THE TIGERS: PAST THE SUNSET

The last two football seasons at Cape Central could be released as one of those cheesy, feel-good, rags-to-riches sports movies.

You know, the kind where a team stinks at the beginning and gets crushed by every team on the schedule. Then something happens, the players get motivated, they do a bunch of sit-ups and, poof, they become champs. Just like that.

Only this was real life. And there wasn't anything cheesy, or easy about it.

After an embarrassing 1-9 season in 1999, the Tigers applied themselves in the weight room and went 7-5 last year, advancing to a Class 4A quarterfinal and recording shutouts in five of their last seven games. Their comeback bid in the quarterfinal fell short, 24-17, at Washington.

Considering the year before, Central High was in a state of jubilation to be one game away from the final four. The Tigers proudly wore T-shirts saying "Worst to First."

But the Tigers aren't happy with last season now.

Two games over .500 is not the goal.

No memories of the past

"No one's concerned about last year," said Cape Central coach Lawrence Brookins. "They want to know what you're going to do now. That's the nature of life."

To prove his point, Brookins gave lighters to his seniors and had them burn their "Worst to First" shirts.

The Tigers are fired up for another solid season.

Brookins and the Central staff are excited about this year's team, a team that should have more speed than last year.

The team has a talented nucleus to build around. Central returns 15 letterman and seven all-conference or all-district performers.

Chris Smith, a quick, overpowering defensive tackle who is up to 315 pounds this year, will anchor a defensive line along with a technically sound Justin Wells, giving Central arguably the best interior defensive line in Southeast Missouri.

But unlike last year, both defensive tackles will be forced to play a lot of offense as well.

The defense, with six returning starters, is likely to be the strength of the team again. Central lost standout linebackers O.J. Turner and Casey Dwyre as well as defensive end Justin Welker, but the defensive backfield could be improved with the addition of Scott City transfer Marcus Klund and the maturity of Marland Heard and Monroe Hicks. Hicks, a junior, picked off four passes last year and returned two for touchdowns. He also had 55 tackles, an extraordinary amount for a defensive back.

At the skill positions on offense, Hicks and Klund are battling for the starting running back job but both will see a lot of time in the backfield. And both could be on the field at the same time in certain formations.

Klund ran for 1,400 yards as a junior at Scott City last year. Hicks started a few games at running back with mixed success. A step faster than he was last year (his coaches have clocked him running the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds), Hicks appears to be a more confident tailback so far this season.

Jeremiah Dukes will be the starting fullback and middle linebacker and Andrew Eaton, who came on strong toward the end of the year, will start at the flanker position.

Still a young team

But for the most part, Central will be a young team with no returning starter in the offensive backfield and only one returning starter on the offensive line.

"I think the young guys are ready to step in," Eaton said. "They've put in the time and effort. Monroe, Adrian Wren and all those guys really worked hard this summer."

The biggest question mark on the team will be the starting quarterback position. Junior Jay Ruark and sophomore Mitch Craft were still battling for the starting spot when this preview went to press. But the quarterback position -- and the offense overall -- appears to be ahead of where it was last year at this time.

Last year's quarterback, T.J. Erlacker, helped turn the team around last year, but he wasn't named the starter until a few games into the season.

Another question mark heading in will be Central's offensive line. Tackle Jason Beard is the only returning starter.

The Tigers moved Wells from a guard to center and moved Wren from fullback to guard. Darren Neels will be at the other guard and Smith will start at tackle. Depth is a concern on the line.