the beginning of the season, you're always kind of worried about that," Vickery said. "... We've just been focused on trying to get mentally prepared for this first game."

East Prairie at Kelly

Last year: East Prairie 29, Kelly 7

Kelly's varsity program made its debut on the road last year with a 22-point loss to the Eagles, part of a 4-6 season for the Hawks.

Lance Powers will be making his head coaching debut tonight after serving as the Hawks' offensive coordinator in their maiden campaign. Kelly returns most of its key contributors from last year, including quarterback Kyle Fitzgerald and leading rushers Ethan Faries, Maurice Davis and Matthew Burford. East Prairie, which went 7-4 last year, returns Brett Ellis at quarterback and multi-talented Deverence Jones as a primary offensive weapon.

Sumner at Perryville

Last year: Perryville 13, Sumner 12

The Pirates will look to break an eight-game losing streak after a strong showing in last week's jamboree.

Perryville's one-point win over Sumner last season was the first of back-to-back wins for the Pirates. It was the second straight season Perryville got off to a 2-0 start before going 0-8 the remainder of the season.

The Pirates look to get off to a strong start and maintain the momentum behind strong-armed returning quarterback Brandon Renaud and a group of hard charging running backs that include Kyle Creason, Blake Mattingly and Derek Kirn. Senior guard Matt Terbrak will lead the Pirates' charge in the trenches against Sumner, which went 3-7 last season.

Scott City at Herculaneum

Last year: Herculaneum 26, Scott City 22

The Black Cats have won the last two season-opening meetings between these two teams. The Rams, 4-6 last season, will try to reverse that trend tonight, and others, as a young but talented team at the skill positions seeks to post the program's first winning record since 2007. A young offensive line will get its first test against Herculaneum, which went 8-4 last season.

Valle Catholic at St. Vincent

Last year: Valle 56, St. Vincent 0 (regular season); Valle 67, St. Vincent 7 (district)

The Indians, 4-7 in 2014, face a tall task, opening the season against the defending Class 1 state champions. The powerhouse Warriors open a season they hope will net their fifth Class 1 state title in the past six years. The teams played twice last season, with the Warriors winning in routs both times in their unbeaten season.

Saturday (11 a.m.) Jackson vs. Battle

Last year: Jackson 62, Battle 34

These Indians also will be facing a defending state champ when they take on the Spartans at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri, as part of the 'Mayhem at the Zou.'

Jackson's game against Class 5 champion Battle is the opener of a tripleheader that involves the three Columbia schools Saturday on Mizzou's home field. The day also will include Class 6 state champion CBC against Hickman (3 p.m.) and Class 6 runner-up Rockhurst against Rock Bridge (7 p.m.). Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students.

Jackson, which reached the Class 5 quarterfinals in a 10-2 campaign in 2014, has beaten Battle the past two season. The first meeting in 2013 was during Battle's first year of varsity competition.

In 2014, Battle was 4-4 before closing its season with a seven-game winning streak, which included a 25-22 win over Nixa in the state championship game.

-- From staff reports