FULTON, Mo. - The Fulton Hornets are riding a surge.
Fulton head coach Pat Kelley wants to keep it that way when the Hornets open North Central Missouri Conference play at home tonight against the Moberly Spartans tonight at Robert E. Fisher Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m.
"Other than Chillicothe last year (in the district quarterfinals), it's probably the biggest game we've played in the last couple of years just for the fact that we have a little momentum," Kelley said.
Kelley knows tonight's matchup is significant, and his players are just as aware. The contest will be an opportunity for Fulton to display a difference between last year's squad and this season's version.
"They know it's a chance, too, and a game to see if we're better or not, and that's what we've been saying is to make sure we're a better football team than we were a year ago," Kelley said. "This is probably a bigger test than (School of the) Osage in terms of where we are now."
After falling at Osage 41-14 in the season opener, the Hornets (2-1) have posted back-to-back blowout wins against Versailles and the Missouri Military Academy.
Fulton blanked M.M.A. 28-0 last week in Mexico in a game called at halftime because of lightning. Fulton piled up 377 yards of total offense, while limiting the Colonels to a sparse 7 net yards.
A similar, if not more consistent, effort will be necessary if the Hornets hope to knock off defending NCMC champion Moberly (1-2).
"We were ready to play last week, but I think after the safety (on the game's second play) and first touchdown, that we let down a little bit and you can't do that, especially against higher-quality teams," Kelley said. "We're going to have to play hard for four quarters and have that mentality that we have to play hard for four quarters."
The Spartans picked up their first win of the season last week by outlasting Kirksville 16-6 in their NCMC opener in Moberly.
Kelley noted Kirksville had the Spartans "on the ropes," but mistakes by the Tigers helped set up Moberly's victory.
While Fulton has allowed just six points combined in its last two games, it has committed at least five penalties and had multiple turnovers in all three of its contests. Kelley noted the Spartans are a team that "doesn't make mistakes," and that the Hornets will have to cut down on their own.
"We have to keep the ball and that's been a problem for us the last few weeks," he said. "We've had turnovers at big times."
Junior quarterback John Heimann guides a Moberly attack that, according to Kelley, uses a lot of motion and shifts to aid in running its read-option offense. Heimann is joined in the backfield by senior running back Gregg Bain, a returning all-district selection.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Bain - who averaged 9 yards per carry in 2013 - continues the string of standout backs that Fulton has faced so far this season. Senior Mickey Sires (6-0, 250) and junior Jess Brownfield (6-2, 250) anchor the Spartans' offensive line.
Fulton's defense is key to the team's recent upswing. It'll have to remain that way as Kelley is calling on the defensive, especially the linebackers, to stay focused and weave through Moberly's pre-snap offensive motion.
"There's going to be a lot of shifting and motion, and they don't run a lot of plays, but they give you a lot of different looks and if you give the quarterback the lead role to throw it or keep it, those are the kind of things that you have to stay home (for) and do your job," Kelley said.
Moberly's defense will be the first four-man front the Hornets' offense will face this season. Kelley believes his team just needs to play to its strengths when it has the ball.
One of those strengths, junior running back Travis Dean, is still "iffy" for this week's game, according to Kelley. Dean missed the M.M.A. game with an injury and was replaced by senior running back Dominique Ford.
Ford posted a game-high 82 yards rushing and scored on a 1-yard run as Fulton finished with 152 yards on the ground.
"Travis is a special player and it's tough when you don't have him," Kelley said. "... We're confident in who we have, but you'd like to have your best back in there."
The Spartans are just one game on the Hornets' schedule, but it's one they'd like to have in the win column.
"One game is not going to make a difference, but I think right now it's momentum," Kelley said. "We've got two (victories) in a row and we'd like to get to three - and have some momentum going into these games."