A look at this week's high school football games

Chaffee (1-1) at Festus St. Pius (0-3)

Last week: Crystal City 40, Chaffee 20; Maplewood 27, St. Pius 8

Last year: Chaffee 24, St. Pius 20

Outlook: Last year's meeting was the first ever between the schools. After an open week, Chaffee found itself overmatched by a speedy Crystal City offense last Friday. Crystal City quarterback Neil Slabby burned Chaffee for 301 yards on 17-of-19 passing. Chaffee surrendered 478 yards of total offense, but mounted 381 yards of its own. Jordan Yahn led a 200-yard rushing attack with 17 carries for 93 yards. Yahn also completed 13 of 23 passes for 157 yards. "He's getting better every week," Chaffee coach Charlie Vickery said of the sophomore signal-caller. Mike Rutherford led the receiving corps with seven catches for 118 yards. St. Pius runs a spread offense, but Vickery said the Lancers use their ground game about 50 percent of the time. It will be the third straight spread offense that the Red Devils have seen. "We simplified things a little bit," Vickery said of his defense. "I really think we match up much better [speedwise], except they're much bigger on the line than we are." Jeremy Hoog, a three-year starter, directs the St. Pius offense. "This is a big game for us," Vickery said. "We're 1-1 and we can get some momentum going into the Scott City game [next week]."

Fredericktown (0-3) at Scott City (0-3)

Last week: Herculaneum 35, Fredericktown 6; East Prairie 35, Scott City 13

Last year: Fredericktown 35, Scott City 16

Outlook: Scott City last dropped its first three games in 2005, when it rebounded to win its next two. The Rams have averaged nine points a game this season while opponents have averaged 40. A week after his first 100-yard rushing game with the Rams' varsity, junior tailback Garett Schaefer eclipsed the 200-yard plateau. Schaefer rushed for 202 yards on 24 carries in last week's loss to East Prairie and had both of the Rams' touchdowns. Scott City has had a changing of the guard at quarterback. Senior Ben De Los Santos is no longer with the team, and Scott City coach Jim May said junior Jamie Scholz will get the start tonight. The Rams will play tonight without injured guard/linebacker Wade Keesee. Nolan Crump will play guard, while defensive end Keith Brown will move back to linebacker. Fredericktown also has had turnover at quarterback. Against Herculaneum, Cody Smothers started in place of injured A.P. Lewandowski but had to leave the game due to injury. May said he thinks Lewandowski may return tonight. "We've prepared for them like he is [going to play]," May said. "He's a real good quarterback." Dakota Royer led Fredericktown with 67 yards rushing against Herculaneum. "I know they're trying to get healthy and get things turned around, and we're in that same position," May said.

Farmington (1-2) at Central (0-3)

Last week: Jefferson City Helias 40, Farmington 21; Obion County (Tenn.) 43, Central 25

Last year: Farmington 55, Central 12

Outlook: Central finds itself 0-3 for the sixth consecutive season. The Central defense has surrendered at least 38 points in each of its losses. Farmington's record is deceptive, as its losses the past two weeks have been to unbeaten, state-ranked teams. Helias (3-0) is ranked second in Missouri Class 4, while Belleville East (3-0) is ranked 10th in Class 8A, Illinois' largest school classification. Farmington and Central used to reside in the same Class 4 district earlier this decade. Farmington joined the SEMO North Conference in 2008. After being shut out in its first game against Parkway North, the Tigers have averaged 30 points in losses to New Madrid County Central and Obion County (Tenn.). Junior running back James Poindexter has provided a spark the past two games, rushing for 254 yards (7.3 yards per carry) as a replacement for sophomore Tae Jenkins, who suffered a deep knee bruise in the season opener. Junior Keilon Moore is Central's second-leading rusher with 58 yards (3.1 ypc). Jenkins will return to action, and Brandon Pickens now is available. "We have the full complement of running backs available to us," Central coach Rich Payne said. Central's junior quarterback Andrew Williams has completed 36 of 62 attempts for 383 yards. His top receiver is junior Zach Boerboom, who has 12 receptions for 143 yards. Moore is second with eight catches for 81 yards. Farmington runs a no-huddle spread offense, directed by quarterback Zach Hibbits. "He's the one that makes it go," Payne said. "He throws the underneath routs exceptionally precise and he runs the ball well. The key is going to be for us to control the ball on offense and move the chains, and try to slow them down on defense."

Jackson (0-3) at Sikeston (3-0)

Last week: Gateway Tech 39, Jackson 14; Sikeston 50, Dexter 0

Last year: Jackson 35, Sikeston 14

Outlook: The Indians are trying to avoid their first 0-4 start in 17 seasons. Jackson lost its first five games in 1992. Meanwhile Sikeston is off to its first 3-0 start in 11 years. Jackson has won the last six meetings with Sikeston, last losing to the Bulldogs in the opener of the 2002 season, which the Indians also started 0-3. The Indians have struggled both offensively and defensively. Sikeston is coming off back-to-back shutouts of Charleston and Dexter, outscoring the pair 104-0, after defeating Fredericktown 42-20 in its season opener. "They think this is their year to win the conference," Jackson coach Van Hitt said. "They're playing with a lot of confidence right now, and rightfully so." Jackson's offense has averaged 123 yards a game, and the running game netted just 22 yards last week and has averaged less than 2 yards per carry for the season. The offense should get some help with the season debut of senior fullback Tyler Seabaugh, who suffered a knee strain during preseason practices. Junior running back Ethan Ruch also returns after missing a game due to a concussion. Jackson has surrendered an average of 461 yards on offense and 6.4 yards per rush. Those numbers are troublesome since Sikeston has used multiple players to gash opponents for big yards on the ground. "They have it all on offense," Hitt said. "Their running back is top notch, and their quarterback and fullback are both very dangerous." The Bulldogs rushed for 420 yards in last week's rout of Dexter. Quarterback Juqualin Wiggins had four carries for 109 yards; running back Eli Jackson had nine carries for 91 yards; and Jarian Wims had 10 carries for 89 yards. A week earlier against Charleston, Jackson had 107 yards on just five carries, while Shaquille Sherrod had 109 yards on eight carries. Hitt said the Bulldogs run a lot of misdirection plays with players in motion out of several formations. "It forces you to play very disciplined defense," Hitt said. Hitt also said linebacker/running back Cole Rodgers will be in the lineup after getting dinged up in last week's game.

Maplewood (2-1) at St. Vincent (0-3)

Last week: Maplewood 27, St. Pius 8; Valle 59, St. Vincent 7

Last year: Maplewood 42, St. Vincent 0

Outlook: St. Vincent is 0-3 for the first time since 1993, when it won in the fourth week of a 1-9 season. The Indians have had a tough road thus far, with games against Class 2 Caruthersville, Class 3 Park Hills and most recently Class 1 power Valle. St. Vincent also is starting a sophomore, Tim Schumer, at quarterback, and the Indians primarily have been a running team. Schumer completed 4 of 8 passes against Valle for 94 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown strike to senior Kyle Rollet, who finished with three receptions for 73 yards. C.J. Pavlovsky continues to be the Indians' primary rusher behind an offensive line that has been decimated by injuries. He carried for a team-high 66 yards on 14 carries vs. Valle, while Derek Triller had seven carries for 11 yards. The Indians will return two of their three injured offensive linemen in tackle Dylan Geringer and center Chase Davis, but tackle Matt Schnurbush remains out and left guard Christian Carron was injured this week in practice and will miss tonight's game. Maplewood routed St. Vincent last year in its 13-1 season, which ended in the Class 2 semifinals. Maplewood suffered heavy graduation losses from last year's team, including leading rusher and receiver Bryant Allen and quarterback Les Williams, who was the team's second-leading rusher. Maplewood returns senior Brandon Cannady, who was the fourth-leading rusher on last year's team. Cannady is second this season, behind senior Victor Beckton, who has rushed for 134 yards (5.4 ypc). Junior Tony King and senior Bryton Hobbs were the third- and fourth-leading receivers last year and are the top two receivers this year with more than 300 yards combined. Junior Allen Johnson has stepped in at quarterback and completed 30 of 54 passes for 379 yards and four touchdowns. "They're young up front," St. Vincent coach Paul Sauer said. "I think we can match well up front with them. Their skill people are a little scary. If we put a little pressure on the quarterback, I like our chances." Sauer said Maplewood has been prone to turnovers, and thinks that could be key to the outcome. Both teams have suffered losses to unbeaten Park Hills -- St. Vincent lost 27-20 and St. Pius lost 22-8.

Perryville (0-3) at Park Hills (3-0)

Last week: Ste. Genevieve 40, Perryville 0; Park Hills 42, Windsor 6

Last year: Park Hills 24, Perryville 21

Outlook: Perryville is off to its first 0-3 start since it went winless in 2005. The Pirates are coming off a shutout loss and have been outscored 115-14 this season. Central owns wins against Maplewood, St. Vincent and Windsor. The Rebels run both a spread offense and a power-wishbone. The wishbone features 230-pound fullback Tyler Friend, 180-pound fullback Jaron Bridges and running back Matt Ketterer. Park Hills quarterback Ryan Calvird completed 5 of 6 passes against Windsor for 130 yards. Meanwhile Friend scored three touchdowns and Ketterer racked up 80 yards on seven carries as the Rebels scored on their first six possessions and invoked the running clock. Garrett Flentge had 110 yards rushing last week for Perryville.

-- Jeff Breer