Seeds at stake as North Callaway faces Van-Far

Positioning for districts

KINGDOM CITY - The North Callaway Thunderbirds are looking for another peak to propel them.

North Callaway ends the regular season at home tonight with a matchup against Eastern Missouri Conference opponent Van-Far that will affect the Class 2, District 6 standings. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

The Thunderbirds are in third place in District 6 with 34.55 points, just ahead of the fourth-place Indians with 32.2. The top four district teams are assured of hosting a game next week.

Outside of two straight victories in the midst of the regular season, North Callaway has alternated wins and losses. The Thunderbirds (4-4, 3-3 EMO) are hoping to climb out of another rut after last week's 22-18 conference loss at Wright City.

"It's the same message that it's been for a while," North Callaway head coach Kevin O'Neal said. "Our goals that we want to accomplish in getting to that district championship game, and giving ourselves a chance to win districts, are still there.

"We have to execute and play better. Part of that's my fault - getting them prepared and confident in the game plan. We're going to work on that this week and make sure we know the game plan in and out, and come out and execute Friday night."

O'Neal said his players understand the district consequences that are on the line tonight.

"I think they're focused, I think they're ready to play," O'Neal said. "The main core believes we can go out and accomplish some things. Some of that confidence was a little bit shaken there (last) Friday night, but we came in and talked (Monday), and got some things ironed out.

"I think they're excited about what we're going to try to do, offensively and defensively, this week."

Van-Far is also trying to right itself after a 14-12 EMO loss at Clopton/Elsberry last week. The Indians - who have gone 2-4 since opening the season with consecutive wins - are also 4-4 overall but only 2-4 in conference play.

"Coach (Blake) Logan is doing a great job there," O'Neal said. "He's younger and he's learning as he goes, which I see as a big plus. Each year he's getting a little bit better at things."

Senior quarterback Lucas Robinson (6-foot, 165 pounds) directs Van-Far's spread offense out of the shotgun formation. Sophomore Sharrod Connor will also line up at either running back or wide receiver.

Robinson scored on a 2-yard touchdown run in the Indians' 82-14 conference loss at state-ranked South Callaway on Sept. 12. He finished with 48 yards on 16 carries and completed 17-of-30 passes for 162 yards and an interception. Connor came up with eight catches for 115 yards, both game highs.

"He (Logan) has kind of simplified some of the things that they do offensively, but they execute them a little bit better," O'Neal said. "He's got some great playmakers in the skill-position spots and does a good job of finding ways to get them the ball.

"When they're on, they can be a real exciting team to watch and tough team to stop. We're going to have to make sure we're ready to go."

North Callaway's defense gave up just 159 net yards last week, but allowed touchdown runs of 1 and 90 yards by Wright City quarterback Kyle Tuepker. Tuepker also ran back a kickoff 76 yards for a score.

O'Neal emphasized the Thunderbirds' defensive unit can't be distracted by all of the Indians' offensive maneuverings tonight.

"We can't let all of their motion and formations take us off of playing assignment football," O'Neal said. "We can't get confused with some of the shifts and some of the things they do offensively.

"We have to make sure we stay on our keys and execute our assignments."

Meanwhile, the Thunderbirds' offense will need to correct red-zone difficulties that dogged it last week. North Callaway drove inside Wright City's 30-yard line on five different trips, including three times inside the 10, but came away scoreless on each venture.

Senior quarterback Cole Branson picked up a game-high 165 yards on 17 carries and scored on touchdown runs of 1, 49 and 3 yards. Branson, though, was just 15-of-38 passing for 150 yards and was intercepted twice.

O'Neal is hoping the Thunderbirds can establish their running game and complement it with a quick passing attack against Van-Far's 4-4 defensive scheme.

"Those same guys that are their playmakers offensively, they kind of play them in the secondary and as linebackers on defense, and try to run down plays as much as they can," O'Neal said. "Offensively, we've got to make sure that we execute and we know where those guys are in space, and we're getting a body on them."