MOKANE - While the South Callaway Bulldogs' offense is generating points at a blistering rate, head coach Tim Rulo expects to accelerate the process.
State-ranked South Callaway is averaging an amazing 60.7 points a game heading into today's 7 p.m. Eastern Missouri Conference matchup at Mark Twain. The Bulldogs - ranked No. 3 in Class 2 - improved to 7-0 on the season and 5-0 in conference play after thrashing Montgomery County 62-0 last week.
To expedite the offensive tempo, Rulo stressed time can't be wasted between snaps tonight against Mark Twain's 3-4 defense.
"We want to continue to run plays faster," Rulo said after practice Tuesday night. "We want to be able to snap the ball with 19 seconds or more on the play clock. At the start of the season it was only 17 (seconds); we challenged the guys last week to move it to 19 and we did not handle that challenge very well.
"We want to make sure to get better at that. That's something that we stressed at our meetings on Monday and we'll hit them up even harder (Wednesday) with that. We're moving in the right direction."
South Callaway is returning to Mark Twain for the first time since suffering a 28-6 sectional loss there in the 2010 state playoffs. The Bulldogs and Tigers are both in their first season as EMO members.
Mark Twain is 3-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play after a 41-6 loss at Bowling Green last week.
Rulo is looking forward to his squad being tested by the Tigers' size advantage.
"That's always one of our concerns at South Callaway is how are we going to handle teams that are just bigger up front - both offensively and defensively - and this team is," Rulo said. "Their noseguard is enormous, they have some offensive linemen that are very large, a tight end that's very large.
"... We're just excited to see how we match up there."
Rulo explained that utilizing pad level and leverage are a pair of key factors in neutralizing a bigger opponent.
"It's about doing the little things a little big longer," he said. "... Can you keep your feet going a little big longer? Are you willing to do that through the course of an entire game?
"Not just the first play, but are you willing to do that every play against them?"
The Bulldogs' defense - which is allowing a scant 8.0 points per game - will square off tonight against Mark Twain's I-formation, double-tight end sets. The Tigers' offense is directed by junior quarterback Ethan Mack and the backfield includes junior running back Tyler Ellege and senior fullback Trey Arndt.
"They run an unbalanced offensive line up front, and again they're very physical, so for us, it's going to be handling the double-teams well," Rulo said. "They run a really nice inside trap to their fullback ... and we need to make sure our linebackers are reading their keys.
"There's a lot of trash (motion) and we don't want to get caught up in the wash. They don't have much of a passing game, so our defensive backs can't totally get sold out and forget about the pass. We should hopefully have a lot of guys answering the bell and stopping the run."
Even though South Callaway's offensive and defensive starters still have not played a full game due to the Bulldogs' decisive outcomes, Rulo noted that it's critical to protect his players from the season's grind.
"We just want to make sure that our guys are staying fresh - mentally, emotionally, physically fresh," Rulo said. "... Let's be honest, there's not a lot that we're going to keep teaching them. To me, it's a matter of them refining their skill and making sure that they're ready to go and getting their mental reps - whether it's watching film or doing walk-throughs.
"Their bodies are going to have to be 100 percent. That's why you cut back practice (time), that's why you do only one day in full pads now, because we want to make sure our guys are ready."
South Callaway will play its final two games of the regular season on the road, including a trip next week to EMO foe Bowling Green.
"We just need to see how we handle traveling," Rulo said. "We've been coming out so fast and furious when we're at home, can we do that when we're on the road too? We have so far."
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