HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: TIGERS FOUR QUARTERS, 11 KNIGHTS AWAY

Cape Central may not be the sixth-ranked team in Class 4A, but it can say something Farmington can't.

No Class 4A team from Missouri has scored a point against the Tigers this year. Not even a field goal.

Cape Central (5-4) will be looking for its fourth straight shutout tonight and its fifth overall when the Tigers take on the 8-1 Knights at 7 p.m. at Farmington for the Class 4A, District 1 championship and a berth into the Missouri playoffs.

Though the Tigers haven't been scored upon in three weeks, they know they'll have their hands full with a physical, run-oriented Farmington squad.

In their last four games, the Knights have averaged a 32.5 point margin of victory, including their 18-0 win over Sikeston last week.

"I'm impressed how, offensively, they get off the ball," said Cape Central coach Lawrence Brookins. "They believe in what they do and they'll try to run over you. We just want to slow them down and make them pass more."

Central has seen this type of team before and more often than not the defense has answered the challenge.

In Central's four losses, no team has been able to run over the Tigers. A lack of offense and a sporadic pass defense that has been responsible for all but one of Central's losses. Not even New Madrid County Central -- which is ranked sixth in 3A and ran wild on Farmington in a 34-0 win -- could manage much on the ground against the Tigers. And Central held Jackson, ranked third in 5A, to 135 yards rushing save two long runs by Mario Whitney.

Nonetheless, Farmington will stick with what has worked -- and that is helmet-to-helmet, pile-moving football.

"We're going to have to stay with what got us here and be physical and control the ball," said Farmington coach Mike Thebeau. "It'll be a very physical and hard-fought game."

In Central's last three games -- against 5A Ritenour and district foes Sikeston and Perryville -- the Tigers' opponents have averaged 74 rushing yards and 35 passing yards.

For the year, the Tiger defense is allowing 10.2 points and 130 rushing yards per game.

"They have a very good defense," Thebeau said. "Their front four are physical and quick and their linebackers are quick and aggressive. They all fly to the ball. Coach Brookins has improved them a lot."

Indeed, Central -- which has a plus-13 turnover ratio -- seems to have the whole package on defense, but Brookins points to the tackle positions as the key to the defense's overall improvement this year.

"The emergence up front has been big," said Brookins of Chris Smith, an athletic 6-foot-2, 300-pounder and Justin Wells (6-0, 250). "Everything is funneled to O.J. Turner, the middle linebacker, who is usually your best ball player. But you have to have help up front. Chris Smith is real quick for his size and Justin Wells is our best technician. When they're doing their job, it frees up O.J. to make the tackles."

Justin Welker, Central's starting all-district defensive end who has been out the last four weeks with a broken and sprained ankle, practiced this week and will probably see time tonight, though to what extent is unknown. But his replacement Octavius Moore, and opposite end Adrian Wren, have been solid.

Plus, Central's secondary has had at least one interception in each of the last four games -- two of which have been returned for touchdowns -- so it'll be a tough task for Farmington to move the ball.

"You can't get us inside and you can't get us outside," said Smith after practice Tuesday.

Added Wells, "After seeing our defense, I think they'll try some trick plays. I'm not getting overconfident becuase I know they're a good team. But we've seen bigger teams."

While no team has been able to simply run over Central, no team other than New Madrid has been able to totally shut down Farmington's offense either.

Farmington, which has three 3A teams on its schedule and no 5A opponents, is averaging 28.2 points per game to Central's 20.3.

The Knights are led by Andy Rains, who has rushed for 1,148 yards on 159 attempts for a 7.22 yards-per-carry average.

"He's faster than what he looks," Brookins said. "I think he's caught some players by surprise once he turns the corner."

Farmington throws the ball about 10 times per game. Quarterback Josh Baker has completed 43 of 92 passes for 668 yards and seven touchdowns. Most impressively, he has been intercepted just once.

Offensively, Central, a 20-0 winner over Perryville last week, is getting the job done with a blend of passes and runs.

Central tailback Jamelle Austin (631 yards, 126 carries) injured his leg in last week's game. He practiced with a large brace over his ankle this week and his status is questionable.

Monroe Hicks is the scheduled starter at tailback.