HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: TIGERS GOOSE EGG DISTRICT 1

It wasn't a pretty game.

Unless you think hard hits, short runs and very little offense is pretty.

Or unless you think grown men pushed to tears of joy is pretty. Or mud-plastered, exhausted high school players so overwhelmed with emotion they can't talk.

If that's the case, there was nothing more beautiful. Heavenly, even.

Cape Central, a year after going 1-9, officially came full circle Thursday night as the visiting Tigers (6-4) gutted out a 17-0 win over sixth-ranked Farmington to claim the Class 4A, District 1 title.

It was the fourth straight shut out for Central and its fifth overall. The Tigers have yet to allow a point to a Class 4A Missouri team.

"This is the best feeling I've had in my whole life," said Cape Central cornerback Ricky Ogles, who came up with two huge interceptions. "Everybody just played great, played the game of their life."

Though the Tigers pitched the shutout, it wasn't as if the Knights (8-2) didn't have their shots at putting points on the board.

Farmington, trailing 10-0 at the time, had the ball in Central's red zone four times in the final seven minutes of the game, but each time the Tiger defense responded.

The first time, linebacker Jeremiah Dukes deflected a pass. The second time, Marland Heard deflected a pass, the third time Ogles intercepted a pass and the fourth time -- with just a few seconds remaining -- sophomore safety Monroe Hicks intercepted a pass and returned it 99 yards for a score.

When the 99 yards of green opened in front of him, "It was like a miracle," Hicks said, "like heaven was shining on me right then."

"Words can't describe it," said defensive tackle Justin Wells. "We didn't win one game in eighth or ninth grade. We won one game last year. Now we're district champs. It's a Cinderella story and it's not done yet."

Said Central coach Lawrence Brookins, "I'm happy for all the seniors and all the other kids who stuck it out through the 1-9 season, to firing the captains and all that bad stuff. I'm just happy that they're able to see the fruits of their labor."

Cape Central got out to a 7-0 lead thanks to Ogles' first interception which set up the Tigers at Farmington's 17-yard line.

"We knew when their tight end released, to look for him going outside," said Ogles. "The coaches just put us in the right position. We worked on that play so many times in practice, it was just second nature."

"Ricky had the best game of his career," said Brookins. "This will be one he'll be telling his grandkids about."

Fullback O.J. Turner eventually punched it in from the 1 to put Central up with 6:09 to go in the second quarter.

Brian Emmendorfer, who missed a 43-yard field goal in the first quarter, put Central ahead 10-0 just before halftime with a 47-yard boot. Emmendorfer later missed a 45-yarder.

But the story was defense. On both sides.

Central held Farmington's rushing attack to just 105 yards on the night. Farmington eventually moved the ball in the fourth quarter by throwing the ball.

The Tigers, meanwhile, managed just 99 rushing yards and 59 passing yards. Seventeen of those passing yards came on a botched reverse play where Zac Fidler had nowhere to run but somehow noticed that Turner was wide open down field.

THURSDAY'S RESULTS

Cape Central 17, at Farmington 0

Valle 43, at Chaffee 14

Sikeston 24, Perryville 7

Tonight's Games

(7:30 p.m. kickoffs)

Jackson at Poplar Bluff

Scott City at Charleston

Hayti at St. Vincent

Fredericktown at New Madrid

East Prairie at Malden

Portageville at Caruthersville

Kennett at Dexter