HIGH SCHOOL: CAPE CENTRAL LICKS WOUNDS AFTER 12-7 LOSS TO GRAVES CO.

As if Cape Central's 12-7 loss on Friday night wasn't difficult enough to take, two of the Tigers' best athletes left the game due to injuries.

On Saturday, O.J. Turner's neck strain was feeling better and he should be ready for Friday's game with Jackson. Turner, a senior, is one of the top linebackers and fullbacks in the area.

Justin Welker's ankle was swollen Saturday and he was to have X-rays taken. Welker, a senior defensive end/tight end who has started every game since his sophomore year, probably won't be able to play Friday.

Cape Central's backup middle linebacker Justin Wells broke two ribs and he will not be available either.

St. Vincent or St. Win-cent?

The Indians, the second-ranked team in Class 1A, improved to 5-0 with a 31-15 win over St. Pius in a game that coach Keith Winkler said was the best his team has played this year.

"I thought we played with intensity for 48 minutes," Winkler said. "We controlled the offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage. They were much bigger, but it didn't seem to matter because we gave our running backs some big holes all night."

St. Vincent rushed the ball for 237 yards, led by Mark Gotto who ran 19 times for 167 yards and a touchdown.

Adam Bockman scored two touchdowns, one rushing and another on a 55-yard pass from Jonathan Paulus. Paulus completed only two passes in seven attempts, but both of his completions went for touchdowns.

Lucas Heberlie scored St. Vincent's other touchdown.

Standout kicker Derek Kutz made a 39-yard field goal. The two-time all-stater is 7-for-7 in field goal attempts this season and is also perfect in extra-point attempts.

As the momentum turns

Fredericktown was on the wrong end of a 14-point swing late in the second quarter and that proved to be too much to overcome in a 19-7 loss to Herculaneum.

Fredericktown, ahead 7-0 after a 75-yard touchdown pass from Chris Wood to Clay Hendrix in the first quarter, had the ball on the Herculaneum 7-yard line with about 1:30 left in the first half. But Herculaneum intercepted a pass and tied the game up on a touchdown pass with no time on the clock.

Fredericktown (3-2) also had a kickoff return for a touchdown called back on a block below the waist.

"We played well," said Fredericktown coach Kent Gibbs. "We were more aggressive in play calling and we missed on three long pass plays where we had receivers wide open that could've been touchdowns. We had success between the 20s but we couldn't get it in the end zone. And we made two or three mistakes that we just couldn't overcome against a team like that."

Pirates struggle

Mike Schmidt rushed for 71 yards on 11 carries, but it wasn't enough as the Perryville Pirates dropped to 0-5 with a 44-7 loss to North County Friday night.

Perryville quarterback Tyler Abernathy completed 2-of-3 passes for just 5 yards and threw an interception.

Jesse Whistler scored Perryville's only touchdown from 1-yard out.

ND soccer ranked

Notre Dame's soccer team is ranked eighth in the latest Missouri State High School Soccer Coaches Association poll in Class 1A-3A.

The Bulldogs (10-3-1) legitimized their ranking Saturday after they knocked off 12th-ranked Westminster 3-1.

"It's hard to rate teams from around the state," said Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn. "There aren't that many 1A-3A teams in this part of the state, but it's an honor."

Sikest_n vs. P_plar Bluff

Where did the "O"go?

Sikeston held the explosive Poplar Bluff Mules to just one touchdown, but the Bulldogs couldn't muster much offense either as Poplar Bluff edged Sikeston 6-3.

All-state candidate Stan Revelle completed 12 of 21 passes for 112 yards and was intercepted twice.

Poplar Bluff's only score came on a 94-yard kick return by Maurice Moss.

Poplar Bluff (4-1) outgained Sikeston (2-3) 209-169.