KINGDOM CITY - The North Callaway Thunderbirds will likely have some surprises in store to spice up the second time around.
No. 2 seed North Callaway will be seeking a second straight win this season against No. 7 Montgomery County - their neighboring rival - when the Thunderbirds (5-4) host the Wildcats (2-7) tonight in a Class 2 District 6 quarterfinal. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
North Callaway rallied for a 27-23 victory Sept. 12 at Montgomery County to pick up its first Eastern Missouri Conference win. The Thunderbirds were able to erase a nine-point halftime deficit by shutting out the Wildcats in the second half.
North Callaway head coach Kevin O'Neal intends on employing some offensive and defensive twists to catch Montgomery County off-guard tonight.
"Preparation-wise, facing them a second time, you have to make sure that you still have little wrinkles in there - because they're familiar with you, just like you're familiar with them," O'Neal said Tuesday afternoon. "Our kids may be a little comfortable because they've seen them before, but you have to make sure you stay on top of them.
The rematch was made possible when the Thunderbirds moved up a place in the district standings after last week's 40-30 EMO home win against Van-Far. North Callaway also received a boost when Palmyra was shut out at home by Monroe City 32-0 and fell to the No. 3 seed.
Having the loftier district status also brings some added pressure for the Thunderbirds, according to O'Neal, even more reason to have some curves at their disposal.
"Being the one that's expected to win, being the higher seed, sometimes it's a little nerve-wracking," he said, "especially since last time we played them, we only beat them by four (points). They're going to have that confidence coming into the game, too; they have that familiarity with you, also.
"So you have to make sure that you still have some things that they haven't seen yet, ready to go."
North Callaway will confront a Montgomery County squad that is stumbling as it heads into district play. The Wildcats have lost three straight and were decisively outscored by a 168-25 margin during that span. Montgomery County is averaging just 15.4 points per game since the loss to the Thunderbirds.
North Callaway had to adjust on the fly after Montgomery County - switching from an option attack to a single-wing look - took a 23-14 lead into halftime. The Thunderbirds' defense helped spark the comeback by limiting the Wildcats to just 10 net yards and no first downs in the second half.
O'Neal pointed out Montgomery County has enhanced its single-wing scheme and has also gone to a two-quarterback system where senior Kyle Kroll (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) and junior Joey Schlueter (6-0, 180) are sharing snaps. Kroll scored on a 65-yard run in the North Callaway loss and also threw a pair of 48-yard touchdown passes to senior tight end Jack Ecton.
"They've added a few new wrinkles into that single-wing offense and they're kind of putting their own stamp on it," O'Neal said. "They're throwing the ball a little more out of it; I think they're just getting used to it as a team.
"Both of those guys (Kroll and Schlueter) are good athletes and I think - talking to Coach (John) Klekamp - that they're doing a good job of trying to fit the personnel that they have to the offense that they run."
O'Neal stressed the Thunderbirds' defensive unit can't get caught out of position.
"We have to make sure we execute and play assignment football," he said. "They have tight splits and they try to dominate you up front and take advantage if you're shifting to one side.
"They do some unbalanced looks and if you shift too much, they'll counter back the other way. We have to make sure that everybody is doing their job."
North Callaway's offense accumulated 345 total yards in the first meeting with the Wildcats, including 222 rushing. Junior wide receiver Tyler Mattes picked up a game-high 102 yards on 21 carries, while sophomore running back J.T. Higgins accounted for 90 yards in 19 attempts and scored on a 2-yard run.
Higgins and senior quarterback Cole Branson were responsible for 320 yards rushing and four touchdowns combined as the Thunderbirds piled up 405 yards on the ground last week against Van-Far.
North Callaway will try to continue that trend behind an offensive line that O'Neal said "is playing the best it's played all year."
"They're starting to come together as a unit and I thought they did really well (last) Friday night," he added. "If they continue to control the line of scrimmage like that, we'll continue to have success."
If the Thunderbirds prevail tonight, they would remain at home for the district semifinals. North Callaway is 2-2 on its own field this season.
"We're much more comfortable here (at home), we've played well at home for the most part this year, I think," O'Neal said. "It's special to play on your home field, especially for those seniors - to make sure that you're playing as many games as you can on your field."
In tonight's other District 6 quarterfinal contests, No. 1 seed Bowling Green (7-2) plays a home game against No. 8 Highland (1-8), No. 3 Palmyra (5-4) hosts No. 6 Clark County (4-5), and No. 4 Clopton/Elsberry (5-4) is at home to face No. 5 Van-Far (4-5).