TIGERS TRY TO PACK LOSS ON MULES

It's been over three years since the Cape Central Tigers last won a SEMO North Conference football game.

The same victim just over three years ago will also be Central's opponent tonight when the Tigers travel to Poplar Bluff to face the Mules at 7:30.

Poplar Bluff, coming off a 35-25 come-from-behind victory against Sikeston last week at home, enters with a 5-3 record and 1-0 district mark. Central, after last week's 33-13 home loss to Jackson, is 6-2 overall and 0-1 in the district.

Including last week's loss to Jackson, eight conference games have gone by since the Tigers last beat a league opponent. The last time it happened, the Tigers outscored Poplar Bluff 40-26 in week 9 of the 1994 season. Last year, Poplar Bluff started districts with a 28-19 win at Houck Field.

Coming off the emotional loss to Jackson last week, Central coach Jerry Dement has been encouraged by his team's attitude in practices this week.

"There's a lot of character on this team," Dement said. "We've got kids that like to play football and we think they'll respond well. I'll be surprised if they don't."

The Tigers will have to play one of their best games against one of the hotter teams in the area. Since the re-instatement of tailback Jeric Blackmon, the Mules have won their last three games. Blackmon, suspended at the start of the season after rushing for over 1,300 yards last year, has returned to rush for a team-leading 435 yards and nine TDs.

"He gives us a different dimension," said first-year Poplar Bluff coach Mark Barousse. "Getting Jeric back not only helped us at the tailback position, but it also helped our passing game."

Quarterback Andy Cisne has improved steadily over the season to become the top passer in the area with 966 yards, completing 52 of 121 passes.

"We know we'll have a tough game this week," said Dement. "Bluff's starting to play a lot better. They have one kid back (Blackmon) that's made a big difference to them. Without him they have an average offense, but with him they have a pretty good offense."

If the name Blackmon sounds familiar, that's because the Tigers have back-to-back 1,000-yard runner Justin Blackmon on their sideline. Justin, Jeric's cousin, eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season last week.

"Both are quality running backs," Dement said of the two seniors. "Jeric is a little bit bigger and probably a little bit faster, but Justin may be a little bit better as a lateral cutter. Justin's probably quicker than he is fast."

Central's team speed is a major concern for the Mules. The Tigers offense should have a considerable speed advantage at their skill positions.

"Cape has great skill people and defensively we're not the fastest team in the world," said Barousse. "They move the ball real well on offense. They do a lot of things well, and it presents headaches trying to stop them."

Despite their win over Sikeston, the Mules had problems stopping the Bulldogs' offense. Sikeston rolled up over 460 yards of offense, with 300 coming on the ground. Luckily, the Mules totaled over 400 yards of offense too.

"Sikeston and Cape are very comparable," said Barousse. "But Cape might be a little better defensively."

Dement hopes so. After allowing Jackson over 400 yards of total offense, the Tigers' coach is looking for a better defensive effort tonight.

"We have to have a better defensive game than we had last week," said Dement. "It was a tough loss, but we've had a good week of practice. We're going to try to finish the season 8-2 and try to end on a strong note."

Despite the possibility of playing Jackson next week for the district title, Poplar Bluff certainly isn't looking past the Tigers.

"There's no way were going to overlook Cape and start thinking about Jackson," Barousse said. "We've got our hands full with Cape ... they have a great football team. They're not 6-2 by accident."