Tigers prepare for unexpected sectional host

A surprise guest has shown up for the Class 4 sectionals, and the Central Tigers, a playoff veteran, will try to give them a rude welcome tonight.

Despite a losing record, the Windsor Owls addressed their own invitation to the state playoffs with a stunning district run. Windsor (4-6) entered district play with a 1-6 record, but salvaged its season with consecutive wins over De Soto, North County and Farmington.

Windsor, located in Imperial, Mo., finds itself hosting the sectional-round game, its first playoff appearance since 1997.

The late surge featured a startling 26-24 victory over North County, the defending district champion that was state-ranked at the time. The Raiders dealt Central (9-1) its only loss of the season, a 35-28 double-overtime setback in the fourth week of the season.

With the win, the Owls fouled up an exciting rivalry between North County and Central. The Tigers, striving to reach the quarterfinals for the third straight year, dispatched the Raiders in double-overtime in last year's sectional.

Central, ranked fifth in Class 4, anticipated a chance to avenge its only loss, but has instead shifted its focus to the Owls.

"We were kind of looking forward to a little bit of payback for earlier this year," senior receiver Seth Hudson said. " But if they're good enough to beat North County, they're good enough to beat us. We just have to come out focused and ready to play."

Windsor took advantage of three North County turnovers and a couple of late goal-line stands to pull off the upset.

"We were all thinking maybe North County," Central quarterback Mitch Craft said, "but Windsor got the job done and that's the team to watch out for. A team like that can surprise you, so we need to be ready."

Hudson, who leads the Tigers with 33 catches and 473 receiving yards, has the Tigers' past for precedent. Central started its past two seasons 2-4 and recovered to enter the playoffs at 6-4.

"We didn't go into the postseason with a great record," Hudson said. "Records don't have anything to do with it. They're obviously playing their best ball right now."

The Tigers are also displaying some of their best play. They've won six games in a row and disposed of their district opponents -- Sikeston, Perryville and Poplar Bluff -- by a combined 106-34. All 34 points allowed came in the fourth quarter with games well in hand.

"They're confident," Central coach Lawrence Brookins said. "Winning breeds confidence. Right now I don't interpret that as over-confident. They're just enjoying the experience."

Offensively, the Tigers have been a model of consistency and balance. Senior Monroe Hicks, 1,291 yards rushing, leads a ground attack that has churned out 2,086 yards. He has 446 yards receiving in a Craft-led passing attack that has totaled 1,495 yards.

Craft has thrown 17 touchdowns, been intercepted four times and completed 62 percent of his passes. Despite throttling its own offense in a few blowouts, Central averages 358 yards of total offense and never had less than 300 yards in a game.

Windsor's fourth-year coach, Ken Weik, leads his first team to the playoffs and willingly wears the label of heavy underdog.

"Defensively, we're going have to play the best game of our lives and offensively we have to control the ball and keep their offense off the field," Weik said.

While Windsor defeated North County, it also lost 14-7 to Perryville, a team Central dominated. The Owls' loss to Perryville is one of one of five they lost by eight points or less to respectable teams like Festus, Park Hills Central and Valle.

"We're the same team, just somewhere along the line things started going our way," Weik said. "We shot ourselves in the foot early with penalties and turnovers. We finally overcame it a little bit in the districts."

A pair of juniors lead Windsor's option offense. Running back Blane Boss (5-10, 170) leads the Owls with 1,069 yards rushing, averaging more than eight yards a carry. Quarterback Zach Weiss is second with 630 yards, but has thrown for just over 200 yards and completed only 33 percent of his passes.

Windsor, which has lost its two previous sectional games, is one of three sub-.500 teams in the Class 4 playoffs. Republic and Hickman Mills also have just four wins.

"I don't care who's there," Brookins said. "I'm just tickled the Tigers are still in there. We're one of 16 teams and hopefully we'll be one of the elite eight after that. After that, who knows."

Tonight's winner will advance to Monday's quarterfinal round and will face either St. Clair (7-3) or Eureka (9-1).

jbreer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 124