Think Cape Central has a week off with 1-4 Belleville Althoff coming up?

Better think again.

Althoff is rumored to be much better than its record. The Crusaders have played a wicked schedule and have lost a pair of heartbreakers: 21-17 against Cahokia and 12-10 against Metamora, a highly-ranked Illinois school.

They also have lost to Oak Park (6th in Illinois) and Kentucky powerhouse Mayfield.

Kickoff is tonight at 7:30 at Houck Stadium.

"They should have won a couple more ballgames," Central coach Jerry Dement said. "We're worried about them. They're as good a team as we've played so far."

That says something, considering Central's route to a 2-2 record so far this season.

The Tigers have lost to Columbia-Hickman (3-1, only loss to Jefferson City) and Blytheville (4-0), and have beaten New Madrid County Central (3-1) and Oakville (2-2).

The biggest problem Althoff poses for Central is its running game. The Crusaders run effectively up the gut, right where the Tigers' defense has proven softest.

"Everything they do is predicated off a power running game," Dement said. "And we haven't stopped the run very well. Their strength is our weakness."

Clyde Howard, a 195-pound running back, leads Althoff with over 400 yards rushing. Quarterback Danny Peil probably is more of a threat running than passing.

They run behind a physical and experienced offensive line.

"We need to control the ball," Althoff coach Glenn Schott said. "We'll try to run the football."

Central gave up over 300 rushing yards in a 35-28 victory at Oakville last week. Two-hundred of them came in the first half.

"We'd better not do that against this team," Dement said. "They'll run off and leave us. They're a better running team than Oakville. We have to make them throw the ball."

Central also sees the need to establish a ground game tonight. Althoff's strong secondary should be a good test for Tigers quarterback Frank McGinty and receiver Chris Allen (36 receptions).

"Their quarterback does a nice job," Schott said. "But if you just try to stop the pass, (DeMarco) Williams and (Emmanuel) Harris will beat you."

Speedy linebacker Chris Whitaker, a 6-foot-2, 202-pound senior, is one of Althoff's best weapons against the run.

Last year, Central beat Althoff 41-21, in a game which opened up in its latter minutes.

At the time, the Crusaders were in the midst of a 2-7 1997 season, facing the same kind of competition they have run up against this year.

Tonight is Central's Homecoming game.

"I didn't pick them for Homecoming," Dement said. " I never would have. It was Student Senate sponsor or somebody."