TIGERS SHOW PROMISE IN RIVALRY LOSS

JACKSON -- Though the Cape Central Tigers are getting tired of moral victories, they certainly have a reason to be optimistic after losing 34-24 to heavily favored Jackson Friday night.

For one, Central (2-4) -- which scored only two offensive touchdowns in its three previous losses -- scored more points than any other team had on the undefeated, fourth-ranked team in 5A.

And the Tigers did it through the air as savvy quarterback T.J. Erlacker completed 19 of 30 passes for 189 yards. Though most of his completions were about 9 or 10 yards, the aerial attack was effective as Central converted 18 first downs. And six different receivers caught balls, including Zac Fidler who caught eight passes for 100 yards.

"We had to pass," said Cape Central coach Lawrence Brookins. "We knew it would be hard to run on Jackson."

"It didn't surprise me," Jackson coach Carl Gross said. "Up until tonight, we've defended the run pretty well."

Jackson defended the run well Friday night also, but Jamelle Austin and T.J. Erlacker did break off some long runs particularly on some draw plays which were set up by the pass. When the sacks and losses were figured in, though, the Tigers ran for only 99 yards.

Still, Gross -- though respecting Central's inspired performance -- wasn't very impressed with his defense.

"I was disappointed in the amount of heat we put on them," Gross said. "And I was disappointed in our coverage. And to tell you the truth, there wasn't a phase that I wasn't disappointed in.

"I was proud of winning the game and not letting up when they went up on us, though."

* Though he wasn't perfect -- he lost two fumbles -- Mario Whitney was definitely a one-man wrecking crew Friday night. Not only did he rush for 219 yards and five touchdowns on 22 carries, he also caught two passes for 53 yards and returned two kickoffs for 67 yards. That gave him 339 total yards. In six games, Whitney has 1,056 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns and has tallied more than 200 yards in each of his last three games.

Jackson fullback Brad Berry ran for 65 yards on eight carries Friday night.

* As of Wednesday, Cape Central's O.J. Turner wasn't supposed to play Friday night after suffering a stinger in his neck last week against Graves County. But he did play and he was a pain in the neck for the Indians.

Turner seemed to be in on every tackle and was a huge reason the Tigers held Whitney to just 27 yards in the first half.

* Though the game was filled with drama and big plays, neither team took care of the ball very well. Jackson lost four fumbles and was intercepted twice. Cape Central turned the ball over four times on two fumbles and two interceptions.

Dangerfield no more

Fredericktown earned a lot of respect Friday night by manhandling Ste. Genevieve (4-2) 23-13.

"It's always a big win when you beat Ste. Genevieve and when you beat someone who is 4-1," Fredericktown coach Kent Gibbs said.

Gibbs said a goal line stand at the end of the first half was the difference.

After the Blackcats went up 10-0 on a 6-yard touchdown run by Rusty Leonard, Ste. Genevieve returned the kickoff all the way down to the 6-yard line. But Fredericktown's defense answered the challenge and the Blackcats (4-2) went into halftime with a 10-0 lead.

Fredericktown led by as many as 16 points. It was led in rushing by Leonard who had 118 yards on 20 carries. Ste. Genevieve keyed on Clay Hendrix, which opened things up for Leonard. Hendrix ended up with 61 yards on 14 carries and Chris Wood ran the ball six times for 63 yards.

"The second half we really dominated up front and that allowed us to ice it and put it away," Gibbs said.

Fredericktown had drives of 16, 14 and 10 plays in the second half.

"We ran 64 offensive plays and when you do that, it means you've controlled the ball," Gibbs said.