TIGERS FROM OT TO TOs

SIKESTON -- For the better part of the last two football seasons, the Cape Central Tigers have taken care of the football like it was made of glass.

Last night, their record of safekeeping was shattered.

The Tigers (2-4) turned the ball over eight times (five interceptions and three fumbles) and lost at Sikeston 47-17.

Central had turned the ball over only seven times in five previous games this season.

"Bad night," Central coach Jerry Dement said. "We had more turnovers tonight than the whole year combined. We didn't protect the ball well, and they did a good job taking advantage of it."

Sikeston (5-1) scored on two of Central's turnovers and turned four others into touchdowns.

Frank McGinty's first quarter fumble at the Bulldogs' 40-yard line turned into the first six points of the game. Justin Robinson ran for 13 yards with 6:56 left in the first quarter.

The kick failed, and Sikeston led 6-0.

On Central's next drive, John Brown intercepted McGinty at the Tigers' 40-yard line and returned to the 27.

Five plays later, Doug Wiles hit Brandon Barnes with an 8-yard touchdown pass. Barnes had slipped, and was on his back when he caught the ball.

On the second play of the second quarter, Aaron Boldrey sacked McGinty at the Bulldogs' 45-yard line, forcing a fumble. Robinson scooped it up and raced 55 yards for a touchdown. Mark Silverthorn's kick increased the lead to 19-0.

Central managed a 29-yard field goal by Mitch Ogles with two seconds left in the half, to pull to within 19-3 at the midway point.

"They just outplayed us all the way," Ogles said. "The turnovers were about it."

The Tigers would turn it over four more times in the second half, but before they had a chance, the Bulldogs increased their lead to 26-3.

After a long kickoff return by Barnes to begin the second half, Wiles ran 42 yards for a touchdown on Sikeston's first play from scrimmage.

A 5-yard second-effort touchdown run by Emmanuel Harris made it 26-9 with 8:23 left in the third quarter, but after forcing Sikeston to punt minutes later, Ross Lemmons intercepted McGinty near midfield on an ill-advised swing pass.

Three plays later, the 5-foot-10, 200-pound Wiles ran 48 yards - ripping through a tackle at the 35-yard line - for a touchdown. After the conversion kick, Sikeston led 33-9.

"Our defense played extremely well, and we were able to capitalize," Sikeston coach Charlie Vickery said. "It probably helped us last week playing against a team (Alton, Ill.) that threw the ball a lot. But they weren't as dangerous as Central."

A 22-yard touchdown pass from McGinty to Allen cut Sikeston's lead to 33-17 with 8:51 left in the game, but two more Tiger turnovers provided a pair of insurance touchdowns for the Bulldogs.

On a pass tipped by Barnes, Bart Ziegenhorn intercepted McGinty with 8:37 left in the game. On the next play, Robinson scored on a 59-yard run down the right sideline.

Robinson finished with 140 yards on 17 carries.

Ty Ferrell closed out the scoring with a 31-yard interception return with 4:30 left in the game.

McGinty, who came in as one of the best quarterbacks in the state statistically, finished with five interceptions and two lost fumbles.

"He was hurried quite a bit," Ogles said. "But it wasn't just Frank. We all lost."

"We had to pressure him," Vickery said. "He's just too good a quarterback to let him sit back and set his feet. We forced him to throw under pressure, and we were just fortunate to be in the right spots at the right times."

Friday's results

Sikeston 47, Cape Central 17

Belleville Althoff 28, Jackson 0

East Prairie 27, Chaffee 14

Perryville 42, Festus 7

St. Vincent 47, St. Pius 28

Fredericktown 35, Potosi 15

Dexter 27, Charleston 20

Columbia Hickman 55, Poplar Bluff 32

Kennett 18, Malden 13

Portageville 40, Hayti 0

DuQuoin 42, Anna-Jonesboro 6

Ballard Co, Ky. xx, at Cairo xx

Today's games

Scott City at Caruthersville

Borgia at New Madrid