Here are area football preview capsules for California, South Callaway, Tipton, Osage, Warsaw, Hallsville, Southern Boone and Camdenton.
Versailles at California
The California Pintos look to close out another great regular season with a victory.
On paper, California (7-1) doesn't figure to have much trouble with a winless Versailles squad at 7 p.m. Friday.
The Pintos control their fate in the Class 3 District 6 standings, holding down first place with Centralia and Macon close behind. A win Friday would give California the top seed, as well as home-field advantage, throughout the district tournament.
California fell in the Class 3 semifinals to Maryville last season, and looks to go on another deep postseason run with largely the same nucleus from that 2012 squad.
California is coming of a 64-6 victory against Warsaw and sits in second place in the Tri-County Conference wit ha 5-1 record. The Pintos need Blair Oaks, who host Eldon on Friday and possess a 6-0 league record, to fall to have a chance at a co-conference championship.
The Pintos own additional conference wins against Eldon, Hallsville, Southern Boone and Osage. California's two non-conference wins came against Boonville and Mexico.
Versailles (0-8) has losses to Knob Noster, Fulton, Warsaw, Osage, Eldon, Hallsville, Southern Boone and Blair Oaks, the most recent a 61-26 decision to the Falcons.
Montgomery Co. at S. Callaway
This might be the best area matchup of the weekend as South Callaway (7-1) hosts Montgomery County (8-0) at 7 p.m. Friday.
Just how good have these teams been?
It's almost like an unstoppable force is meeting an immovable object.
South Callaway is outscoring its opponents by an average score of 42-8 this season, and that includes a 38-33 loss to Class 4 battle. Montgomery County, on the other hand, outscores its opponents by an average score of 40-9 in its eight victories.
South Callaway owns wins against North Callaway, Crystal City, Scotland County, Hermann, Tipton, Cuba and Father Tolton.
Montgomery County has topped Hermann, Clopton/Elsberry, Wright City, Orchard Farm, North Callaway, Van-Far, Bowling Green and Cuba.
Also on the line this week is a better seed in Class 2 District 6. Montgomery County is currently second, with South Callaway holding down the No. 3 spot.
Skyline at Tipton
Last week was just what the doctored ordered for the Tipton Cardinals.
A week after a heartbreaking last-second loss, Tipton responded with a 48-8 pasting of Archie. Now the Cardinals (4-4) get a rematch of a Class 1 state quarterfinal game from last season, a 7 p.m. contest against Skyline (5-3).
Tipton actually defeated Skyline twice in 2012, which leads one to think the Tigers will be out for revenge.
Tipton also owns wins against Windsor, Father Tolton and Butler this season. The losses are to Sedalia Sacred Heart, North Callaway, South Callaway and Cole Camp.
Skyline topped Cole Camp 47-0 to start the season. The Tigers also have wins against Fair Grove, Stockton, Pleasant Hope and Summit Christian Academy.
Skyline, however, is on a three-game losing streak, with losses to Ash Grove, Strafford and Marionville. All three of those teams are either state-ranked or receiving votes this week.
School of the Osage at Warsaw
A pair of Tri-County Conference teams try to close the regular season on a high note.
Warsaw (4-4, 2-4 Tri-County) and School of the Osage (2-6, 2-4 Tri-County) meet at 7 p.m. Friday.
Warsaw can take solace in the fact it has doubled its win total from a season ago. The Wildcats have beaten Clinton, Cole Camp, Versailles and Southern Boone. The losses have come against Eldon, Hallsville, Blair Oaks and California, the last one a 64-6 defeat to the Pintos.
Osage has dropped four straight contests, the most recent a 41-34 loss to Hallsville. The other three losses in the streak have come against California, Blair Oaks and Eldon, the top-three teams in the league. Other losses are to Fulton and Moberly. The wins are against Southern Boone and Versailles.
An Osage win would give the Indians a shot at moving to the No. 4 spot in the Class 3 District 3 standings and an opening-round home game.
Hallsville at Southern Boone
The Hallsville Indians hope to finish the Tri-County Conference slate with a winning record. The Southern Boone Eagles look for a little late-season momentum.
The two meet at 7 p.m. Friday.
Hallsville (5-3, 3-3 Tri-County) is coming off a 41-34 victory against Osage. The Indians other conference wins are against Warsaw and Versailles, with the losses coming to Blair Oaks, California and Eldon. The two non-conference wins are against Fayette and Paris.
Southern Boone (2-6, 1-5 Tri-County) dropped a 50-24 decision to Eldon last Friday. The other league losses are to Osage, Blair Oaks, California and Warsaw, with the win against Versailles. In the non-league slate, the Eagles lost to Kirksville and beat Father Tolton.
Glendale at Camdenton
The Camdenton Lakers aim to keep its late-season surge going heading into the postseason.
Camdenton (7-1) closes out the regular season by hosting Glendale (1-7) at 7 p.m. Friday.
On paper, the Lakers shouldn't have much trouble. But games aren't played on paper, they're played on the gridiron.
Camdenton is riding a four-game winning streak, with wins against Parkview, Rolla, Waynesville and most recently Joplin.
Before a Week 4 loss to Kickapoo, the Lakers had wins against Hillcrest, West Plains and Lebanon.
Glendale's lone win came two weeks ago against Rolla, a 36-21 triumph. The outlook hasn't been bright other than that, with losses to Joplin, Hillcrest, West Plains, Lebanon, Kickapoo, Parkview and Waynesville.