BONNE TERRE, Mo. -- There's no truth to the rumor that a possible Central-North County III will be played on pay-per-view.

If the two teams meet again this season in a Class 4 sectional, there's little doubt It would be a big seller.

On Friday night, the two teams that played to double-overtime in last year's sectional round, again stood toe-to-toe for two overtimes.

In just the second meeting ever between the two schools, North County evened the score with a thrilling 35-28 victory. The Tigers won the first encounter last season, ending the Raiders' season with a 53-52 win.

The game lived up to its billing as both teams entered with perfect 3-0 records -- Central ranked No. 1 in the Southeast Missouri Top 10 poll and North County ranked second.

"It looks like it's going to be a rivalry," Central junior quarterback Mitch Craft said, standing in the end zone where his final pass fell incomplete as Chris Daniel was unable to come up with a diving attempt.

A winning play

A 7-yard touchdown run up the middle by North County's Steve Skaggs in the second overtime proved the game-winner.

Central had a chance for the tie, starting from the Raider 25, but only moved as far as the 10 before stalling.

"At halftime something got in us and we knew we had to wake up and get something done," Craft said. "It's hard. We thought we had it, but it goes that way sometimes. We'll see them again."

The Tigers dug themselves an early 14-0 hole after North County (4-0) scored on two of its first four possessions. Junior quarterback Adam Howard, who was a sizzling 29 of 37 passing for 325 yards, completed two of his four touchdown passes to Alex Winters and Mark Stolle.

For Central, which had back-to-back shutouts coming in, it was the first time it trailed all season. The Tigers managed to shake a flat first half by scoring on a Craft pass to Daniel with 50 seconds left to cut the deficit to 14-7.

"We came out flat the first quarter and they took advantage and it came back to haunt us," Central receiver Seth Hudson said. "We've got to keep our heads up. We came back and played real well. We're not coming out flat next week."

Central knotted the score on its first possession of the second half on a Monroe Hicks 8-yard touchdown run, only to see North County move ahead on its next series as Howard connected with Aaron Byington on a 20-yard pass for the touchdown and a 21-14 lead with 1:30 left in the third quarter.

Central immediately answered with a 6-play, 74-yard drive, capped by a Craft 1-yard plunge on the first play of the fourth quarter.

North County moved ahead 28-21 two possessions later as Howard, who hit long third-down passes all night, teamed up with Josh Bollinger for a 23-yard scoring pass on a fourth-and 8 with 3:42 left.

Central then moved 69 yards in in just over two minutes to tie the score. The Tigers also converted on a fourth-down play as a double reverse from the Raider 13 picked up the necessary two yards. Hicks dashed around the right side for a 10-yard touchdown run on the next play. Colin Schermann, a perfect 17-for-17 on extra points this season, tied the game 28-28 with 1:40 left.

"I thought we had them then," Craft said. "But their offense played real good and got them another touchdown."

In the first overtime, Central moved to the North County 7, but fumbled the ball away on third-and 2.

North County moved to the Tiger 12 on its possession, but the Tiger defense came up big with sacks by Adrian Wren and Brandon Twiggs, pushing the Raiders out to the 31. North County ultimately missed a 42-yard field-goal attempt.

"We're looking forward to the playoffs," Hudson said. "I can promise you we're not going to come out flat that time. It'll be another heck of a game."

jbreer@semissourian.com

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