TIGERS EXPECT FIRST TEST OF 1997 FROM FLEET-FOOTED CHICKS

Over the first two weeks of the high school football season, the Cape Girardeau Central Tigers have used their team speed to race past their opponents for easy wins.

The Tigers won't be able to do that tonight when they face the equally quick Blytheville (Ark.) Chickasaws on the road. Central enters undefeated with a 2-0 record. Blytheville is 1-1 after a 26-7 win last week against Poplar Bluff.

"We'll need everything we have this week," said Central coach Jerry Dement. "We expect a good test, but I think our kids are well prepared mentally and physically."

Blytheville, usually involved in high-scoring shootouts, has played two solid defensive games to start the year. The Chicks lost in overtime to Tennessee power Jackson Central Merry 17-14 and against Poplar Bluff, outgained the Mules 410-205.

"The past couple years, (Blytheville) has outscored a lot of people," Dement said. "But this year their defense is better. They're a little bigger and just as quick."

Surprisingly, Blytheville coach Doug Quinn said the close loss against Jackson Central Merry helped his team more than it hurt.

"We made a lot of strides in that game ... that was a good step," Quinn said. "We walked out of that game with quite a bit of confidence."

Last year, the Tigers dismantled the Chickasaws 21-0 at Houck Field, starting a four-game losing streak for Blytheville. The TIgers knocked out Blytheville quarterback Win Mosley in the first quarter with a torn ACL, forcing the Chicks to use four different quarterbacks in the loss.

"I don't think any team could play four quarterbacks in a game and be competitive," said Quinn. "Everything went wrong last year."

Blytheville returns seven offensive starters and five on defense from last year's game, including Mosley, who will be back behind center.

"A lot of the kids were involved last year and are looking forward to this game," Quinn said. "I'm excited about playing (Central); last year there were a lot of unpleasant memories."

Central's Justin Blackmon rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown and linebacker Tatum Kitchen returned a fumble 52 yards for a score in last year's shutout. Both players have once again keyed the Tigers' success this season.

Blackmon, coming off 196 yards last week in a 32-12 win against Hillsboro, is the third-leading rusher in the area with 324 yards on 35 carries. Kitchen leads the Tigers' defense with 31 tackles.

Blytheville has a deep backfield with no particular "go-to" back. Randy Givens (5-9, 160) leads the Chickasaws with 124 yards on 19 carries, but three other backs -- Leonard Hamilton (115), Daddrick McNeal (103) and Tim Casey (102) -- have eclipsed 100 yards on the year.

Sophomore linebacker Jeremy Cole (5-8, 175) has taken over the defense at linebacker. Mike Merriweather (6-1, 209) and Justin Tyler (5-8, 179) solidify the Blytheville line.

"This team is more of a quickness, misdirection-type team," said Dement, comparing Blytheville to its previous two opponents. "But we think we have the personnel that can matchup with them."

Quinn, who brings nearly 10 years of Blytheville-Cape Central coaching experience into this game, has been impressed by the athletic improvement of the Tigers recently.

"I've been involved in this game for about 10 years and when I first started, Cape had good athletes," Quinn said. "They've brought that (talent level) back up with some good skill players and I think this game will be extremely competitive."