PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: TIGERS LOOK TO RE-ENGER 'W' COLUMN

The Cape Central Tigers and Graves County (Ky.) Eagles enter tonight's football game at Houck Stadium (7:30 kickoff) with something to prove.

Not to the fans, the media or even to their opponents -- but to themselves.

Central is coming off a disappointing 20-7 loss to Poplar Bluff, a game the Tigers think they should have won. And Central is still out to prove that it's one of the area's best teams despite a 2-2 record.

Meanwhile, Graves County is coming off its first win of the season and is also out to show it is better than its record of 1-4.

"That loss to Bluff stung us," said Central coach Lawrence Brookins. "It really bothered us. But we think we'll be in good position to get back on track this week."

Graves County coach Anthony Hatchell doesn't know how his team will respond after a 55-21 victory over a much smaller Fulton (Ky.) team.

"We're going to find out," said Hatchell. ""We lost four tough, close ballgames prior to that. We have to believe we're a good team. We've played the best teams in Western Kentucky."

Much like Central, Graves County has been in every game. Its largest defeat was a 34-14 loss to Hopkinsville, Ky. But the Eagles were within seven points in the second half. Graves County lost its other two games by a combined 15 points.

For whatever reason, Graves County has not been able to find a winning formula.

"We're just trying to get over than hump and finish one off," Hatchell said.

As far as matchups go, Brookins believes his Tigers possess more team speed than the Eagles, but in terms of size, the teams are about even.

After last week's loss to Poplar Bluff, Brookins admitted that the play calling may have been a bit too conservative. Though Tiger receivers dropped at least four passes, Brookins said he generally liked what he saw in the passing game, particularly late in the fourth quarter when the Tigers had no choice.

"We're still a little old-fashioned in that we believe we have to establish the run," Brookins said. "But I look back now and maybe we should've passed the ball more. I think we need to have a good mix going into this week. But it's like I told the kids -- there's two or three plays in our playbook that if we have trouble running them we might as well throw out the book because those plays set up everything else. You have a lot of stuff that complements your basic schemes."

Meanwhile, the Tigers couldn't solve Poplar Bluff's passing game as Stan Revelle and the Mules' receivers settled for short routes and sustained long drives.

"I anticipate that after Graves County scouted that game, that they saw the success Bluff had and I imagine they'll try some of the same things," Brookins said. "We need to be prepared for the run and the pass, but I think if they pass more often than not that it will be in our favor."

"We're a multiple-I team and a grind-it-out football team," Hatchell said. "I think ball control is going to be a key. They're very capable of being a ball-control team. But it could come down to the kicking game and field position.

"I'm really impressed with them. (Jamelle Austin) may be the best running back we've seen. They're real strong and physical and (O.J.) Turner is real impressive at linebacker."