HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: VICTORIES CREATE DISTRICT SHOWDOWNS; TIGER 'D' SHUTS OUT PERRYVILLE

Defense and Brian Emmendorfer stole the show Friday night as Cape Girardeau Central High School's football team set up next week's anticipated district showdown with Farmington.

The Tigers, although appearing less than focused, still had little trouble in disposing of visiting Perryville 20-0 at Houck Stadium as Central posted its third consecutive shutout.

And late in the contest, with the Tigers in control at 17-0, Emmendorfer drew probably the loudest cheers of the evening when he booted a 57-yard field goal to provide the game's final points.

All in all, it was a good night for the Tigers, who improved to 5-4 overall and 2-0 in Class 4A, District 1 play. The district title and state playoff berth will be decided Thursday when Central visits Farmington, also 2-0 in the district.

"It wasn't very pretty, but it was a win," said Central coach Lawrence Brookins. "To be somewhat disappointed in a win shows you how far we've come in one season."

Indeed, a year ago the Tigers -- who suffered through a 1-9 season in 1999 -- would have been grateful for a performance like Friday's.

"We were looking ahead," admitted Central's standout fullback/linebacker O.J. Turner. "A lot of people weren't focused."

Still, the defense was focused enough to pitch another shutout and hold the struggling Pirates (1-8 overall, 0-2 district) to just 48 total yards and one first down, that coming late in the third quarter.

"Another shutout was one of our goals," said Turner, who rushed for 115 yards on just nine carries and also dished out plenty of punishment on defense.

As for Emmendorfer, he brought the crowd to its feet with his 57-yard boot that will rank as the third-longest field goal in state history.

A year ago, Emmendorfer nailed a 58-yarder for the second-longest field goal ever by a Missouri prep player.

"I think it cleared by about three yards," said a smiling Emmendorfer of his latest bomb. "I was excited to get the chance to kick it."

While totally dominating the statistical departments, the Tigers had trouble shaking the Pirates. Part of it was because of Central's mistakes -- the Tigers had two first-half turnovers after they had driven deep into Perryville territory -- and part of it was because the Pirates were determined not to get blown out like they have been in quite a few games this year.

"I thought we played extremely hard," said Perryville coach Lance Bell. "I was proud of them. Cape is much better than what they showed on the field tonight, but that was probably our best defensive game of the season."

The only scoring of the first half came with 4:05 left in the opening period as quarterback T.J. Erlacker hit Zac Fidler with a 10-yard touchdown pass. Emmendorfer tacked on the extra point and the contest stood 7-0 at the intermission.

Emmendorfer's 31-yard field goal with 7:39 left in the third quarter made it 10-0.

Fidler then basically iced the victory when he intercepted a pass by Perryville sophomore quarterback Cody Klein and raced 54 yards for a touchdown with 3:30 remaining in the third period. Emmendorfer's PAT made it 17-0.

Emmendorfer's 57-yarder with 5:01 left in the game was the only scoring of the fourth quarter.

Central finished with 302 yards of offense, including 190 on the ground. Sophomore Monroe Hicks added 75 yards on 15 carries. Leading rusher Jamelle Austin, who did not start because of a concussion suffered during the week, had 26 yards on just two carries before suffering a leg injury early in the third quarter, but Brookins said he should be fine.

Erlacker completed 14 of 22 passes for 112 yards. J.P. Limbaugh had seven receptions.

Perryville, limited to 37 yards rushing and 11 passing, was in Central territory only once and that was early in the game after the Pirates recovered a fumbled punt at the Tigers' 35. But Perryville could not move the ball.