Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Jarvis Finley (15) has a pass broken up by Sikeston defenders during last week's loss to the Bulldogs at Metz Cherry Stadium. Finley and the Tribe will try to get back on the winning track Friday night when they host Perryville in the Class 3, District 1 opener. [Click to enlarge]

After downing Pacific in the season opener, the Pirates have lost six straight playing against one of southeast Missouri's toughest schedules.

"We've had about 16 kids get knee injuries and we've lost about seven of them for the year," Perryville coach Jim May said.

However, the Pirates are hoping that their tough schedule has made it ready for Class 3, District 1 play, which it opens Friday against the Kennett Indians at Metz Cherry Stadium.

The Tribe (6-1) is coming off of its first loss, a 45-7 setback to Sikeston last week, but features the area's best passing attack.

Quarterback Blake Parr has thrown for 1,881 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, while Jarvis Finley has caught 38 passes for 779 yards and 10 scores this year.

"I know their quarterback's good and their receivers are real good," said May. "They've got a big line that blocks really well and they're pretty tough."

Perryville counters with a solid ground attack, led by quarterback-turned-running back Josh Perreault, who had 587 yards through the Pirates' first six games.

Pereault's replacement under center, Garrett Flentge, had 406 yards passing through week 6, but had just one interception.

His favorite target has been running back Brent Roth, who had 15 catches for 228 yards in the first six weeks and all three of Flentge's TDs. Roth also had a team high 57 tackles from his linebacker spot on defense.

May knows that his team will have to play a strong defensive game to pull the upset of the Tribe Friday night.

"We have to tackle," May said. "You can't stop an offense like that. We can't go in thinking we're going to shut them out. We have to try and limit big plays, play within ourselves and execute assignments."

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. In the other Class 3, District 1 contest, Dexter hosts defending district champ New Madrid County Central.

Opponents: The Tribe's opponents were 5-5 last week and are 25-44 this season. Here's how they did against their opponents:

Charleston (1-6) lost to Fredericktown, 49-6
Caruthersville (1-6) lost to Dexter, 36-0
Hayti (5-1) def. Scott City, 42-12
East Prairie (4-3) def. Portageville, 56-30
Portageville (0-7) lost to East Prairie, 56-30
Malden (1-6) lost to Chaffee, 24-14
Sikeston (4-3) def. Kennett, 45-7
Perryville (1-6) lost to Herculaneum, 30-13
NMCC (5-2) def. Park Hills Central, 44-22
Dexter (3-4) def. Caruthersville, 36-0

Weather: The National Weather Service is calling for partly cloudy skies and a kickoff temperature in the upper-50s, dropping the mid-50s by the end of the game. Winds are expected to be from the north at 6 miles per hour, switching to the north-northeast by the end of the game.