Which of the area's heavyweights -- Jackson or Cape Central -- is farther along at the midpoint of the season?

Maybe Belleville Althoff can provide a clue.

Jackson visits Althoff tonight at 7:30. The Crusaders, coming off a 23-20 overtime victory over Central at Houck Stadium last week, are 2-4.

The Indians, winners of two straight, are 2-3. Althoff can provide Jackson a way to evaluate itself against district-rival Central.

"We know Althoff's a good football team and that they played Cape Central tough," Indians coach Carl Gross said. "I guess the thing we're most worried about, though, is Jackson."

Jackson is trying to get over a slow start. The Indians lost to Sikeston, Sumner and Perryville, before stopping Graves County (Ky.) and Beaumont the last two weeks.

Both Jackson and Althoff have played a fair share of tight games. Althoff's schedule has been tougher, including ranked teams from Illinois and Kentucky.

Talent-wise and philosophically, Jackson is much more similar to Althoff than Central is. Whether that will work in the Indians' favor remains to be seen.

Both teams prefer to run the football, and both do it effectively in the middle of the field.

Jackson's Todd Wessel surpassed the 1,000-yard mark last week.

"We're going to have to do what we do best, and that's run the football and play pass," said Gross, who will again go with senior Andy Callis at quarterback. "We're going to have to go at Althoff like we have everybody."

For Althoff, Clyde Howard, a bruising 5-foot-8, 200-pounder, is the team leader with 661 yards. He gained 165 yards on 28 carries last week against Central.

Quarterback Dan Piel is running and passing threat. He threw for a pair of touchdowns and ran for another last week.

"Althoff has more dimensions, and they use multiple sets," Gross said. "They're sound and well coached."

Althoff has decent size on the lines, similar to Jackson, and they play physically, but they have perhaps less than average speed.

"I watch them, and I don't see that burner they've had in the past," Gross said.

The Crusaders' secondary, which held Central's passing game in check last week, will not come into play as much this week.

Central was able to run against Althoff. But while the Crusaders' defense allowed yardage on several drives, it was tough inside the 20-yard line.

"The thing about them is, they are beatable," Gross said. "Central had chances to beat them last week. We just have to make sure we do the things we have to in order to win the game."

Tonight's Games

Cape Central at Sikeston

Jackson at Belleville Althoff

East Prairie at Chaffee

Perryville at Festus

St. Pius at St. Vincent

Fredericktown at Potosi

Charleston at Dexter

Poplar Bluff at Columbia Hickman

Malden at Kennett

Hayti at Portageville

DuQuoin at Anna-Jonesboro

Ballard Co, Ky. at Cairo

Saturday's Games

Scott City at Caruthersville

Borgia at New Madrid