Central caps district run with lopsided clincher

Winning your district is one thing.

Being primed for a deep playoff run is an entirely different matter.

The Central Tigers, ranked fifth in Class 4, lived up to their district billing with a textbook and clinical rout of visiting Poplar Bluff Thursday night at Houck Stadium.

Merely in need of a victory to clinch its third straight District 1 title, the Tigers completed an impressive run with a 47-7 dismantling of the Mules.

Central, which broke a seven-game losing streak to Poplar Bluff, improved to 9-1 on the season in advancing to Wednesday's sectional contest at Windsor High School in Imperial, Mo. Windsor won District 2 with a 28-14 victory over Farmington.

The Tigers also claimed their first SEMO North conference crown since 1993.

"We've accomplished about everything we can up this point, but we still have a whole lot ahead and we need to get ready for next week," said Central co-captain Darren Neels.

Tiger quarterback Mitch Craft threw three first-half touchdowns as Central all but assured a return to the playoffs by halftime. Rolling up 145 yards of offense in the half while holding Poplar Bluff to 35 yards, the Tigers built a 33-0 halftime lead.

The Tigers scored on all six of their first-half possessions while Poplar Bluff (4-6) committed two turnovers and never crossed midfield. Mule receiver Tony Webb, who came into the game leading the area in receptions and yardage, did not touch the ball in the half.

"It's the same kind of feeling, but we're a little more confident," said Craft, comparing this year's district crown to last season. "Everyone's a year older than last year. We feel we need to keep going one step at a time and take it all the way."

Chris Conrad was one of four Tiger receivers to haul in passes from Craft, who completed 11 of 15 passes for 146 yards.

"I think we've got enough depth and enough skill and talent at every position to take it to the dome and win it," Conrad said.

Monroe Hicks was again in his all-state form, which he's displayed all season but seems to have perfected in the Tigers' district run. Hicks topped the 100-yard rushing mark in all three district victories, including 138 yards on 20 carries against Poplar Bluff.

Hicks scored three touchdowns against Bluff and tackled Mule punter Lucas Edington for a safety in the first quarter, which ended with Central leading 16-0.

Central used its season-long formula of field position, smothering defense and plenty of Hicks.

"This one means a lot, my senior year going out as district champs," Hicks said. "We've been there three years in a row. It's everything you can dream of and now we have to take care of business Wednesday night."

Central did not allow a point through the first three quarters in any of its district games. In those three periods, Central outscored Sikeston, Perryville and Poplar Bluff a combined 93-0.

"We were on a business trip every game," Craft said. "We knew what we had to get done. We couldn't let anyone hang around."

The Tigers didn't waste any time against Poplar Bluff, taking the opening kickoff and driving 72 yards in 13 plays. Central ate up half the quarter and scored on a 14-yard pass from Craft to Mark Dunaway. Colin Schermann, who was perfect on six extra-point attempts and nailed a 29-yard field goal, gave Central a 7-0 lead at the 5:46 mark. Schermann, with 10 field goals on the season, is second all-time on the Missouri single-season list.

Poplar Bluff's first possession ended in Edington bobbling the snap in his end zone and Hicks bringing him down for a 9-0 lead.

"That set a tone," Central coach Lawrence Brookins. "If he ain't one of the best in the state both ways, something's wrong."

The Mules then had to kick to the Tigers, who needed just five plays to up their lead to 16-0. Hicks capped a 41-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown run with 2:24 left in the opening period.

Schermann's field goal upped the lead to 19-0 before Seth Hudson hauled in a pretty 21-yard pass in the back corner of the end zone on the next possession.

Hicks capped the half with a sparkling 38-yard touchdown on a catch and run. Hicks turned the sideline catch into a touchdown by running over a defender around the 10 and diving over the goal line in traffic.

Central lifted its first string after Hicks scored on a 14-yard run on the Tigers' opening possession of the half, which upped the lead to 40-0 and enacted a continuous clock. Sherman Wilkins added a 9-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.

Poplar Bluff avoided the shutout with 16 seconds left when Webb caught a 15-yard scoring pass from Mark Gum.

The Tigers finished with 333 yards of offense and the Mules had 151. Central's Kenneth Lowe intercepted two passes.