TIGERS HOPE TO HEAL OPEN(ING) WOUNDS

If Ricky Smith's back isn't hurting by now, it probably will by the end of the year.

Not so much because the New Madrid County Central running back could carry the ball 30 times in a game. But more because he carries the whole team on his shoulders when he does it.

Stopping Smith will be Cape Girardeau Central's main priority tonight when the Tigers host the Eagles. Kickoff is set for 7:30 at Houck Stadium.

Smith, who has a young and inexperienced line blocking for him, is one of the best running backs in the area this season.

Last week he rushed for 129 yards on 20 carries as New Madrid dumped Mt. Vernon, Ill. 42-21.

"I think he's better than any running back (Columbia) Hickman had," said Central coach Lawrence Brookins, whose Tigers allowed more than 400 yards rushing to the Kewpies in a 41-7 loss last week. "He's a good cutback runner. He runs a little high, a little tall, like an Eric Dickerson type. He looked strong on tape.

"(Before watching the tape), I immediately questioned whether or not he was tough. I wanted to see on film if he would jump to the sideline right away or pick out somebody to blow up with his inside forearm. Guess what? He went with the forearm."

Although Smith will get the bulk of the carries and the yards, he is not, by any means, the only threat in the backfield.

Last Friday, NMCC quarterback Byron Minner ran for 92 yards on eight carries and fullback Dereke Tipler, a sophomore, ran the ball 102 yards on eight carries.

"All the kids involved complement each other real well," New Madrid coach Ron Jones said of his squad. "The whole offense is playing well as a unit and that is the key to our success."

Jones said overall he was pleased with his team's output last week, especially considering he started six sophomores on offense.

"We played well in spurts," Jones said. "There were times when we weren't in sync. It took a little time and we made some young mistakes. I wasn't disappointed too much with our mistakes because they were some things we could fix. I was real pleased with the effort."

Brookins, meanwhile, had little to be pleased with after last week's debacle.

The first-year head coach said he liked what he saw from fullback O.J. Turner and split end Chad Jones.

Other than that, Friday night was a bust for the Tigers.

"It bothered them and they felt embarrassed," Brookins said of his team's reaction to the loss. "I was hard on them this week. I was determined not to let them sulk and feel sorry for themselves. (I told them to) be a man, learn how to deal with adversity. That's been one of our concerns about this squad, how certain individuals respond to bad times.

"If I'm New Madrid, I'm excited after watching our tape (against Hickman)," Brookins said. "Hickman was a good team, but we made them look better than they were."

Last week, Central mounted next to no offense. Donnie McClinton was the leading rusher with 45 yards. O.J. Turner was next with 24.

Hickman, though, is one of the top Class 5A teams in the state.

New Madrid is thought to be perhaps the toughest Class 3A squad in this portion of the state.

The road doesn't get any easier for Central after tonight. Central, which didn't win a home game last year, travels to Arkansas power Blytheville next week.

"This is a big game for us," Brookins said. "We want to win one at home."