Central bids for upset win to extend its campaign

~ State-ranked Farmington brings a seven-game win streak into the meeting with the 4-6 Tigers.

It has been a struggle at times for the Central football team this season -- as a season-ending loss that doubled Sikeston's win total indicated -- but the Tigers were good enough at a key time of the season to make its first appearance in the sectionals since 2003.

Central (4-6) will travel to Farmington (9-1) for a 7 p.m. kickoff tonight in the Class 4 sectionals. In other area action, St. Vincent will host Valle Catholic at 7 p.m. tonight in a Class 1 sectional.

The Tigers won four straight district titles under coach Lawrence Brookins from 2000 to 2003. During that time, Central made the quarterfinal round three straight years before losing to North County in the 2003 sectional round.

In 2004 and 2005, Central won a combined five games, but wins over Poplar Bluff and two-time district champion West Plains lifted Central into the state playoffs.

"It does feel really good," Brookins said. "The coaching staff is so happy for the kids. We started the season rocky as far as wins and losses, but we ended the season on a little more of a high note, although the Sikeston game was a little bit of a downer."

Central senior running back Hykeem Hammonds reinjured his ankle on just his second carry against Sikeston and is doubtful for tonight's game. Hammonds, the team's leading rusher with 630 yards, had missed the first two games of district play after injuring his ankle in the first half of Week 7, so Central has proved it can win in other ways.

"Not only more importantly that we [the coaches] are used to it, but the kids have resigned themselves to the fact they have to get it done without him," Brookins said.

Senior quarterback Blake Slattery also left the Sikeston game with an injury, a shoulder injury he has battled over the past two seasons. Slattery, who has held the position the entire season after splitting time with Garrett Stevens the past two years, has been the main offensive force for the Tigers. Slattery has thrown for 1,530 yards and nine touchdowns and has added 283 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

"Every year, at the end of the year, I label a guy as the poster-child as far as work ethic, commitment and time in the weight room," Brookins said. "He'd have to be my poster-child this year for sure.

"The injury he's been fighting, very quietly, had he not been a weight room disciplinarian, he wouldn't have been able to play as many games as he has."

Slattery is probable for tonight's game and is expected to play.

The offense found a new weapon this season with the emergence of sophomore George Hamilton, who has 29 receptions for 549 yards, an average of 18.9 yards a catch. Many of those yards have come after the catch, when Hamilton uses his athleticism to turn any catch into a potential big play.

Hamilton also sat out the Sikeston game and did not make the trip due to a discipline issue. The sophomore wide receiver will play tonight.

"George, back to the nine games he played this year, he obviously showed the ability to be a playmaker," Brookins said.

Farmington, which has a seven-game winning streak, is led by running back Travis Ribbing, who has rushed for 1,357 yards and 27 touchdowns.

"Watching him on film and a couple times live, I think he's an easy all-state selection," Brookins said. "He's good. He's the real deal. He's faster than what people think. He's got good feet and vision. If he can get to the outside and make it a foot race, he'll win most of them.

"Ribbing is the heartbeat of the team. If we can make his night hard, I think you'll see frustration on their team."

Farmington quarterback Aaron Baker has thrown for 1,085 yards passing and nine touchdowns. His favorite target has been Parks Peterson, who has 25 catches for 593 yards.

Farmington is ranked No. 6 in Class 4 in the final state poll. Central will be looking for another upset.

"If it doesn't [motivate us], our kids are in the wrong sport," Brookins said. "If that doesn't motivate you, what else will. The last thing we listed on our scouting report is we have nothing to lose. That's not a bad place to be some times."

Rivalry rematch

In the Class 1 meeting between MAFC Blue Division rivals St. Vincent and Valle, the matchup pairs two teams that turned it on in the second half of the season. At the end of Week 5, St. Vincent and Valle sat with identical 2-3 records. Since then the teams have combined to win nine of 10 games.

This will be the second meeting between the two teams. In the conference game in Week 3, St. Vincent scored a late touchdown and held on for a 13-12 win at Valle.

"I think both teams have grown up, both teams have changed," St. Vincent coach Keith Winkler said. "Any time you put St. Vincent and Valle on the football field, anything can happen."

The Indians (6-4) have won their past four games, including Thursday's district championship over state-ranked Hayti. Those four wins gave St. Vincent its fifth straight winning season.

Winkler said his team -- which has six seniors -- is not young anymore.

"I think that's gone," Winkler said. "It should be gone. You've played 10 games. Whether the sophomores believe it or not, they're juniors football-wise.

"It's been a lot of fun to watch the kids mature. There were a lot of people at the beginning of the year saying St. Vincent football was down."

Valle has matched the Indians' progress. After capturing a district title last year -- Valle routed St. Vincent en route to the title last year before moving to District 1 -- the Warriors experienced their share of inconsistency early on this season.

Valle (7-3) has won its last five games, including four straight shutouts. During the course of the season, Valle has allowed more than 14 points just twice, and all three of Valle's losses came against district winners.

"Their defense is flying around the field and coming up and sticking people," Winkler said.

The rushing attack of both teams will be key. St. Vincent senior Greg Finger has 688 yards on just 81 carries since moving to the backfield at midseason. He had 174 yards and three touchdowns against Hayti. Fellow senior Lucas Robinson has 545 yards and scored four touchdowns against Portageville in Week 9.

Valle senior fullback Nathan Grass and senior tailback Colby Schilly lead the Warriors' running attack. Grass was all-state last season.

With the running game, turnovers become a factor with a wet football.

"In high school football, especially this time of year and especially in November, you never know what you're going to get," Winkler said of the weather. "You have to handle the ball and not make any mistakes."