CAPE CENTRAL FOCUSES ON FINISHING 1995 FOOTBALL SEASON WITH A BANG

This week, the focus isn't on a district championship.

It's more basic than that.

"We're just wanting to win our last two ballgames," said Cape Girardeau Central football coach Jerry Dement. "We'd like to go out of here with a couple of wins, and that's our focus. Nobody's put their heads down yet; they're still battling."

The Tigers' next battle is at 7:30 tonight when Oakville visits Houck Stadium.

The game is the second for both in the three-week Class 5A District 1 playoffs. Since both teams are 0-1 in the chase, neither is looking at a district championship as prime motivation.

Just winning at least one more game would add a boost to Central (3-5) or Oakville (1-7).

"We've had a tough season and a lot of adversity," Dement said. "We still have a chance to win two more games, though. We're still having good practices; I'm proud of them for sticking with it."

Central looks to get its offense back on track after struggling against a swarming Sikeston defense last week. Oakville, meanwhile, found its way to 150 yards against Poplar Bluff, but gave up 422.

"We go back and forth on defense," said Oakville coach Bob Robidoux. "We look good on defense in one game, but our offense shuts down. Then in other games, it's just the opposite.

"To win, it all starts with defense. There's really been just one game this year where we've played solid defense. Against a team like Cape, we have to play another game like that."

Oakville, a St. Louis school, has played a tough Suburban South league schedule with little speed. The team makes up for it in size, which helped in its 6-0 win over Eureka in Week 5.

"We're as big as we've ever been," said Robidoux, in his 23rd year at the school. "But we just don't have speed, and in St. Louis, we face quickness every week."

Senior fullback Matt Cerecelius, 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, leads the team with 274 rushing yards; Jason Gebert has just over 200.

"We don't have a lot in the way of offensive yards," Robidoux said. "We've had some games where we were really shut down."

Quarterback Ken Heineman is 32-of-89 for 384 yards.

Central, meanwhile, continues to battle injuries. Out of today's lineup include key starters Josh Waller, Shane Halter and Justin Blackmon.

Chip Sepulvado will take Blackmon's place in the backfield, with Bennie Smith serving as backup.

"We're down to our fourth tailback, if that tells you what kind of season we've had," Dement said. "We're not at full strength, but we match up in a lot of areas with Oakville."

Central could still be a spoiler in the district race, but many variables keep the picture clouded.

"If we win it, it has to come to us," Dement said. "We don't really control our destiny right now. We have to win and hope for the best."

The Tigers finish the regular season next Friday night when they travel to Poplar Bluff.

Cape Central vs. Oakville

7:30 p.m. at Houck Stadium

* COACHES: Central's Jerry Dement, third year (13-15 here); Oakville's Bob Robideaux, 23rd year.

* LAST WEEK: Central (3-5) lost 29-10 to Sikeston; Oakville (1-7) lost 41-12 to Poplar Bluff.

* LAST YEAR: Oakville, 41-6.

* THE SERIES: Oakville leads 2-1.

* KEY PLAYERS: Cape Central's Bobby Brune (QB), Justin Blackmon (RB); Oakville's Matt Crecelius (FB), Ken Heinemann (QB).

* NOTEWORTHY: Oakville is a far cry from its team that won the district two out of the past three years, and while the team is far from Sikeston's caliber, but don't take the 1-7 record lightly -- the Tigers have plenty of size. Central, meanwhile, was swarmed by Sikeston's defense last week and held to 47 rushing yards; Oakville's defense could be a little more gaping.