Graves County quarterback Stephen Hatchell was sacked by Cape Central linebacker Casey Dwyre during the first quarter Friday at Houck Stadium.

It wasn't morning breath.

That bad taste that the Cape Central Tigers woke up with this morning was the flavor of another close loss, another game of missed opportunities.

For the third time this year, Cape Central (2-3) fell in a close game, this time 12-7 to Graves County (2-4) at Houck Stadium Friday night.

"This one hurt me personally," said Cape Central coach Lawrence Brookins. "And it'll sting the players too. We missed some opportunities once again."

Brookins said basically the same thing after last week's 20-7 loss to Poplar Bluff, a game where Cape Central dropped some balls in key situations.

Central's loss Friday night can't be tagged so much about dropping the ball, but dropping the momentum.

After trailing 12-0 with about nine minutes left in the game, backup quarterback Jeff Dunaway sparked the Tigers. Dunaway completed an 11-yard pass on fourth-and-5 and three plays later Dunaway hit Zac Fidler on a fade pass from 21 yards out to cut Central's deficit to 12-7 with 8:34 left to play.

Then Cape Central recovered an onside kick and had more than enough time and momentum to take the lead.

But the Tigers' drive stopped at the Graves County 26-yard line after a desperate heave on fourth down failed. One play earlier, Dunaway had Fidler in the end zone but Fidler had the ball stripped at the last moment.

Cape Central, though, still had more than 4 minutes left in the game when it had the Eagles stopped at third-and-8 at their own 27. But Eagle quarterback and coach's son Stephen Hatchell bailed his team out when he scrambled left and heaved the ball to receiver Keegan Imhoff for a 44-yard reception deep across the middle.

Graves County coach Anthony Hatchell said the game-deciding play was supposed to be a short route.

"They had a good pass rush like they did all night," said the elder Hatchell. "But he worked out to the left and the receivers did a good job and broke to him."

"That took the wind out of our sails," said Brookins. "We forced him to move and it was just a good athletic play."

Statistically, Graves County dominated in the first half while the game was more even in the second.

The Eagles outgained the anemic Central offense 296-139 for the game, but in the first half Graves County outgained the Tigers 160-59.

After Cape Central failed to take advantage of two early turnovers, Graves County got out to a 6-0 lead on a 7-yard touchdown pass to Imhoff. The Eagles missed the extra-point kick.

That touchdown was set up when starting quarterback T.J. Erlacker threw an interception at his own 8.

But the Eagles didn't need a gift to score their second touchdown.

Graves County, on its first possession of the second half, took the ball 75 yards on 14 plays, using over 6 minutes of the clock. Twice the Eagles converted on fourth down and the drive was capped off when John Kyle Allred scored from 3 yards out.

Graves County missed a prime scoring chance in the first half when it moved the ball 68 yards on 15 plays on another time-consuming drive. The Eagles failed to score, but pinned Central deep.

As has been the case in each of Central's losses, the Tiger offense couldn't convert first downs. The Tigers managed just six first downs, while Graves County moved the chains 18 times. Central ran for only 58 yards, led by Jamelle Austin who ran the ball 55 yards on 23 carries.