Our prep football glance gives vital information for our local teams entering their weekly matchups. Learn your team's opponent, go-to players and the series history between the two every Thursday throughout the season.
__Chaffee at Portageville__
Records: Chaffee (3-0); Portageville (1-2)
Series History: Portageville leads 39-23-2
Last Meeting: 2012, Portageville won 21-6
Last Week: Chaffee defeated Hayti 47-20; Portageville lost to Malden 19-32
Outlook: Chaffee is off to their first 3-0 start since 1969. Not even their 1983 state championship team was able to win their first three. The Red Devils have piled up over 45 points per game, including 47 last week against Hayti, snapping a 14-game losing streak to the Indians. Junior quarterback Peyton Montgomery had a hand in all six of Chaffee's touchdowns against Hayti, passing for four and running for two. He has passed for 397 yards and six touchdowns on the season. Jimmy Golden leads Chaffee in rushing with 268 yards. The Chaffee defense has also been stellar, allowing just 16 points per game. Portageville let a lead slip away against Malden last week, allowing 18 fourth quarter points helped by turnovers and missed tackles. Sophomore quarterback Jon Garrett Kellams was again impressive, throwing for 116 yards and two touchdowns while running for another against the Greenwave. Sophomore running back Daniel McCray led Portageville with 52 yards rushing, but the Bulldogs allowed 234 yards on the ground.
__Caruthersville at Dexter__
Records: Dexter (0-3); Caruthersville (2-1)
Series History: Dexter leads 43-32-2
Last Meeting: 2012, Caruthersville won 35-7
Last Week: Dexter lost to Sikeston 34-0; Caruthersville defeated Charleston 26-18
Outlook: Dexter has scored just twice in 2013 and were held to only 68 yards last week against Sikeston. Injuries have decimated the Bearcats' offensive line, causing junior quarterback Peyton Pollock to scramble or throw from the run on nearly every play. Senior receiver/defensive back Cody Neldon has been lost for the season with a knee injury as well, and to make matters worse, the Bearcats will be playing without head coach Justin Peden, who is suspended for the game for reasons that have not been released. Caruthersville had an exciting come-from-behind win over conference and district rival Charleston last week. Trailing 12-7 entering the fourth quarter, the Tigers' Darrell Monroe rushed for three touchdowns in the fourth to lead Caruthersville to the win. The senior finished the game with 165 yards, giving him 483 yards and six touchdowns on the season. He has also caught four passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Tyler Grissom has proved to be a dual threat, passing for 322 yards while rushing for 263 on the season.
__Hayti at East Prairie__
Records: Hayti (0-3); East Prairie (1-2)
Series History: Hayti leads 46-27
Last Meeting: 2012, Hayti won 72-6
Last Week: Hayti lost to Chaffee 47-20, East Prairie lost to Scott City 33-27 in overtime
Outlook: Hayti is off to their worst start since 1998 when they went winless. The Indians gave up 40 first half points to high-powered Chaffee last week and have surrendered 32 points per game on the season. Hayti was held to just 58 yards rushing last week but threw for 279 yards. The Indians are averaging just 11 points per game and last week was the first time they had scored more than one touchdown in a game. One week after breaking their 19-game losing streak, East Prairie saw a chance to win their second-straight game slip away in overtime at Scott City. Costly penalties and late turnovers hurt the Eagles, who held a 27-13 halftime lead at Scott City but failed to score the rest of the way. Sophomore quarterback Brett Ellis has thrown for 433 yards and three touchdowns for the Eagles while sophomore Blayn Gooding has rushed for 276 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Adrian Soto has rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns and freshman Deverance Jones is making a big impact with five catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns.
__Charleston at NMCC__
Records: Charleston (1-2); NMCC (1-2)
Series History: NMCC leads 19-9
Last Meeting: 2012, Charleston won 14-10
Last Week: Charleston lost to Caruthersville 26-18; NMCC defeated Kennett 40-21
Outlook: Charleston saw a chance to knock off state-ranked Caruthersville slip away in the fourth quarter last week but welcomed the resurgence of last year's leading rusher Robert Bogan. The senior gained 143 yards on 20 carries after only gaining 38 yards in his first two games. Delfincko Bogan returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in the game as well. Junior Rontavious Clark has gained 109 yards on the season and quarterback Mike Kellum has completed eight passes for 133 yards. NMCC got their first win of the season last week and their first points, scoring 40 against Kennett. Willie Jimmerson had one yard on 11 carries entering the game but scored two touchdowns, one on a pass reception and another on the ground. Quarterback Austin Lynn played well, running for one touchdown and throwing for two more. The Eagle defense was stellar as well, returning a fumble for a touchdown in the first quarter and allowed just one touchdown and Kennett scored twice in the final quarter, once on a fumble return and another on a kickoff return.
-- David Jenkins, Staff
__2013 SEMO CONFERENCE STANDINGS__
North W L CONF PF PA
Jackson 2 1 1-0 112 72
Cape Central 1 2 1-0 79 81
Sikeston 3 0 0-0 87 6
Poplar Bluff 2 1 0-1 78 55
Farmington 1 2 0-1 60 77
Central W L CONF PF PA
Caruthersville 2 1 1-0 86 85
New Madrid 1 2 1-0 40 62
Kennett 1 2 0-1 67 73
Charleston 1 2 0-1 58 56
Dexter 0 3 0-0 14 110
South W L CONF PF PA
Chaffee 3 0 1-0 136 49
Malden 2 1 1-0 51 51
Scott City 1 2 1-0 47 65
East Prairie 1 2 0-1 82 67
Portageville 1 2 0-1 64 79
Hayti 0 3 0-1 33 97