6 CAPE CENTRAL GRID PLAYERS QUIT

For the past two weeks, Cape Central's opponents have trumped the Tigers 75-14.

Though Central will never fold, first-year Central football coach Lawrence Brookins has lost a few of his aces -- at least in terms of talent -- from the hand he has been dealt.

Six players, including two team captains and four starters, quit the team this past week after suffering a 34-7 loss to New Madrid County Central.

Brookins refused to single out the individuals or say how many left the team. However, two independent sources -- both speaking on the condition of anonymity -- said Aaron Wolfe, Travis Turner, Donnie McClinton, Clay Willis, Josh Browning and Richard Harrison are no longer members of the Central team.

All six are seniors.

Browning late Wednesday night confirmed he and the others had quit.

"I know they'll do a lot better now attitude-wise," Browning said. "Too much stuff was going on with the individuals on the team. It wasn't the coaching staff at all.

"Me and Richard Harrison quit Saturday morning. The other four quit Friday night. I kind of made a rush decision. If I could go back, I wouldn't quit. But I made my bed and I have to sleep in it now."

"After our New Madrid game, I encouraged the squad to individually reflect upon their commitment to our program and their willingness to conform to what I think are very reasonable team guidelines, policies and expectations," Brookins said in a statement. "A very small number of athletes felt that they could not accept or live up to those expectations and therefore have decided to no longer be a part of the CHS football program.

"Although this disappoints the staff and the rest of the team, in many ways we feel the decisions made will, in the long run, actually help the team's morale and allow us to become even more committed to bringing pride and success back to our program."

Though Brookins has confidence in the players who have remained on the team, the team lost quite a bit of talent.

McClinton, a team captain, was the team's No. 1 tailback, while Turner was his backup. McClinton, likely the most athletic player on the squad, scored both the team's touchdowns in the past two weeks -- on special teams. He scored on a 90-yard kickoff return against New Madrid and on another long kickoff return against Columbia Hickman in the season opener.

Wolfe, another team captain, was a starting linebacker and the team's hardest hitter.

Willis, who was academically ineligible a season ago, was the leader on the defensive line and was probably the team's most talented offensive lineman. Willis, at 5-foot-10, 275 pounds was the team's strongest player and, along with Nathaniel Brink, the team's heaviest player.

Harrison and Browning were both backup players.

There are now 11 seniors on the Cape Central roster.