A SEASON IN A GAME; DISTRICT, CONFERENCE STROKE LONG-TIME RIVALRY

Nevermind that it's the first district game.

Nevermind it's the first conference game.

And please don't concern yourself that the two teams have combined for a sparkling 13-1 record this football season.

Just savor the rivalry.

Yes, as if the Cape Central Tigers and Jackson Indians conflict needed any more luster, the contest tonight at Houck Field could have more riding on it than ever before.

The winner gets a head start on a possible district and conference championship. The loser can begin letting thoughts of basketball creep into their heads.

Jackson, the defending district and SEMO North Conference champion, enters as the only undefeated team in Southeast Missouri with a 7-0 record. Central, for the second year in a row, enters district play with a 6-1 mark. Last year, with both titles already wrapped up heading to the final regular-season game, Jackson beat the Tigers 24-14.

"We're both having good season's and that adds a little more to it," said Central coach Jerry Dement of the rivalry. "But I don't know if you can add any more to it. There's a lot of things that add to the mix of making this an exciting affair."

For example:

* Central averages 35 points a game; Jackson 34.

* Central leads the area, averaging 398 yards a game; Jackson's second with an average of 364 per game.

* Central leads the area in rushing with 2,149 yards; Jackson's second with 1,905.

* Devree Flint leads the Jackson running game with 1,070 yards and 18 TDs; Central's Justin Blackmon has 971 yards and 12 scores.

* The two quarterbacks are virtually even statistically with the Tigers' Frank McGinty throwing for 596 yards and six TDs; Jackson's Justin Keen has thrown for 579 yards and eight scores.

On paper, this game couldn't be much closer. Fortunately for local football fans, the Indians and Tigers won't be playing on paper, but fighting it out on the football field.

"The game matches up really well," said Jackson coach Carl Gross. "They like to run and we like to run it, and both of us like to pick our opportunities to throw the ball. It ought to be a shootout."

Which is something both teams haven't been involved in much this season. Jackson's has won its games by an average margin of nearly 27 points. The closest any team has gotten to the Indians is 14 points, done by Riverview Gardens and Class 4A-ranked Hannibal.

The Tigers have throttled their opponents by an average margin of nearly 20 points. The closest Tiger victory was a 40-21 win at Belleville (Ill.) Althoff.

"We haven't played an extremely tough schedule, but it's out of our control," said Dement. "Whether it's prepared us (for districts) or not, that's hard to answer."

Gross wasn't bragging about the Indians' schedule either.

"I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings, but I don't think some of the teams we played a year ago were quite as good as we thought they'd be this year," Gross said. "Cape probably does more things well on all phases than anybody else we've faced."

The Tigers have looked impressive in their victories. Besides the explosive offense, seniors Tatum Kitchen and Ben Lowrance have led an attacking defense and Chris Allen has provided excitement with four returns for scores.

"Cape's played well in all phases," said Gross. "When you get ready for them you have to figure out a way to get points on them, then figure out how to stop them and then figure out how to keep them from having a big play in the special teams. It's been a busy week for our coaching staff."

The Indians have their share of big-play performers, but overshadowed by skill players like Flint, Keen and receiver Travis Wilson have been the Jackson linemen. Senior returning starters Justin Petzoldt, J.P. Hall and Kyle Thompson have won most of their battles in the trenches all year.

"(Jackson's) running offense has been excellent and their quarterback (Keen) has been very effective on play-action passes," Dement said. "But I think their biggest strength has been their offensive line. Their line has done a really nice job for them."

Emotions will be running high with so much riding on this game. Whichever team controls those emotions looks to have an edge.

"It wouldn't matter if were both 0-7, when you play this one it's an exciting game," said Gross. "It doesn't matter who's done what ... it depends on who can handle the emotion of the evening. That's what it's going to come down to."

Said Dement: "Football is blocking, tackling and not making too many mistakes. If you can do those three things then you have a chance of being successful."