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SportsNovember 2, 2024

The Cape Central Tigers dominated Webster Groves 42-7 in the Class 5 District 1 quarterfinals on Friday behind a powerful run game and physical defense, setting the stage for a semifinal clash against Poplar Bluff.

Kaiden Karper
Cape Central senior Zai'Aire Thomas coasts down the sideline against the Webster Groves defense in the Class 5 District 1 quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 1. The Tigers defeated the road Statesmen 42-7.
Cape Central senior Zai'Aire Thomas coasts down the sideline against the Webster Groves defense in the Class 5 District 1 quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 1. The Tigers defeated the road Statesmen 42-7.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
The Cape Central cheerleaders during the district playoff game against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.
The Cape Central cheerleaders during the district playoff game against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central senior Cole Geiser during the pregame walkout against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central senior Cole Geiser during the pregame walkout against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central defensive tackle Demarion Nunley during the pregame against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central defensive tackle Demarion Nunley during the pregame against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central quarterback Deklin Pittman during pregame warmups against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central quarterback Deklin Pittman during pregame warmups against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central assistant coach Stephen Hemby talks to his offensive line during the pregame huddle against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central assistant coach Stephen Hemby talks to his offensive line during the pregame huddle against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central senior Cartez Hopkins celebrates with his teammates after a tackle for loss against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central senior Cartez Hopkins celebrates with his teammates after a tackle for loss against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central defensive back Martavion Robinson against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central defensive back Martavion Robinson against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central running back Zai'Aire Thomas bounces past a Webster Groves defender on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central running back Zai'Aire Thomas bounces past a Webster Groves defender on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central kicker Joey Charlton kicks the PAT against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central kicker Joey Charlton kicks the PAT against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central senior Gavin Pittman shows blitz against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central senior Gavin Pittman shows blitz against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Webster Groves punts the ball away against Cape Central late in the first half on Friday, Nov. 1.
Webster Groves punts the ball away against Cape Central late in the first half on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central wide receiver Paul Tran scores against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central wide receiver Paul Tran scores against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central defensive back Malachi Johnson breaks up a Webster Groves pass on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central defensive back Malachi Johnson breaks up a Webster Groves pass on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central senior Zai'Aire Thomas sprints down the sideline against Webster Groves in the Class 5 District 1 quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central senior Zai'Aire Thomas sprints down the sideline against Webster Groves in the Class 5 District 1 quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 1. Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central wide receiver Carter Armstrong runs his route against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1. Armstrong caught a 91-yard touchdown late in the game.
Cape Central wide receiver Carter Armstrong runs his route against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1. Armstrong caught a 91-yard touchdown late in the game.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central linebacker Jonathan Williams tackles the Webster Groves ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central linebacker Jonathan Williams tackles the Webster Groves ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central junior Breijon Clemons eyes up the Webster Groves wide receiver on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central junior Breijon Clemons eyes up the Webster Groves wide receiver on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central quarterback Deklin Pittman awaits the snap beside running back Torrance Murray on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central quarterback Deklin Pittman awaits the snap beside running back Torrance Murray on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
The Cape Central coaching staff calls the play from the sideline against Webster Grove on Friday, Nov. 1.
The Cape Central coaching staff calls the play from the sideline against Webster Grove on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central linebacker Shawn Shelton following a tackle against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central linebacker Shawn Shelton following a tackle against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central senior Cole Geiser, right, celebrates with teammate Landrick McFerren following a stop against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central senior Cole Geiser, right, celebrates with teammate Landrick McFerren following a stop against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central senior Matayo Rivers deflects a pass against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central senior Matayo Rivers deflects a pass against Webster Groves on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com
Cape Central head coach Kent Gibbs talks to his team following a 42-7 victory over Webster Groves in the 2024 Class 5 District 1 quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 1.
Cape Central head coach Kent Gibbs talks to his team following a 42-7 victory over Webster Groves in the 2024 Class 5 District 1 quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 1.Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com

Cape Central’s first touchdown Friday night came early in the first quarter on a Torrance Murray two-yard plunge at the goal line.

It was worth six points. Maybe some style points, as well.

The Cape Central Tigers had plenty of both during their dominant 42-7 rout of Webster Groves in the Class 5 District 1 quarterfinals at Tigers Stadium.

Going old school against heavy underdogs, Cape Central stuck to its bread and butter and relied on stifling defensive play and a bruising run game led by Murray and Zai’Aire Thomas to wear down the Statesmen early and often in its playoff opener.

Thomas, who entered the night averaging 12.9 yards per carry, eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark on the season after putting up 214 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Murray finished with 86 rushing yards and a touchdown of his own. Senior quarterback Deklin Pittman threw for 130 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 50 more.

The 35-point win was the third-largest margin of victory for the program in a playoff game under head coach Kent Gibbs.

“We needed to handle adversity when it happened, and we did that,” Gibbs said. “We got a couple of really good stops defensively, and then we needed to finish. And we did that tonight, too. We had a lot of self-inflicted wounds that we’ve got to take care of. Some what I would call ‘dumb penalties’ that we've got to get rid of. But man, you’ve got to like the aggression of our defense and you’ve got to like how our offense performed. We did a great job blocking up front. Just really pleased with the effort.”

This one was well decided before halftime. Thomas ran for touchdowns of 2, 15 and 78 yards in the game and defensive back Cole Geiser picked off Webster Groves quarterback Will Travers at midfield to set up a late score as the Tigers built a 28-7 lead at the break.

The play of the game came in the second half when Pittman unloaded a deep ball to senior wide receiver Carter Armstrong, who beat the Statesmen cornerback in man coverage and dashed into the end zone for a 91-yard touchdown.

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“He (cornerback) was just sitting with his feet in the mud,” Armstrong said. “So, I just went up to him and gave him a quick outstep. He breaks on it and then I just bursted out, caught it and kept running.

“I’ve been waiting all year for this because I feel like we underutilize our passing game sometimes and you saw what happened tonight when we use it a lot more. We put up a lot of points with it.”

Armstrong and senior Paul Tran, who caught a 20-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, were the Tigers’ leading receivers on the night.

Cape Central’s defense rattled Travers and Co. for the majority of the game. Along with a handful of turnovers, Webster Groves reached the red zone four times throughout the night and had just seven points to show for it.

Senior safety Gavin Pittman, who entered the game with a team-high 88 tackles, notched a big tackle-for-loss on fourth-and-2 at the Cape Central 12-yard line in the third quarter to force a turnover on downs. Cornerback Malachi Johnson got an interception at the Cape 10-yard line midway through the second half to also keep the Tigers in the clear.

“I tell you what, when you play physical defense, it just sets the tone for you, and that's what we’ve been doing,” Gibbs said. “Obviously, tonight we did that. They had a lot of minus-yardage plays. Gave up a couple early pass completions, but at the end of the day, I think we had two goal-line stands where we kept them out of the end zone. So, you’ve got to be proud. They just answered the bell.”

Now it’s all about rinse and repeat moving forward.

“We like we tell our kids, ‘It’s 0-0 as far as the season is concerned,’” Gibbs said. “It’s win or go home. Watching Bluff, they're a much-improved football team and we know we'll have our work cut out for us.”

Cape Central will look to carry the momentum over to its District 1 semifinal matchup against Poplar Bluff on Friday night at Tigers Stadium. The Tigers throttled the Mules 49-6 during the regular season.

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