Tigers' Chism kicks off rivalry week with OT goal

Matt Chism has gotten his personal Central-Jackson rivalry week off to a rousing start.

The Central senior only hopes things keep getting better.

Chism scored with 22 seconds left in the second overtime Tuesday night, lifting the host Tigers to a thrilling 3-2 soccer win over the Indians.

"Same as last year, we beat them 3-2 in overtime and I had the [winning] goal 20 seconds in," Chism said. "It's really nice."

Chism also serves as the kicker for Central's football team, which visits arch rival Jackson on Friday night.

"Maybe I can do the same thing in football, a winning field goal maybe," Chism said with a grin.

If that happens, it will be witnessed by an overflow crowd of thousands that will pack Jackson's football stadium.

There weren't nearly that many people on hand Wednesday at Central's Tiger Stadium, where the soccer team plays.

That didn't diminish the thrill the Tigers had in beating their major rival.

"Two years in a row against our big rival ... it's nice," said Central senior Matt Castillo, who assisted on two of the Tigers' goals, including the winning tally.

Castillo and Chism teamed up for the winning goal and kept the Tigers from having to play the crap-shoot of penalty kicks to decide the outcome.

With time running down in the second of two 10-minute extra periods -- after 80 minutes of regulation -- Castillo beat a Jackson player to the ball around midfield and sent a long pass in the direction of Chism.

Central’s Ferdinand Busch, center, celebrates with teammates Matt Chism, left, and Eric Craiglow after scoring the first goal of the game against Jackson during the first half Tuesday at Central High School. (Fred Lynch)

"I got him in the first overtime but we couldn't finish," Castillo said. "I was looking for him."

Chism had to fend off a Jackson player along the left side of the goal before he was able to gather the ball and fire it into the net.

"The defender was on my back. I just chested the ball and put it in the right-side netting," Chism said. "I knew I was going to get to the ball. I didn't think I'd get a goal."

Chism was elated to prevent penalty kicks.

"I did not want to go to PKs. You don't ever want to go to PKs," he said.

Thus ended an exciting game that left each coach with few complaints.

"Back and forth. It was good to see Cape and Jackson fighting to the end," said Central coach Dan Martin, whose squad improved to 7-6. "It's always a good rivalry. It wasn't the best tactical game, but it was sure fun and exciting."

Said Jackson coach Zack Walton, whose Indians fell to 2-8-1: "That's a good Jackson-Cape game right there. It's good for soccer in Southeast Missouri."

Central scored just 2:52 into the contest following a Jackson foul.

Senior Caleb Strickland sent a well-placed free kick from the right sideline to junior Ferdinand Busch, who headed the ball into the net.

The Tigers carried that 1-0 lead into halftime.

"We didn't come out in the first half and play like we're capable," Walton said.

Jackson turned things around in the second half and surged ahead.

Freshman Hunter Crowden sent a cross into the middle and senior Trey Wadley buried the shot for a 1-1 tie with 29:14 remaining.

The Indians took a 2-1 lead with 14:57 left when senior Mikey Depuy converted a corner kick from sophomore Brayden Wilson.

Central tied it just 2:03 later when freshman Keevin Dyke took a pass from Castillo and drilled a shot from about 25 yards out.

Jackson had two great chances to go back ahead late in regulation, but Central junior keeper Nathan Mecum made dazzling saves less than a minute apart.

"We played a good second half and we played well in overtime," Walton said. "Their keeper made some very good saves."

Each team had strong chances in the first overtime.

The second overtime seemed fairly uneventful until Central's finish.

"It was great to finally be at home again," said Martin, whose squad has played just two home games this season.

As for the youthful Indians, who are having a rare down season, Walton said they have simply not been able to get over the hump this year.

"We've got a lot of young players. We just haven't jelled," Walton said. "We've had a lot of close games just like this. We've been right there."