Central survives sectional in 2OT

It's not often that a football team is able to win a game when the opposing quarterback compiles the outrageous figure of 544 total yards worth of offense.

But Wednesday night's Class 4A sectional game at Houck Stadium between Cape Girardeau Central and visiting North County was not your typical contest.

A classic would be more like it. The squads hooked up in a game for the ages, with Central finally squeezing out an unbelievable 53-52 victory in two overtimes.

The Tigers will carry a 7-4 record into another home playoff game, Monday night against 11-0 Washington. The Raiders end their season at 8-3 -- but definitely have nothing to hang their heads about, as Central coach Lawrence Brookins was quick to point out.

"It's definitely a shame either team had to lose this game," said Brookins after the contest that took approximately three hours and 30 minutes to play. "It was an incredible game."

North County quarterback Reggie AuBuchon had the most incredible performance of all. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior with extremely quick feet and a pinpoint accurate arm burned the Tigers all night, to the tune of 204 yards rushing on 19 carries and 340 yards passing, on 20 completions in 34 attempts.

AuBuchon threw for four touchdowns and ran for three more. Three of the passing TDs went to Alex Winters, who had 10 receptions for 171 yards.

"Their quarterback is a stud and they have some stud receivers. They're a good team," Brookins said.

Said Central defensive coordinator Bobby Haggerty, shaking his head as he smiled, "I never thought I'd be happy to see 52 points on the board."

Central had a pretty good quarterback of its own Wednesday night. Sophomore Mitch Craft completed 21 of 30 passes for 172 yards and he also rushed for 118 yards on 25 carries and scored three touchdowns.

Marcus Klund and Monroe Hicks each scored a pair of touchdowns for the Tigers. Klund rushed for 73 yards and also caught six passes. Hicks had 68 yards rushing and caught four passes.

Another big factor was Central kicker Chris Jones, who was perfect on six extra-point attempts, including the ultimate game-winner, and he also converted a tying 32-yard field goal in the late going.

The Tigers played from behind virtually the entire night after AuBuchon scored on a 60-yard run on the game's very first play.

North County soon led 12-0. Central was able to rally for a 22-18 lead in the second quarter, but the Raiders scored 14 points over the final 2:55 of the opening half to go ahead 32-22 at the intermission.

The Raiders led 39-29 midway through the third quarter when Central's defense finally began to stiffen just enough as the Tigers held the Raiders off the board for the remainder of regulation.

Craft's 2-yard run with 11:07 left in the fourth quarter pulled Central to within 39-36. Then Jones booted a 32-yard field goal with 3:49 remaining for a 39-39 tie.

After Central's 315-pound defensive lineman Chris Smith intercepted a tipped pass and returned it 20 yards to the North County 14, the Tigers had a golden opportunity to go ahead. But they could not move the ball and Jones was just wide on a 34-yard field-goal try with 1:30 remaining.

North County quickly advanced to near the Cape 25 in the closing seconds, but Chris Conrad recovered an AuBuchon fumble. After Craft had a pass intercepted, the Raiders had one more opportunity in regulation but a desperation heave was intercepted by Klund near the goal line.

It was on to overtime, where each team gets equal possessions from the opposing 25-yard line and they play until the tie is broken.

Central was on offense first in the opening overtime period. Hicks scored from 3 yards out and Jones converted to make it 46-39.

North County answered on a 4-yard AuBuchon run and sophomore Mitch Viner, who had struggled on conversions, booted the PAT for a 46-46 tie and another extra period.

This time the Raiders went on offense first and they quickly scored on a 17-yard pass from AuBuchon to Winters. But Viner's PAT hit the right upright and went wide, leaving the door open for the Tigers at 52-46.

Central barged through, scoring on a 1-yard sneak by Craft to tie things. Jones then calmly booted the PAT to send all the Tigers and their fans into delirium.

"It was exciting," said Craft. "Their quarterback was really good but we knew we could get it done. And when their kicker missed that last extra point, we felt good because we have such a good kicker."

On a down note for the Tigers, senior linebacker Kyle Duncan suffered a broken leg in the final seconds of regulation. He had to be carted off on a stretcher.

"That's really about the only negative to tonight," Brookins said.