MOKANE, Mo. - The South Callaway Bulldogs are showing head coach Zack Hess more signs of steadiness, but there remains some distance from that destination.
South Callaway will seek back-to-back wins for the first time this season when it travels to Van-Far tonight for an Eastern Missouri Conference clash with the Indians. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
The Bulldogs (2-1) regained their groove after a humbling 48-0 loss at Southern Boone by crushing Clopton/Elsberry 53-8 in their home and EMO opener last week. South Callaway got its running game back on track by accumulating 284 yards and the Bulldogs' defense forced five turnovers, converting one into a score.
"I think we're making progress, but we still have things to work on," Hess said. "There's so much potential, but we're not there yet.
"We've just got to keep working hard, keep coaching these guys hard and trying to get them to play fast, and understand their roles and doing their job, and buying into the system - and all of that stuff. They're getting better."
Van Far is also 2-1 after suffering its first loss of the season last week. The Indians - who outscored North Shelby and Missouri Military Academy by a combined 76-0 in their two victories - were overpowered in their EMO opener 41-0 at Mark Twain, which is ranked No. 8 in Class 1 in this week's media state poll.
Noticeably absent from the Van-Far offense to this point has been running back Sharrod Connor, a 5-foot-9, 150 pound junior. Connor had 46 catches for close to 700 yards and five touchdowns last season, while rushing for more than 500 yards and four scores.
He has not played yet this season due to an unknown injury, according to Hess.
"That's about all the information that I've got," Hess said. "We haven't really talked a lot about him, just because he's not been in the (game) film. At the same time, we have to know that he could play and he could be a difference-maker for that team.
"If he's truly their best athlete, they're going to try to get him the ball, so we have to be prepared for that."
Sophomore quarterback Parker Wallace (5-8, 150) directs the Indians' spread offense and will be joined in the backfield by freshman running back Trey Miller (6-2, 165). Senior wide receiver Nick Barnes (6-2, 160) is Wallace's top target, but is also a threat to run the ball.
"We want to contain their athletes and understand what plays you're going to see out of certain formations," Hess said. "I think that's going to be big - that we get that down and remember that.
"That will help us anticipate better and be able to make more plays."
The South Callaway defense allowed 205 total yards last week and intercepted Clopton/Elsberry junior quarterback Stephen Talbert four times. The highlight came when senior linebacker Levi Mealy picked off a Talbert pass and raced 45 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter.
Facing a nimble-footed quarterback for the third straight week, Hess has emphasized keeping Wallace locked down in the pocket tonight.
"He's not a real big kid, so the more he has to throw over the (defensive) line and not roll out and extend plays, the better it's going to be for us," Hess said.
Six different players ran for touchdowns last week to energize the Bulldogs' ground attack. Senior running back Cameron Richardson had scoring runs of 1 and 9 yards while tallying 48 yards on only seven carries. Junior running back Harley Kight led South Callaway with a game-high 70 yards in just seven attempts and also bolted 26 yards for a touchdown.
"They're running hard ... and they're finding those creases really well," Hess said of the running backs group. "They have that good, forward lean and they're getting the yards that we need to get."
Hess explained Van-Far's three-man defensive front might be most susceptible to the run on the interior.
"We think they're going to overload the perimeter ... and play with one inside (line)backer, and they're just going to straight man-to-man our athletes," Hess said. "... I think the weakness of that is up the middle.
"We have to sustain blocks, get up to the second level. Our offensive line has to play really well, like they've been doing, and open up running lanes."
South Callaway at Van-Far - Updates on Twitter: @FultonSunSports.
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