Central suffers 29-7 home loss to Parkway N.

Cape Girardeau Central High School football coach Lawrence Brookins realizes some folks might think he's a little crazy.

But Brookins expressed plenty of optimism Friday night -- even though he had just seen his Tigers suffer a season-opening loss for the third consecutive year.

Parkway North came into Houck Stadium and posted a relatively comfortable 29-7 victory, yet Brookins believes there just might be plenty of light at the end of the tunnel for the youthful Tigers.

"I'm disappointed with the loss, but as young as we are, I saw some good things. We have a chance to get better," Brookins said. "This is going to sound silly, but I'm excited. I can't wait to get to practice Monday.

"We have to be patient. But there are some things there. I think we'll win some games."

At least the Tigers were much more competitive in this season opener than during first games in the previous two years, when Eureka mauled Central by a combined score of 80-0.

Brookins hopes that is perhaps a good sign as the Tigers attempt to bounce back from two consecutive losing records (3-7 last year and 2-8 in 2004) following a run of four straight district titles.

Central, trailing 10-0 at halftime, was still behind by that score midway through the third quarter and the Tigers appeared poised to make a real game of things as their best offensive drive to that point reached the Parkway North 34-yard line.

But Reed Eason intercepted a Blake Slattery pass and returned it 54 yards to the Central 14. The Vikings scored three plays later to go up 16-0 and regain control.

"That was kind of a backbreaker," Brookins said.

It was 22-0 before Central finally got on the scoreboard as backup quarterback Garrett Stevens hit sophomore wide receiver George Hamilton with a 77-yard touchdown pass with 3:32 left in the fourth quarter.

Hamilton made the catch in stride behind the defense at his own 45 and waltzed to the end zone. Tyler McNabb added the extra point.

"George is young, but he's a very athletic kid. He has big-play ability," Brookins said.

Parkway North dominated the first half, outgaining Central in total offense 223 to 75, but the Tigers managed to trail by just 10 points.

Central's offense, primarily its passing game, got untracked in the second half. The Tigers finished with 255 yards -- 220 coming through the air -- while the Vikings totaled 367 yards, with 285 on the ground.

Slattery completed 14 of 21 passes for 127 yards, with two interceptions. Stevens was three of four for 93 yards.

Mike Bunton rushed for 106 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns for the Vikings.

"We'll keep working hard and get better," Brookins said.

Parkway North 29, Central 7

P. North 7 3 6 13 -- 29

Central 0 0 0 7 -- 7

First Quarter

P --Reed Eason 18 pass from Tommy Saey (Tony Wright kick)

Second Quarter

P -- Wright 40 FG

Third Quarter

P -- Mike Bunton 1 run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

P -- Bunton 5 run (kick failed)

C -- George Hamilton 77 pass from Garrett Stevens (Tyler McNabb kick)

P -- Chuck Gray 36 run (Wright kick)

PN Central

First downs 18 11

Rushes-yards 46-285 22-35

Passing yards 82 220

Passes 6-8-0 17-25-2

Punts 3-36 5-31.2

Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0

Penalties-Yards 6-53 9-55

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Parkway North, Bunton 17-106, Jacob McKinley 14-95, Gray 11-73, Saey 3-6, Randy Wiley 1-5. Central, Hykeem Hammonds 10-49, Tyler Terry 1-12, Joe Uhls 1-minus 1, Blake Slattery 7-minus 11, Stevens 2-minus 12, team 1-minus 2.

PASSING -- Parkway North, Saey 6-8-0-82. Central, Slattery 14-21-2-127, Stevens 3-4-0-93.

RECEIVING -- Parkway North, Eason 2-38, Bunton 2-28, Gray 1-11, Craig Lindsay 1-5. Central, Hamilton 4-98, Hammonds 4-34, Eric Ennis 3-18, Terry 2-37, Derek Walker 2-12, McNabb 1-22, Uhls 1-minus 1.