KINGDOM CITY - North Callaway head coach Kevin O'Neal understands how a handful of plays can weigh on the end result.
O'Neal is trying to convey that message to his Thunderbirds' offense.
After being shut out and managing just 149 net yards in last week's 31-0 loss to Bowling Green in its EMO and home opener, North Callaway will try to resolve its offensive issues tonight when it travels to neighboring rival Montgomery County. Kickoff for the Eastern Missouri Conference matchup is 7 p.m.
The Thunderbirds (1-2) made it into Bowling Green territory on three of their first four possessions, but the three series were tripped up by a turnover, a penalty and a fourth-down failure. North Callaway eventually went three-and-out on five additional possessions and committed three more turnovers.
"It was one or two guys not doing the right thing; it wasn't the same guys the whole game," O'Neal said Tuesday afternoon. "It was one or two different guys on every play, not quite doing what they were supposed to do.
"So we talked a lot about how that messes up a game plan - that we've got to try to execute on every play."
O'Neal cited a former NFL coach's insight as an example.
"I heard Mike Ditka talk about the game, whether it's a blowout or close, that you can go back and watch that game, and it is five to seven plays that determine the outcome," O'Neal said. "It might be five plays for this guy and five different plays for this guy, but it's always five to seven plays.
"I think a lot of that had to do with Friday night's game, and we talked to our kids about that, so hopefully we'll get back on track."
The Thunderbirds will be looking to right themselves against a Montgomery County defense that is surrendering 45 points a game. The Wildcats - who were 9-2 in 2013 - dropped to 1-2 on the season after a 36-0 loss in their EMO opener last Saturday at Wright City.
Montgomery County's 4-3 defensive scheme is guided by senior strong safety Kyle Kroll, who has a team-high 35 tackles (27 solo). The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Kroll is also Montgomery County's starting quarterback.
"He comes up and is very aggressive on the run, does a good job with run support," O'Neal said. "We have to make sure we're aware of where he is and we just have to execute our blocking assignments up front."
Meanwhile, North Callaway will need to clean up its own run defense after being shredded by Bowling Green's Adam Holt for 225 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Holt peeled off scoring runs of 20, 28 and 81 yards as the Bobcats gained 359 yards on the ground.
"We let Holt get outside, and you can't let that guy get outside because he's gone," O'Neal said.
The Thunderbirds will recall a 24-14 loss at Montgomery County last season in Class 2 District 6 first-round play. Kroll threw a touchdown pass and added scoring runs of 50 and 5 yards.
Kroll has only rushed for 176 yards (4.6 average) and two scores this season to lead the Wildcats in that category. He has completed just 15-of-36 passes (42 percent) for 161 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
"He has great vision, sees the field well," O'Neal said. "He obviously is the one we have to shut down - he's their main guy. We're going to focus on getting the ball out of his hands the best we can.
"... They do a lot of different things with him. They'll try to roll out and pass, and then they'll try to run some counters on the inside and they run some option with him. We have to execute our assignments to be able to stop him."
Regardless of what offensive and defensive challenges Montgomery County will present tonight, O'Neal emphasized that the Thunderbirds have to concentrate on their own improvements.
"We've got to make us better," O'Neal said. "We've got to do what we do - and do it better."