For the South Callaway Bulldogs, another close call against the Tipton Cardinals meant little consolation.
In Friday night's showdown between state-ranked, undefeated teams, Tipton wriggled out of an early jam in overcoming a 12-0 first-quarter deficit by answering with 14 points in the second quarter to take a narrow lead into halftime.
It then came down to a pair of momentous plays in the second half by Cardinals senior running back Dallas Peoples that tormented South Callaway and ignited Tipton.
Peoples ran back the second half's opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and then threw a 33-yard pass for a critical score in the fourth quarter, and the Cardinals resisted the Bulldogs down the stretch for a 28-18 win.