The Cape Central Tigers kept St. Charles West's speedy running backs under control last night.

They snuffed out the Warriors' passing game and played it clean on special teams.

But there was one play they could not defend.

On the last play of the first half, St. Charles West kicker Kevin Ball slipped and fired a line-drive 49-yard field goal attempt directly into the oncoming rush of Cape Central.

The kick was blocked, but the play was a long way from over.

St. Charles West holder Brandon Messina picked up the loose ball and ran 39 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown, knocking over the endzone pylon after being caught from behind by Central's Chris Allen.

The extra point kick failed, and St. Charles West led 9-0 at the half.

St. Charles West held on to win 9-7, improving to 5-2 for the season. Cape Central is 2-5.

"It bounced right back to me," said Messina, the Warriors' long-ball threat at split end on offense. "I just knew to take off with it, and I lucked out and got a couple of blocks."

"That was the last thing we said," St. Charles West coach Steve Stahl said. "We told them if it was blocked, cover it."

Cape Central could not overcome the halftime deficit, despite the fine play of its defense.

The Tigers allowed only 63 rushing yards and four passing yards in the second half, but could not sustain a drive offensively.

For the game, Emmanuel Harris led the Tigers with 52 yards on 15 carries. Quarterback Frank McGinty was 9-for-20 passing for 78 yards. He was intercepted once.

Chris Allen, one of the state's leading receivers, had an interception but no receptions in the game.

"We just couldn't get anything going," said 6-foot-2, 275-pound Central offensive and defensive tackle Craig Knoth. "We played a great defensive game. That field goal just tossed us. It was a fluke."

The first quarter was scoreless. Both teams established ground games, as Central attempted to recover from an eight-turnover debacle at Sikeston last week, and St. Charles West tried to survive without quarterback Kevin Ball, who has been out with a broken hand.

St. Charles West took a 3-0 lead with 6:11 left in the first half on a 20-yard field goal by Ball.

The key play of the nine-play, 44-yard drive was a 23-yard run by Warriors running back Taurus Ferguson, who ran for 77 yards on 11 carries in the first half.

Three scoreless possesions later, the Warriors started on their own 26-yard line after a punt by Central with just over a minute left in the first half.

Jake Newsham rumbled for 21 yards and Louie Meyer took a pitch for 11 yards to set up Ball's long field goal attempt, which would be blocked and run back for a touchdown by Messina.

Cape Central adjusted defensively and smothered the Warriors' inside running game in the second half.

The Warriors were able to eat clock, however, rushing 48 times and completing only one of six passes.

On the final play of the fourth quarter, another special team play put the hurt on the Tigers.

Ball, who was punting, bobbled the ball inside the Warriors' 35-yard line. But the all-state sprinter scooped up the ball and zipped 21 yards down the left sideline for a first down.

Cape Central generated its only points late in the fourth quarter on a drive which began at the Warriors' 18-yard line after a 59-yard punt return by Chris Allen.

On the fifth play of the drive, DeMarco Williams ran up the middle for a 6-yard touchdown. Mitch Ogles' kick made it 9-7.

St. Charles West recovered the on-sides kick, however, and ran out the clock on four consecutive rushes by fullback Mark Vollmar.

Ferguson led all rushers with 93 yards on 17 carries.

"Ball control and time-of-possession is a big thing for us," Stahl said. "Usually we're able to put more points on the board. They figured out what was ailing them in the second half."

"It was a defensive battle," Messina said. "That's a good team. They've had good competition, and they have a really good defense."