WHO WILL BE MISSOURI'S FIVE CLASS ACTS?

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

No state title has been won a football state championship from this part of the state since Chaffee did it in 1983.

If any team will do it this year, it will likely be St. Vincent, which made it to the state semifinals in 1A last year and lost in the finals in 1998.

Jackson should have a good enough team to win a playoff game or two, but -- even as talented as the Indians are -- it would be a stretch to say Jackson has a good chance at winning the state crown in the highly competitive 5A class.

Malden and Scott City appear to be the front-runners to win the SEMO South Conference and those two teams hook up in what will likely be the conference championship game in the first game of the year. The Green Wave and the Rams appear to be the favorites in the Class 2A, Districts 1 and 2, respectively, meaning there could be a rematch of last year's state sectional game where Scott City won.

BOOTHEEL

Poplar Bluff returns its record-setting quarterback Stan Revelle, who was named by Rivals.com as a preseason Missouri all-stater after throwing for more than 2,000 yards last year. The Mules lost a lot of their receiving crew that helped Revelle become the all-time leading passer in Poplar Bluff history. Last year, Poplar Bluff lost to Jackson, which again appears to be the frontrunner to win the SEMO North conference and the Class 5A, District 1 title.

Dexter returns all-state linebacker Chase Kennedy and 1,600-yard rusher Derek Burnett, but New Madrid County will be the team to beat in 3A. The Eagles lost all-state running back Ricky Smith, but return their shifty QB Byron Minner. New Madrid's junior class this year is particularly strong. Kennett, which went 7-3 last year, will get running back Larry Green (872 yards) back along with quarterback Nathan Baker. Kennett should be a bit better than last year, but New Madrid is the clear favorite.

In 2A, Malden will challenge Scott City and try to defend the SEMO Southern Conference title. The Green Wave lost their top running back, Brian Benford, but return a quality quarterback in Conrad Ivie, who threw for more than 1,000 yards last season. Caruthersville and Portageville look to be improved but are unlikely to challenge Malden and Scott City. East Prairie was the only area team to go winless last year and will likely be the weakest team in the area again.

In 1A, Hayti is an up-and-coming team with Ortiz Banks returning at tailback after a 1,500-yard campaign last year. Hayti went 3-7 last year, but lost some close games and could've easily gone 5-5. Hayti and Chaffee were very comparable teams last year and should both be better, but it's doubtful either team will be able to knock off St. Vincent in district competition.

ST. LOUIS AREA

In the St. Louis metropolitan region, coach Bob Shannon is as much of an icon as the Gateway Arch. Okay, maybe he's not that big, but the coach became a local legend after coaching in East St. Louis for a number of years. Shannon led Christian Brothers College to a strong, but not spectacular season a year ago in his first year. The word is that CBC will be the best team in St. Louis this year.

Some say Shannon's reputation alone is drawing some of the better athletes to the private school. CBC will feature a passing attack. The scouting report on last year's CBC team was that it had a lot of talent, but little depth.

Mehlville used blazing speed at all positions to surprise just about everybody and win the 5A title last year, but it has lost just about every starter from last year's team. With all the losses, many don't have high expectations for the Panthers this year. But then again, that was the same thing that was said about Mehlville last year at this time. Also in 5A, Pattonville will be strong as always.

Riverview will also be solid but it suffered a huge blow after Damien Nash, likely the top running back in the state, followed his coach and transfered to East St. Louis. Nash has been ruled ineligible to play football in Missouri or Illinois and will miss his senior season. In addition, Riverview will be experiencing several changes under a new coach and that may cause some problems early, but it is a team that should get better as the season goes along.

In 2A, Lutheran North had what some are calling a legendary class of athletes last year. The Crusaders, which won the state title last season, lost practically the whole team from a year ago. Lutheran North is expected to be strong again, but not quite as untouchable. Or uncatchable.

MINERAL AREA

In an area that always effects the playoff picture in Southeast Missouri, perennial power North County is supposed to be strong but not unbeatable.

Farmington, whose only loss came to North County last year, should be solid again. The Knights lost several key players but will get their quarterback and a few big linemen back. Still, the Knights may have fallen a notch from last season which should make for a wide open Class 4A, District 1 with Sikeston, Cape Central and Perryville.

Farmington and North County were both state-ranked last season and North County won out in District 1 despite a huge upset loss to Sikeston. North County will have a gargantuan hole to fill at quarterback left by all-stater Jeromy McDowell, who received a scholarship at Southeast Missouri State University. North County will be in District 2 with Hillsboro, De Soto and Windsor.

CENTRAL MISSOURI

The initial report from mid-state is that small ball will be down somewhat in the heart of Missouri, but 5A Columbia Hickman, the largest school in the state, may field one of its best teams in years and have a chance to unseat powerhouse Jefferson City in district play. Hickman had 118 players out for the first day of practice. On offense, the Kewpies will be strong in the middle as they return center Jed Paulsen, a 6-3, 270-pound center who has drawn interest from Nebraska. The Kewpies are also excited about transfer quarterback Ryan Cubit. Cubit's father is the new offensive coordinator at Missouri. Ryan Cubit has received interest from North Carolina State, Clemson and, of course, Missouri.

Jefferson City, the winningest program in state history, will again be strong. The Jays will feature Matt Galbreath who will move from fullback to tailback.

In 4A, Jefferson City Helias is losing tons of players but always seems to reload and figures out how to win come playoff time. Mexico could challenge and dethrone Helias in the North Central Missouri Conference, but until that happens, Helias gets the nod.

In 3A, Boonville and California have been state powers in recent years. While both should be strong once again, neither school is at the level that it was when it won state championships.

SOUTHWEST MISSOURI

Springfield Kickapoo should be the strongest 5A school in the Springfield area this year as it gets almost its entire team back from last season. Kickapoo, which lost to Poplar Bluff last year in a wild shootout, will be led by OL/DL Jared Helming (6-3, 250) who will play at Nebraska next year.

But 4A is the strongest class in the southwest region, where Camdenton, Ozark, Webb City and Branson should all be formidable.

Camdenton, which won state last year, lost a lot of its top players but should be pretty strong. Branson, which is also strong about every year in 4A, has a lot back from last year's team. Webb City, also a perennial power in the area, went 8-2 last year and returns several starters.

The 3A champ also emerged from Southwest Missouri. Aurora will be highly regarded as it returns several key players from last year's team.

In 2A, Stockton should be a state contender, led by linebacker T.W. Norman who will probably play defense somewhere in the Big 12. He is being sought by Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas St. Also, Lamar -- which went 8-2 last season returns some good linemen and its starting running back -- and East Newton, which went 9-2, should also be strong. East Newton and Lamar each play several 3A schools in the Big 8 Conference.

In 1A, Rich Hill won the 1A title last year from the Southwest region, but it has a new head coach this year. It lost some key players but also has some of its better athletes back. Adrian, which along with Rich Hill plays in the tough Western Missouri Conference, should be strong also after an 8-2 season. The winner of that district usually fares well in the state playoffs.

KANSAS CITY AREA

Rockhurst will likely have to ring Liberty's bell if it wants to emerge from the Kansas City area in 5A this year.

Liberty, which lost to Rockhurst in the quarterfinals last season en route to a 10-2 season, is thought to be the better of the two schools this year as it returns a very fine quarterback in Joel Samburski, a run-pass threat. Samburski, probably not a Division-I athlete, will likely be the best quarterback on the Missouri side of the Kansas City region.

Rockhurst, which went 12-2 last year, lost just about everybody from its team that lost to Mehlville in the state championship game. But Rockhurst always seems to churn out top-notch football players.

In 3A, O'Hara should be tough after going 9-1 a year ago. It returns quite a few from last year's team. And in 2A, St. Pius X should be solid again. The Crusaders lost a lot from last year's state runner-up team, but it has developed into a consistently strong program over the past several years. Though the 4A competition should be down in the Kansas City area this year, Anthony Brown of Grandview will be one of the better athletes. He's made a commitment to the University of Kansas.

SOUTHERN MISSOURI

Salem was a game away from reaching the 4A state championship game last year. Given that the school has dropped down a class size and returned 25 lettermen and 12 starters from last year's team, Salem would have to be considered the favorite to win the 3A title this year. Salem went 12-1 last year.

NORTHERN MISSOURI

There's nary a large school in northern Missouri, but Milan and Schuyler County should both be strong teams in Class 1A.

Milan went to the playoffs last year and should be strong despite getting a new coach. Schuyler County had its first winning season in school history last year, going 7-3. Schuyler County's losses last year all came to playoff teams so, with many starters returning, Schuyler County should be tough again this year.

NORTHWEST MISSOURI

Northwest Missouri is 8-man territory as that part of the state usually wields the state champ.

But there are two 3A schools which should be strong. Platte County will be particularly tough and considered by many accounts a state contender. Platte County has almost everybody back on a team which went to the quarterfinals last year. Chillicothe, rich in tradition, should also be strong but will have a lot of new faces in the starting unit this year.

1999 State Champs

Class 5A, Mehlville

Class 4A, Cambdenton

Class 3A, Aurora

Class 2A, Lutheran North

Class 1A, Rich Hill