No. 7 Bulldogs roll with run game in Hess' debut

Starting fresh is just fine for Zack Hess and his South Callaway Bulldogs football team.

South Callaway piled up a mammoth 549 yards rushing in Friday night's season opener against Putnam County, and the Bulldogs delivered Hess with his first career victory as a head coach in his debut by punishing the Midgets 45-7.

South Callaway is coming off a dazzling 2014 season and a 14-1 record that was capped off by a Class 2 state runner-up finish. The Bulldogs, though, lost 19 starters - 10 on offense and nine on defense - to a talented senior class that graduated, then Tim Rulo left after seven years to take over as head coach at Class 4 Helias in Jefferson City.

The transition to a new chapter of South Callaway football appears to be in good hands with Hess, if Friday night's runaway win is any indication.

"Hopefully we didn't disappoint," said Hess, who spent the past five seasons as an assistant for Rulo, the last two as defensive coordinator. "This is a learning curve for all of us. I felt like everything went pretty smoothly.

"Hopefully we're off and running."

That was literally the case Friday night as the seventh-ranked Bulldogs - under new offensive coordinator Tucker Bartley - bludgeoned Putnam County with their relentless ground attack. Senior running back Cameron Richardson sparked South Callaway with a game-high 145 yards rushing on 14 carries, while senior quarterback Ethan Livengood and sophomore running back Kaden Helsel combined to run for five touchdowns.

The Midgets scored first when quarterback Calvin Heidenwith snuck free on the perimeter on a fourth-and-2 and raced 88 yards for a touchdown with 11 minutes, 18 seconds left in the second quarter. South Callaway came back to tie the game at 7-all on Livengood's 2-yard touchdown scamper at the 3:50 mark.

The Bulldogs needed a little more than a minute to take the lead for good when Livengood powered his way into the end zone from 3 yards out with 2:49 to go in the first half. Livengood - making his first varsity start at QB - has been bothered by a shoulder injury, but was cleared to play by his doctor last week.

Livengood rushed for 102 yards in 11 attempts and was 0-for-3 passing with an interception.

"Ethan did a great job and showed no signs of discomfort," Hess said. "He had command of the offense and it didn't look too big for him, and he didn't get rattled.

"I was pleased with the way he handled himself."

Helsel stretched South Callaway's lead to 27-7 by supplying touchdown runs of 11 and 21 yards in the third quarter. He logged 100 yards on just nine carries.

Senior running back Connor Stupperich added a 15-yard touchdown run for the Bulldogs with 9:43 to play in the game and Livengood contributed his third score on another 2-yard run with 4:00 left.

"The key was our offensive line and our senior leadership; they did a great job up front," Hess said. "They opened up a lot of running lanes and I think our tempo and depth wore down Putnam County's defense."

Meanwhile, South Callaway's defensive unit kept the Midgets out of the end zone after surrendering the early score. The Bulldogs held Putnam County to 185 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers, including two fumbles.

"It was encouraging to see guys fly around, getting 11 hats to the ball," Hess said. "I was pleased with that."

The Bulldogs' special teams also accounted for a score when freshman Peyton Leeper returned a punt 40 yards for a touchdown with 1:15 remaining in the game.

South Callaway continues its season-opening road trip when it travels to Southern Boone this week. The Eagles ripped St. Pius X (Festus) 50-0 on Friday night.

"With all of the new faces that we have, to experience some success will build confidence and develop chemistry," Hess said. "That will go a long way."