Three Tigers gain all-state spots

Southeast Missourian

The Central Tigers, who played in their third consecutive quarterfinal game this year, had three members selected for the Class 4 all-state teams released today.

Safety Monroe Hicks repeated as an all-state player and was joined on the first team by kicker Colin Schermann. Senior linebacker Jeremiah Dukes, the Tigers' leading tackler, is a member of the second team.

It marked the third straight year Central had two first-team selections, but the three players represented the most Tigers honored during the span.

"It's a good sign things are moving in the right direction," Central coach Lawrence Brookins said. "Hopefully our school and our community, especially football related, is slowly getting back on the map a little bit."

Hicks was an all-state candidate on both sides of the ball following a remarkable senior season. Along with five interceptions on the defensive side, Hicks also had over 1,500 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving as the focal point of the Tiger offense. He scored 27 touchdowns on offense while accumulating 70 tackles on defense.

Schermann established himself as a premier high school kicker after inheriting the varsity job his junior season. Schermann kept a strong Tiger kicking tradition alive by booting 10 field goals -- the second highest single-season total in Missouri history -- and converting on 47 of 51 extra-point attempts. Schermann demonstrated a powerful leg by kicking a 48-yard field goal -- one of three over 40 yards -- and routinely finding the end zone on his kickoffs.

Dukes, considered the best pure athlete on the team, accumulated a team-leading 92 tackles from his middle linebacker position despite missing two-and-a-half games. Dukes also forced three fumbles, blocked a kick and had a team-high 11 tackles for loss.

Dukes, like Hicks, was a three-year starter and played a big role in Central winning three straight district titles after the Tigers suffered through a 1-9 season in 1999.

"We have so much to look forward to in the future," Brookins said. "We'll miss athletes like Monroe and Jeremiah, and those guys that you lose every year in a program, but hopefully some of the things they've established will leak down to the kids at the lower levels."

Central (10-2) also received recognition by finishing fourth in the final Class 4 team poll, which translated better than its quarterfinal finish. The Tigers, who lost 24-21 to state runner-up Eureka, finished ahead of semifinalist Webb City and other quarterfinalists Hannibal, Helias and Marshall.

Others honored

The only other player honored from the region in today's all-state selections for Classes 4, 5 and 6 was Poplar Bluff senior Tony Webb, a first-team receiver in Class 4.

Athletes from other SEMO Conference teams were honored on the Class 1, 2 and 3 teams released Wednesday. Class 1 runner-up Hayti had junior running back Torey Nelson and sophomore defensive lineman Antonio Robinson selected first team and junior receiver William Moore picked second team. Hayti (11-2) finished second in the final poll.

In Class 2, Charleston senior running back Orrice Stanback was selected first team and Portageville senior offensive lineman Chris Bates was chosen second team. Portageville (9-2), which lost in the quarterfinals, finished sixth in the final poll.

In Class 3, Dexter senior linebacker Drew Wethington was picked second team.

jbreer@semissourian.com

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