Cape Central football picks up statement win over NMCC in season opener

The Cape Central football team runs onto the field in their season debut vs New Madrid County Central on Friday, Aug. 30 at Tiger Stadium.

Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com

In November, the last time Cape Central High School stepped on the football field, the Tiger faithful fell all but silent before the end. A Class 5 state semifinal playoff loss to Cardinal Ritter left the program with some unfinished business and a chip on their shoulder entering the next chapter.

Nine months later, head coach Kent Gibbs’ squad began to write a new script and made the most of their fresh start in front of a jam-packed home crowd at Tiger Stadium. From start to finish, Cape Central flashed its speed, pressure, and power to thrash Class 2 foe New Madrid County Central, 42-0, on Friday, Aug. 30.

“It gives you confidence if you come out and play well early, and we did that,” Gibbs said. “I didn’t like some of the things that went on in between, but it’s always good to be 1-0.”

The dynamic duo of junior Keyshawn Boyd and senior Zai’Aire Thomas paved the way as the two accounted for five touchdowns and nearly 250 all-purpose yards.

While Boyd, who carried on his role as the featured tailback, made a handful of dazzling highlight reel plays, his marquee moment of the night came on special teams when he took a kick return 70 yards to the house to open the second half.

“He doesn't get credit for how fast he is,” Gibbs said. “If you gave him the head of steam, there's not many guys going to tackle him one on one and you saw that several times tonight. But at the end of the day, he works, he gets better, and we're just blessed to have him.”

Thomas was just as potent with the ball in his hands. On the second possession of the game, the senior all-purpose back scored a 59-yard rushing touchdown on an end-around to give the Tigers an early 14-0 cushion.

Boyd and Thomas weren’t alone in turning heads.

After a season-ending injury derailed his 2023 season, senior quarterback Deklin Pittman got back on track in a big way, finishing the night with two total touchdowns – one on the ground and one through the air.

Pittman said that it was important for him to find his rhythm once the early-game jitters went away.

“It was definitely a little intimidating at first,” he said. “Once I started going, once I got out of the first quarter, it was pretty fun. Getting out here with the guys was great. I know that I hadn't played in a minute, but they had my backs just like I had their’s.”

The Eagles were plagued with mental errors and misfortunes for most of the night. The Cape Central defense rode their preseason momentum into Friday and were utterly dominant after holding New Madrid County Central to less than 50 yards of total offense.

While New Madrid County Central had no response on the scoreboard, there were a few bright moments, such as defensive back Erik Tillmon’s interception in the end zone midway through the third quarter.

Despite the shutout victory, Gibbs said that there were still a few miscues that need to be addressed ahead of next week.

“We started really well,” he said. “Then we got sloppy on both ends of the football in the second quarter. Way too many penalties defensively, jumping offsides, and then we got sloppy with some things offensively.

“Overall, we tried to get as many kids in the game as we could. So overall, good game.”

Cape Central, who is now 5-1 in season openers dating back to 2019, will turn the page to next Friday, Sept. 6 when the team heads north for a showdown against St. Charles West. Head coach Tyler Fullhart and New Madrid County Central will aim to bounce back when they host East Prairie next Friday at 7 pm.