TIGERS SCRATCH OUT FIRST WIN OF YEAR 35-20

NEW MADRID -- For awhile it was a grind, and in the end, it wasn't perfect, but Cape Girardeau Central evened its 1998 record Friday night at New Madrid County Central.

The Tigers defense controlled the game in the early-going and the Tigers offense rolled up 402 yards for the game as Central posted a 35-20 victory.

"We had a chance to bury them, but I was a little too conservative," Central coach Jerry Dement said. "I thought defensively we played better."

Defense was the name of the game in the first quarter. With three minutes left in the opening period, Cape Girardeau had 12 yards of total offense, while New Madrid Central moved backwards seven yards.

Central's defense created opportunities. Tigers' defensive back Chris Allen picked off a pass that had bounced off the pads of an Eagles receiver and returned the ball to the New Madrid 28-yard line.

But after taking five plays to drive to the 12-yard line, Emmanuel Harris fumbled the ball back to the Eagles at the 10.

New Madrid went three-and-out on its next series, and had its punt blocked by Travis Turner, giving Central the ball at the Eagles' 5-yard line.

The Tigers could not punch it in, though, and Brian Emmendorfer missed a 28-yard field goal with 4:49 left in the first quarter.

After one quarter, the game was scoreless.

"We wanted to establish the run early, and get an attitude," Dement said. "In the second half, we went with more variety."

Central broke the ice on Demarco Williams' 2-yard run with 10:17 left in the second quarter. The run capped a 12-play drive which had started at the Eagles' 40-yard line.

Then, after the Tigers again started in excellent field position, Harris, who had 73 yards for the game, ran 1 yard for a touchdown. The kick failed, and Central led 13-6 with 2:50 left in the half.

Central's defense finally cracked on New Madrid's ensuing drive. Eagles quarterback Byron Minner hit T.J. Branum with a 60-yard pass to the 22-yard line, and Ricky Smith scored on a 22-yard run on the next play.

Turner blocked the extra point, and at halftime, the Tigers clung to a 13-6 lead.

"Turner played an excellent game," Dement said. "The defense played a great first half, we missed a few tackles later; we kind of bent, but we didn't break."

The Tigers went to the air to create some breathing room in the second half. Frank McGinty's 31-yard touchdown pass to Matt Welker capped a three-play drive which began after Harris returned an interception 20 yards to the 30-yard line.

McGinty's 2-point conversion pass to Allen increased the Tigers' lead to 21-6 with 7:46 left in the third quarter.

New Madrid scrapped back, however, on Vest Baker's 24-yard run with 3:11 left in the third.

With the game taking on an increasingly offensive complexion, the Tigers struck right back on McGinty's 5-yard touchdown pass to Allen. Emmendorfer's kick made it 28-12.

Central's defense forced the Eagles to punt early in the fourth quarter, then forced a fumble -- recovered by Welker -- late in the quarter.

McGinty capitalized, firing his third touchdown pass, a 20-yard bullet to Jason Roddy with 1:16 left in the game.

McGinty finished with 253 yards on 15-of-23 passing. Allen had eight catches for 90 yards.

"The offensive line deserves a lot of credit," Dement said. "The pass protection was excellent."

New Madrid tacked on a late 5-yard run by Baker with 40 seconds left.