Experienced offensive line a key for Central

To run the football effectively, a nimble halfback is important, but a capable offensive line is essential.

Welcome to Cape Central football.

"They've been together for awhile," Norman said of his experienced offensive line, which returns five solid starters from last year's team which defied the odds and defeated Sikeston 17-14 in a Class 4 district semifinal last year before falling 28-20 to Hillsboro in a Class 4 district final. "They've been in the wars, so to speak."

Norman watched a team that last season stumbled out of the blocks, losing six of eight games, grow into a squad that won three of its final four games and could make some serious noise not only in the SEMO Conference but also come playoff time in 2013.

Most of those expectations come down to the Tigers' offensive line, which numbers four returning starters and a fifth, Caleb Jones, who saw plenty of action for last year's squad that finished 5-7.

Individually, each player knows his job and takes it seriously. Collectively, well, they're a handful.

"Just their work ethic in the weight room," Norman said about the seriousness his charges displayed over the summer. "I can trust them to be leaders and go to them when I need them."

That line enabled the Tigers to boast a pair of 1,000-yard rushers last season in Chris Martin and Jacob Campbell, and neither Norman nor anyone else familiar with Central football expects any dropoff in production.

Where to start? How about at center, where the Tigers feature third-year starter Scottie Thomas, an All-SEMO Conference selection from last year who is undoubtably the leader of the Tigers' experienced offensive line.

"Any characteristic of a leader, he's got them," Norman said of his 5-foot-11, 235-pound senior center. "His dedication, his consistency, his hard work. ... And he's great in the classroom and off the field.

"The kids listen to him because of those reasons. He walks the walk."

Thomas is quiet and soft-spoken, except when he needs to be -- which is usually on the field, in the heat of battle.

"He has a loud, strong voice," said fellow senior Caleb Jones, the Tigers' left tackle who stands 6-foot and weighs 275 pounds. "He knows the plays for every lineman. We have a lot of confidence in him. He's the brains of the offensive line."

Left guard Zach Stagner echoed those sentiments.

"He's a really good leader," Stagner, a 6-1, 225-pound senior, said. "He's been starting for three years, and he's done a really great job. He knows all the assignments. He's really the center-point for our team."

It's one thing to simply do your job. It's another thing to make sure your linemates are doing theirs. That's something Thomas takes to heart.

"Scottie's pretty much the backbone of our [offensive] line," said right guard Lorenzen Brookins, a 6-1, 205-pound senior who is a second-year starter. "He's the leader on our offensive line. He's helped me become more confident in my blocking."

Thomas deflects a lot of his leadership accolades to his fellow linemates -- something typical of a quiet-yet-stern leader.

"Sometimes I do," Thomas said of becoming more vocal on the field. "But we have a lot of leadership out here. [His fellow linemen] are all very experienced. I just try to read what the others are thinking."

It's up to Thomas to make any changes in the blocking assignments once the Tigers reach the line of scrimmage, but he's perfectly comfortable letting his fellow linemates chime in once they assume their stance.

That's something that comes with playing alongside the same people throughout their junior high years and into varsity competition.

"We've played together on the same field for five years now," Thomas said. "We hang around together. We know what the other guy is thinking."

"Our experience will help us know what we need to do," said right tackle Martez Carter, a 5-11, 270-pound senior. "We share that leadership role, we do what we can. But Scottie takes a big leadership role with us."

Just don't think for a moment that Thomas doesn't take his leadership role lightly.

"I'm confident with it," he said of being a leader on the field. "If I'm out there fighting with my teammates, then I'm going to do everything I can for them. They're my family, and I can't let them down."

Central has holes to fill on offense. Last season, Martin rushed for 1,155 yards and scored 13 touchdowns, while Campbell rushed for 1,075 yards and 10 touchdowns despite missing several games due to injury.

Both have graduated, as did leading receiver Garan Evans, leaving a significant void.

But that's not to say Central doesn't have horses to fill the stable.

Senior quarterback Dennis Vinson returns for his second full season behind center, giving the Tigers a veteran presence at a key position.

Senior Mikey Jones is the only returning back with varsity experience, having rushed for 224 yards last year, but the Tigers boast several young players -- including Braion Owens, Jalen Reddin and Al Young -- ready to step in and contribute.

Still, the Tigers likely will go only as far as their offensive line takes them. Norman hopes that experience all along the line will help reverse the pattern of five losses of eight points or fewer from a year ago.

Those close losses last year -- especially to Hillsboro in the district championship game -- eat at the Tigers.

Particularly Thomas.

"Last year we got that first taste in our mouth," Thomas said of winning in the playoffs. "But when you don't put it together for four quarters, then you know there's something more you can do.

"Last year left a bad taste in our mouths. And we want to make up for it this year."