TRIMMER TIGERS HUNGRY FOR FIRST WIN, TRAVEL TO PLAY BLYTHEVILLE

Distractions?

What distractions?

Despite the recent happenings -- the quitting of six players, including four starters -- coach Lawrence Brookins feels his Cape Central Tigers are a more unified team with 57 members than with 63.

"The kids we have with us now are all about wanting to win," Brookins said. "They want to get better and they're showing us that in a number of ways."

Brookins said Wednesday that he didn't want to focus on the players who left, but more on the committed players who remain.

Focus. That's an important word -- especially this past week as the Tigers prepared for tonight's trip to Blytheville, Ark. The kickoff is at 7:30.

"We've got a game Friday night and that should be our focus right now," Brookins said. "Our focus is Blytheville and nothing else. Because if we don't (focus), we're going to get beat again."

Blytheville comes in with a 1-1 record after beating Memphis Treadwell 21-6 in the season opener, then losing 46-18 to Poplar Bluff last Friday night.

It was the first time in 10 years that the Mules had beaten the Arkansas squad.

Poplar Bluff, Brookins said, was able to interrupt plays in the backfield.

"Our defensive line must get off the ball and penetrate and create a new line of scrimmage," Brookins said. "We still need to be more physical. We need to create some problems in their backfield.

"Their offense is the wing-T and they run a lot of misdirection. A lot. Most of what they do is smoke screen, but if you give into that smoke screen at any given time, they'll burn you."

Blytheville, meanwhile, has been hit hard by injuries.

The Chickasaws have lost almost their entire starting wing-T backfield, including quarterback Brad Rose and running back Tyrone Bohannon. Blytheville has also had two fullbacks go down and started its third-string fullback last week.

"We're definitely not at the level where we want to be," said Blytheville coach Doug Quinn. "We've been hobbled up, and on top of that we haven't played well. But (the injuries) have been like this the last couple of years. We lost five starters last year."

Speaking of not being where a team wants to be, that's Cape Central -- especially on the offensive side of the ball.

The Tigers haven't scored an offensive touchdown yet this season (both of the team's touchdowns came on kickoff returns by Donnie McClinton) and it won't be easy this week, either, considering the team's top two tailbacks -- McClinton and Travis Turner -- left the team last Friday night after Central lost to New Madrid 34-7.

O.J. Turner, the team's bruising fullback and hardest runner, will probably be asked to carry much of the burden in the backfield.

"We still like our kids. We still like our athletes. We feel there is the opportunity to improve individually and collectively," said Brookins.

The troubles on offense, Brookins said, is a matter of execution.

"Execution would be the No. 1 reason," he said. "And the No. 2 is that we have some players in key spots who are very inexperienced and are learning on the run.

"There is absolutely nothing wrong with the play-calling of our offense and there is absolutely nothing wrong with our coverage selections from our defensive coordinator. We are getting kids in positions to be successful, but we're having trouble with kids finishing things -- finishing blocks on offense and finishing off tackles on defense."

Central executed Murphy's Law to the letter last week. Everything that could go wrong, did.

And, after watching Central's tape last week, Quinn knows he can't take the Tigers for granted.

"They've competed and played hard," Quinn said. "They're playing with a lot of juniors and sophomores right now. This series has been very competitive over the years and I expect nothing different (tonight). Either team could win this ballgame."

Tonight's Games

(7:30 p.m. kickoffs)

Cape Central at Blytheville, Ark.

Jackson at Perryville

East Prairie at Scott City

Piggott, Ark. at Chaffee

Park Hills at St. Vincent

Ste. Genevieve at Fredericktown

Caruthersville at Charleston

Sikeston at Dexter

Poplar Bluff at Jackson, Tenn.

New Madrid at Malden

Pocahontas, Ark. at Kennett

Hayti at Gosnell, Ark.

Portageville at Fulton, Ky.

Anna-Jonesboro at Pinckeyville

Cairo at McLeansboro (7 p.m.)