COVER STORY: DEREKE TIPLER; TIPLER GETS THE JOB DONE

When it's a tie game with only seconds left in the fourth quarter and you need a basket, Derek Tipler is the guy you want with the ball in his hands.

When it's third-and-long and you need a first down, or if you're trailing by seven with under a minute left in regulation -- Dereke Tipler is the guy you get the ball to.

Regardless of the sport, he gets the job done.

"I really don't try to run over anybody," said Tipler of his running style. "I try to put moves on defenders -- kind of like Marshall Faulk. I block all the fans and everything else out and just focus on the game. I learned a lot from (former NMCC back) Ricky Smith."

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound slasher possesses above average speed, strength and agility. And just like his ability to hit the game-winning shot on the basketball court, Tipler's ability to break the big play on the gridiron is what makes NMCC's football team so dangerous this year.

"Derek is a tremendous athlete," said NMCC coach Steve Rogers. "We expect big things out of him, and I think he expects big things out of himself. He's going to be an important part of our offense."

Last season, Tipler improved week after week, rushing for 1,174 yards with an impressive average of 11.6 yards per carry. He was the SEMO Central Conference scoring champion and was named second-team All-State after guiding the Eagles to a 9-1 record.

Modestly, Tipler credits his success to his teammates.

"My fullback Lionel Smith would tell me to just follow him," he explained. "I got a lot of yards off that alone. The offensive line worked really hard, and the receivers would stay with their blocks, even though they weren't in the play. It made things a lot easier for me."

But Tipler's sweet junior year ended up being bittersweet. After a perfect regular season, Tipler and NMCC traveled to Festus for the 3A sectional.

The heavily favored Eagles were upset 30-28, ending all hopes for a team many expected to challenge for a state championship. Trailing by two points in the final minute of regulation, NMCC failed to convert on 4th-and-goal.

Tipler did more than his part, rushing for 201 yards with three touchdowns. But in that final drive he touched the ball twice and failed to gain any yards.

"After the game, I kept thinking about those two plays," said Tipler. "I really think I could've done more. The whole team could've done more. We had enough talent to go to state last year, but I don't think we used it all. We had receivers that were better than good, but we got conservative. After going undefeated in the regular season, everybody was expecting big things out of us. Getting put out in the first round was really messed up. We were the better team."

The loss to Festus now serves as motivation for Tipler and the rest of his highly touted teammates. Since the Eagles lost just three starters to graduation, expectations are sky-high for the 2001 season.

"With the talent we return, I think we can be better than last year," said Tipler. "I expect more out of my teammates and more out of myself. As a team, we're hungrier after getting our hearts broken last year."

We're going to be ready to play this year. I think we can go all the way, or at least get there. Anything short of that would be a disappointment to me."

While Tipler has established himself as one of the area's top football players, basketball is his strong suit. Last season he was the best player on NMCC's state championship team, earning first-team All-State honors.

But while many players of his caliber opt to focus strictly on basketball, Tipler continues to risk injury by playing football.

"I like basketball a little more, but I love playing football," said Tipler. "I've been playing it all my life. If I couldn't help the team I probably wouldn't play. But I think I can, and I don't want to disappoint my teammates.

"If I was offered a sweet (college) deal in football, I would take it."

If all goes as planned, Tipler may no longer be known as the basketball player that also plays football. It might be the other way around.

"I want to be remembered as a hard worker that never quit," said Tipler. "I want to be remembered as a leader."

If anything, he will be remembered as a winner.