Tigers show teeth at the right time

The symbol for pounds is "lb." It's also the initials of Central football coach Lawrence Brookins.

Central has obviously been doing some heavy lifting in the offseason because Brookins has his team in peak condition.

Central (7-1) has its best record since 1987 when the Tigers went 8-2 and lost in the first round of the playoffs to Sikeston. Central has begun a season 7-1 or better 17 times in the program's history but never advanced past the second round of the playoffs.

If the Tigers hope to do what others haven't, it will be Monroe Hicks that carries them there. After Friday night's performance at Sikeston, Hicks appears ready for the challenge.

What? You didn't hear about that? 180 yards on the ground, 55 through the air, three touchdowns and two picks. That was Hicks' night.

As I sit in my Central T-shirt and I hear the screams of fairness and bias go in one ear and out the other, I have to believe what I believed at the start of this season: This is the year of the Tiger. But the year for what? That's up to LB, Hicks and the rest of the Tigers. But I have my money set aside for a ticket to the Show Me Bowl. Just in case.

Where will you spend your money this week? Here's your week ahead:

Today

The district tournaments for volleyball begin for Classes 1, 2, and 4. There is a tournament close to everyone. Jackson, Bloomfield, Bell City and Zalma each host tournaments.

Wednesday

St. Louis has the netminder blues. Speaking of minds, Joel Quenneville is losing his trying to decide who to start.

"I've never seen anything like it. Sure, sometimes teams are forced to go through stretches of goaltending injury problems. But never in my experience to this extent, and this early in the season," Quenneville said.

One thing is certain. The Blues will host the Predators and it's Wehrenberg Theatres Player Card Sets night. The first 15,000 fans receive a set of player cards. Who knows, maybe you'll get all five of the Blues' goalies.

I've waited too long for this -- opening night in the NBA. The Grizzlies draw the Mavericks first and hopefully a good crowd as well. If you want to be a part of that crowd at The Pryamid in Memphis, tip-off is at 7 p.m.

Halloween

The question on this night is not trick or treat, but set or spike? The Missouri Tigers (17-4) will be at the Show Me Center on Halloween night and they won't be giving away candy. Instead, they'll be trying to hand Southeast Missouri State University a loss in volleyball, something they know a little something about so far this year (they're 6-4 on the road). So if you're too old for candy or just not in the mood, why not treat yourself to a good college volleyball game? 7 p.m.

Friday

Here is my game of the week: the battle for second in Class 4, District 1, Poplar Bluff at Sikeston. 7 p.m.

By the way, you didn't think I'd leave the Tigers out, did you? Central hosts Perryville at 7 p.m. Just another tune-up for the playoffs -- we hope.

David Wilson, a junior at Central High School, is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian. His column appears each Monday.