TIGERS EXTINGUISH GRIFFIN RALLY 47-30

ST. LOUIS -- After exploding to a 23-point lead, Cape Girardeau Central High's football team nearly imploded during Friday night's Class 4A, District 1 opener against Vianney.

Seventeen unanswered points brought the Golden Griffins within three points, 33-30, with 9:10 remaining in the game. But touchdown runs of 28 and 36 yards from Demarco Williams in the final six minutes buoyed the Tigers to a 47-30 victory.

Central improved to 3-5; Vianney also is 3-5.

The Tigers' victory, their first district-opening win in coach Jerry Dement's five-year tenure, sets up next Friday's bout against Jackson, which could decide the outcome of the district. Jackson beat Poplar Bluff 20-19 in overtime Friday.

After spotting the Golden Griffins a 7-0 edge after the game's third play from scrimmage, Central led 33-10 a minute and a half into the second half.

Central quarterback Frank McGinty, who snapped a two-game funk by completing 14 of 19 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns, found Chris Allen on an 8-yard strike with 7:15 remaining in the first quarter to tie the game. Allen caught seven passes for 72 yards.

Another 8-yard TD pass from McGinty to Allen made the score 13-7 early in the second half. After a 3-yard scoring run from Harris, who amassed a season-high 125 yards rushing, a 14-yard pass from McGinty to Allen set up a 1-yard TD lunge from McGinty to put the score at 27-7.

A Vianney field goal made the score 27-10 at halftime.

McGinty hit Williams for a 57-yard TD early in the third quarter. But two Vianney scores and a third after a Central fumble brought the Golden Griffins to within three, 33-30.

Williams then made the score 40-30 with 5:48 to go before Chris Allen's interception about a minute later set up Williams' third TD run of the game and fourth score overall.

Central's 255-yard rushing output was its largest of the season. The Tigers piled up 452 yards total offense to Vianney's 322.