RUNNING THROUGH ADVERSITY; CAPE CENTRAL'S BLACKMON DEALS WITH FAMILY TRAGEDY

Judging by his statistics, no one would ever guess the tough season Cape Central tailback Justin Blackmon is having.

Big gains have been nothing new to Blackmon as he's eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the second season in a row. But just before the 1997 season got started, Blackmon -- and his family -- were thrown for a terrible loss.

Just a few days after Central's public scrimmage at Houck Field in late August, Blackmon's mother, Mary, suffered a severe brain aneurysm. Only 38 years old, she's been hospitalized since the event which required six hours of brain surgery, leaving Justin and his brothers -- Toby, 21 and Ishmael, 15 -- to take care of themselves.

"It's been real hard, but we've been holding up," Justin said. "We've been doing a lot things on our own while she's going through rehabilitation. It will be a while before she's recovered."

Coming off a 1,000-yard season last year, Justin said the thought of not playing his senior year did cross his mind.

"We were going back and forth to Barnes Hospital in St. Louis every day," Justin said. "I wanted to play football, but my mom came first."

Justin, a two-year starter for the Tigers, was looking forward to another successful football season after last year's 12-touchdown, 1,150-yard performance. Despite his mother's health problems, Justin has totaled 1,137 yards and 13 TDs entering the Tigers' final game Thursday against Sikeston at Houck Field.

According to former Central coach Gary Lynch, Justin's back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons are the first for a Tiger running back since Bill Bird in the 1981-82 seasons.

"It made me play harder," Justin said. "Me and mom have a real good relationship."

The toughest part for Justin has been not being able to talk with his mother.

"She has a (tube) in her throat," he said. "She understands when you talk to her and can squeeze your hand and give other signs, but she can't talk."

Despite all Justin has gone through, Central coach Jerry Dement has been pleased with how the Central senior has handled himself in his final season.

"Justin's stayed real focused this year, considering all the distractions," Dement said. "Some of the kids on the team have stepped up and helped him with a few things and shown support. The one good thing about team sports is kids help each other out when somebody needs it."

Making Justin's 1,000-yard seasons even more impressive is the fact Dement has never coached a 1,000-yard runner besides Justin in his five years coaching at Central.

"We like to have a lot of different guys carry the football and then go with the guy who's got the hot hand," said Dement. "We feel we have several decent running backs, but Justin ended up being the one we featured more. He's had a nice, steady career here."

Blackmon's success has also been beneficial to the Tigers. When he's run for over 100 yards this season, the Tigers are 6-0. When he hasn't, Central is 0-3.

Blackmon rushed for a season-high 196 yards in a 32-12 home-opening win over Hillsboro.

"He's pretty elusive," Dement said. "He's got real good balance and a knack for finding the opening, especially when there's not one there. He's got good field vision and good quickness. He's not a real speed guy, but he's hard to knock off his feet."

All those variables have drawn the interest of NAIA and Division II recruiters. Justin said he wants to go to college and play football.

"He's had a good career," said Dement of the 5-foot-9, 180-pound senior. "He's been a good, steady performer."

* Mary Blackmon was recently moved out of intensive care at Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. A trust for Justin and his family has been set up by John Harding of Limbaugh, Russell, Payne and Howard Law Offices to help the Blackmon's with the expenses of this sudden emergency. Donations to the trust can be sent to:

Blackmon Family Beneficiary Trust

c/o First National Bank

2027 Broadway

Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701