The Fulton Hornets are still alive.
Head coach Pat Kelley takes solace in that fact. Even after losing his starting quarterback, even after dropping a fourth straight game to close out the regular season, Fulton has reached the point of the season where none of that seemingly matters.
The Hornets - winners of four of their first five - dropped their fourth game in the last five tries in a 34-24 North Central Missouri Conference loss to the Kirksville Tigers on Friday night at Robert E. Fisher Jr. Stadium.
As a result, Fulton fell to the fifth spot in the Class 3, District 6 standings and will have to travel to Chillicothe on Thursday night to open district play. Chillicothe (4-5) moved into fourth place after topping St. Joseph Benton 35-20 on Friday night.