Tigers try to extend run of district titles

Over the past four seasons Central has won 30 games, captured four district titles and made the state quarterfinals three times.

That streak could be challenged this season with a group of untested players littered across the field.

Tigers coach Lawrence Brookins, entering his sixth season as head coach, said this year's team presents an opportunity for a player to break through.

"If there ever was a time they felt overlooked or overshadowed, this is the year to step up," Brookins said.

The 2004 Tigers will have a mix of youth and promise to go with a few steady veterans. Through graduation, along with several potential starters who left the program for various reasons, the Tigers return only four players -- Tyrone Reece, Ty Craft, Brandon Twiggs and Marcus Rice -- who saw regular playing time last season.

"This is going to be a unique season for us," Brookins said.

One of those players, Reece, will miss several weeks early in the season after suffering an injury last week. Reece was scheduled to take over for Mitch Craft at quarterback, a task which now willl fall into the hands of sophomore Blake Slattery.

Slattery only moved to quaterback over the summer, and Brookins said the Tigers will try to work the running game more to break him in.

"That's going to help the quarterbacks if we can run the ball," he said.

The Tigers have several strong backs to take the handoffs from Slattery. Twiggs was Central's feature back last season, showing game-breaking flashes while rushing for 686 yards on 126 carries. Twiggs was crucial in the Tigers' district-clinching victory against Poplar Bluff last season, rushing for more than 200 yards on 40-plus carries.

Teamed with Twiggs in the backfield will be Rice, a junior who rushed for 201 yards on only 34 carries last year, and junior Ryan Davis, a transfer from Raytown High School.

"We're going to be whatever we can get away with," Brookins said of his offense. "We have a lot of young boys stepping into the mix this year."

The line definitely will have a new look. Gone are starters Darren Neels, Tyler Schlosser, Mark Egbuka and Sean Bard. Darren's younger brother, Trevor Neels, will be counted on to anchor the line along with Drew Lincoln, Rashad Fambro and Luke Proffer.

"Up front, there's definitely questions to be answered," Brookins said. "I'm looking forward as a coach to see how they step up to that challenge."

Depth will be an area of concern for the Tigers this year. Central had a smaller turnout than in years past and will have to avoid nagging injuries that plagued some players last season.

Brookins said he was disappointed not to see more kids out but does not think the Tigers are missing any big-time players.

"Numbers are a great thing. It looks impressive," he said. "But how many of those play?"

The defense, which also may be a little green up front, will have experienced linebackers and defensive backs. Twiggs and Davis likely will anchor the linebackers with Rice, Craft and Reece in the defensive backfield.

"They have an idea. They're talking their own language back there," Brookins said of his defensive backs.

On top of the influx of new faces, Central also will face a more difficult schedule. The Tigers have added Eureka, Normandy, St. Louis University High and Forth Zumwalt North to the schedule along with new district foe West Plains.

Brookins said just putting together a full schedule seems to be tougher these days.

"It's just changed," he said. "A lot of times you get the Class 4, 5 or 6 schools and a lot of folks don't want to play the bigger schools."