With a new coach and without the program's most prolific player of all time, the Cape Girardeau Central football team is bound to have plenty of opportunities this year.

New coach Arlen Pixley steps in to replace Nathan Norman, who led Central to three straight Class 4 final four trips, including a runner-up finish in 2014.

Pixley, who led New Madrid County Central to four consecutive district titles (2007-2010) during a 10-year stint as head coach and most recently served the last two seasons as defensive coordinator at Kennett, brings a wealth of experience and inherits a coaching staff from Norman that remains almost entirely intact.

The Tigers finished 9-5 a year ago but found their footing as the season progressed. They finished their campaign in familiar territory, falling to Class 4 powerhouse Webb City for the third straight year.

"My dream here for our football team is to just be dominant, very physical and able to create a lot of confusion for opponents, which is going to create a lot of turnovers and a lot more opportunities on offense with the ball -- that's what I see us wanting to try to become," Pixley said. "I want us to play very fast and play very physical, which causes a lot of problems for our opponents."

Cape Central's Colt Sweet (54), Lamarcus Johnson (99) and Hunter Limbach (57) walk off the field after their 35-14 loss against Webb City during a Class 4 semifinal Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015 at Cape Central High School.Glenn Landberg

Offense

Cape Central senior Christian MitchellLaura Simon

No player will be missed more than star wide receiver Al Young, who will continue his playing career this year at Southeast Missouri State.

The two-time Semoball Awards Football Offense Player of the Year broke a number of school records during his illustrious prep career, racking up 27 touchdowns and 1,764 yards from scrimmage during his senior season.

Perhaps no coach in the area better understands how to move on from a star player than Pixley, who coached Carolina Panthers star defensive end Kony Ealy during his time at NMCC.

"You have to have that mentality that it's a new season," Pixley said. "There are new challenges out there. We've painted a humongous bullseye on our back, and we've got to prepare every day and with every rep knowing that everybody is trying to knock us off."

Cape Central's Kway'Chon Chisom warms up before the game against Jackson, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 at Jackson High School.Glenn Landberg

Central's new receiving corps will be made up by junior Austin Parker, senior Blake Harris and senior Diamonte Wilkins.

Cape Central senior Sam LemonLaura Simon

"All our receivers are stepping up and doing what they can do," senior quarterback Kway'Chon Chisom said. "They're not trying to do anything that they can't do. They're not trying to be Al or anything like that.

"They're just doing what they can and making everything work for themselves."

Junior running back Aaron Harris returns for an encore after breaking out in 2015, during which he finished with 231 carries for 1,615 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. He'll be joined in the backfield by senior Rickey Foulks and junior Joe Baker, while seniors Sam Lemon and Christian Mitchell will be featured at fullback.

The quarterback position will once again be helmed by Chisom, who ran for 987 yards (17 TDs) and threw for 984 yards (17 TDs) as a junior. Senior Trent Leimer, a utility player, will serve as the backup.

Cape Central's Aaron Harris carries for a 69-yard run against LaDue during the first quarter Friday, Sept. 18, 2015 at Central High School.Fred Lynch

The Tigers' new-look offensive line will be led by four seniors in left tackle Hunter Limbach, center Colt Sweet, right guard Keylon Pettigrew and right tackle Harrison Ayers, all of whom will be joined by the lone junior in left guard Lathan Daniels.

"We're multiple on offense," Pixley said. "The situation is probably going to predicate what we do. We're a good 21-personnel team, which is two backs, one tight end, and we run a lot of power, counter trey with play-action off that, but we've evolved into having the ability to go shotgun, five-wide, empty. We've added that in there because we don't have as many linemen type -- we've got more skill kids now.

"I think the speed of our team has increased, and we've installed an offense to compliment that core of players."

Defense/ST

Cape Central senior Blake HarrisLaura Simon

Central's defense will be anchored by its experienced secondary, starting with Blake Harris and Baker at safety.

Members of the Tiger Dancers perform before the game with Poplar Bluff Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 at Central High School.Fred Lynch

"It seems like he's been a safety at Cape Central for 10 years now just because he's that type of leader," Pixley said about Harris. "He knows the whole defense. He's kind of our quarterback back there."

The Tigers return one of the best cornerbacks in the state in Chisom, who amassed 86 tackles and four interceptions a year ago. He'll be joined on the opposite side of the field by Wilkins.

"Kway'Chon Chisom is probably the nastiest corner on this side of the state. I'd put him up there with everybody else," Pixley said. "... I know Southeast really likes him. They offered him at this point last summer."

Inside linebacker Aaron Harris had 89 tackles last season and is the team's top returning tackler. Ayers will accompany him on the inside along with outside linebackers Leimer and Matt Nussbaum, a junior.

Mitchell, Daniels and Pettigrew will be featured up front, creating a more athletic defensive line for Central.

Cape Central senior Trent LeimerLaura Simon

Freshman Hunter Hiett will handle kicking duties, while Leimer is expected to be the team's punter. Pixley said his return specialists will be a mixture of players, including Chisom, Wilkins, Baker and Foulks.

"I believe in pressure in all phases -- offensively, defensively and on special teams -- because things crack under pressure. Unsinkable ships sink and indestructible bridges fall with enough pressure," Pixley said. "... It gives us an opportunity to wreak more havoc."

Final analysis

The Tigers have been a run-heavy team in recent years, but that looks to change under Pixley, who believes his players will find their most success by utilizing the skill positions.

"We have a lot more hornets to add to our nest with a lot fewer hammers," he said. "To make a long story short, we believe that our skill kids, with the number of them that we have and with their speed and their athletic ability, can take a lot of pressure off our offensive line until those guys can grow and mature a little bit more with some game experience."

Cape Central senior Kway'Chon ChisomLaura Simon

While expectations remain high at Central, Pixley understands the challenges of stepping into a magnified role.

"My goal for those guys is just to improve each and every one of them as young men," he said. "I'm more worried about what they do when they leave our program. I don't want them to feel like when they leave, they could've done more.

"The bottom line is I want them to be proud of the way they came in and proud of the way they were coached and proud of the way they left and the heritage and legacy they left behind."

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2016 Cape Central Tigers Roster

No. Name Year Pos.

1 Chalen Robinson 10 RB/DB

2 Kway’Chon Chisom 12 QB/DB

3 Tyrus Reddin 9 WR/DB

4 Sam Lemon 12 FB/TE/DL

5 Markiese Jones 9 WR/DB

6 Blake Harris 12 WR/DB

7 Tanner Herbst 9 QB

8 Gage Wooten 9 WR/DB

9 Marc-Anthony Jones 9 WR/DB

10 Detrick Merriweather 10 WR/DB

11 Trent Leimer 12 FB/LB

14 Joe Baker 11 RB/DB

15 Diamonte Wilkins 11 WR/DB

16 Rickey Foulks 12 RB/LB

19 Austin Parker 11 WR/DB

21 Jayrite Wiseman 12 WR/DB

22 Aaron Harris 11 RB/LB

24 Matt Nussbaum 11 WR/LB

25 Iemeon Giles 12 WR/DB

28 Caleb Pryor 9 WR/DB

30 Donye Taylor 9 WR/DB

31 Koudada Wiley 10 RB/LB

33 Zaviay Curry 10 RB/LB

34 Jordan Long 10 RB/LB

35 Tanner Smith 9 RB/LB

36 Carrington Fleming-Wheeler 9 WR/DB

38 Deshawn Franklin 9 RB/LB

39 Kaleb Harper 9 RB/LB

41 Christian Mitchell 12 FB/DL

44 Kaya Newkirk 9 K

45 Avery Rayfield 9 WR/LB

46 Cameron Cox 9 QB/DB

47 Hunter Hiett 9 K/QB

49 Solomon Hulbert 9 RB/LB

50 Keylon Pettigrew 12 OL/DL

51 Braden Dover 9 OL/DL

53 Dakota Owens 9 OL/DL

54 Colt Sweet 12 OL/DL

55 Kegan Bramlett 12 OL/DL

56 James Lohmeier 10 OL/LB

57 Hunter Limbach 12 OL/DL

58 Britt Neal 10 OL/DL

59 Coby Reavis 11 OL/DL

60 JT Haggerty 9 OL/DL

61 Trey Dover 10 OL/DL

65 Tyler Centers 9 OL/DL

66 Ramondous Oliver 9 OL/DL

67 Devon Porter 9 OL/DL

68 Zach Koch 10 OL/DL

69 Dalton Rose 9 OL/DL

70 Lathan Daniels 11 OL/DL

71 Tyler Langston 9 OL/DL

72 Michael Ward 11 OL/DL

73 Ballas Schoen 11 OL/DL

74 Austin Clubb 12 OL/DL

75 Dorian Triplett 9 OL/DL

76 Kanion Hughuy 10 OL/DL

77 Harrison Ayers 12 OL/LB

78 Julian McBride 9 OL/DL

79 Logan Solis 9 OL/DL

80 Taylor Sissom 10 WR/DB

84 Wyatt Gerard 9 WR/DB

85 Cole Knight 10 K

86 Deaundre Brown 10 WR/DB

87 Justin Braswell 9 WR/DB

93 Grant Kluge 9 WR/DB

96 Quentin Ledbetter 11 OL/DL

N/A Garrett Jones N/A N/A

N/A Daurice Morse 9 QB/DB

N/A Caleb Pryor 9 WR/DB

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Head coach

Arlen Pixley, 1st year (0-0)

Assistant coaches

Christopher Eifert, Bobby Haggerty, James Hitt, Van Hitt, Tatum Kitchen, Gary Lynch, Tim McGuire, Britt Mirgaux, Bob Sink

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2016 schedule

Date Opponent Time

8.19 @Liberty (M. View) 7 p.m.

8.26 ST. CHARLES WEST 7 p.m.

9.2 @Farmington 7 p.m.

9.9 SIKESTON 7 p.m.

9.16 @Poplar Bluff 7 p.m.

9.23 UNIVERSITY CITY 7 p.m.

9.30 JACKSON 7 p.m.

10.7 @Chaminade 7 p.m.

10.14 SOLDAN 7 p.m.

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2015 at a glance

Record: 9-5

Playoff result: Lost to Webb City 35-14 in Class 4 semifinals

Points for: 36.5 ppg

Points against: 24.1 ppg

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Key returners

OFFENSE

Passing: Kway’Chon Chisom (52-95, 984 yds., 17 TD, 6 Int.)

Rushing: Aaron Harris (231 att., 1,615 yds., 11 TD)

Receiving: Blake Harris (5 rec., 125 yds., 2 TD)

DEFENSE

Tackles: A. Harris (89)

Sacks: Sam Lemon (2)

Interceptions: Chisom (4)