Tigers show grit, make history with playoff run

The Central Tigers football team hasn't played in a state semifinal since 1978.

Today the team, just by stepping on the field, will etch its place in the school's sports history when it takes on perennial power Webb City, the defending state champ and the team ranked No. 1 in the state.

The Tigers, who never have played in a championship game, also played in semifinals in 1969, 1972 and 1977.

Central, in Class 4, has been quite a resilient team. The Tigers started off 1-4 after three losses to tough St. Louis teams then at Jackson, which had a deep playoff run as well.

Central has suffered some excruciating losses, but found form late in the season, winning an overtime game against Chaminade and pulling out a 62-56 game against Festus before winning a huge quarterfinal, 25-22, against Miller Career Academy in which Central built an 18-0 lead, only to have to mount a fourth-quarter comeback.

This team has shown a lot of heart -- and the ability to adapt and learn -- as it overcame a slow start to the season and managed to win tough games late in the season.

No team that gets this far into a season does so without having a collection of good players and coaches.

The team is led by head coach Nathan Norman and standout running back Mikey Jones, who recently broke Central's career rushing record.

Congratulations to Norman, Jones and all of the Tigers for their accomplishments this season. But there is more work to do.

Here's hoping Central will add its first state title to the season's growing list of accomplishments.