By Ryan Boland
Fulton Sun Sports Editor
KINGDOM CITY - Adam Reno delivered a dynamic, do-it-all display for the North Callaway Thunderbirds.
The sophomore tight end caught two touchdown passes and also ran for a pair of scores Friday night as North Callaway marked homecoming with a 43-0 Eastern Missouri Conference demolition of neighboring rival Montgomery County.
For good measure, Reno recorded two sacks from his linebacker position as the Thunderbirds - bouncing back from last week's 22-10 loss at Bowling Green in their EMO opener - squared their season record at 2-2 and their conference mark at 1-1. The North Callaway defense limited Montgomery County (0-4, 0-2) to 152 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers while posting its first shutout of the season.
Meanwhile, the Thunderbirds accumulated 361 yards of total offense and committed just one turnover, a fumble. Junior quarterback Milo Henry - who was sacked only once Friday night after being dropped eight times at Bowling Green - completed 10-of-18 passes for 151 yards and the two touchdowns, with no interceptions.
"The defense deserved the shutout; they've played excellent all season," North Callaway head coach Kevin O'Neal said. "The offense did the things they had to do to get on the scoreboard.
"I was very pleased with the entire team effort and I'm always happy to win the homecoming game."
The Thunderbirds struck quickly when they put up points less than a minute into Friday night's game when junior running back J.T. Higgins sprinted 27 yards for a touchdown with 11 minutes, 14 seconds left in the first quarter. North Callaway failed on the two-point conversion attempt.
Reno was then involved in the Thunderbirds' next four scores as they turned the game into a runaway. His 4-yard touchdown run, coupled with Higgins' run for the two-point conversion, put North Callaway in front 14-0 at the 9:24 mark of the quarter.
Henry then hooked up with Reno on a 47-yard touchdown pass with 5:39 to play in the first half. The tandem then connected again on a scoring pass covering 37 yards with 1:09 remaining.
Henry hit sophomore wide receiver Austin Edwards for the two-point conversion, carrying the Thunderbirds into halftime with a 28-0 lead.
Reno followed up with a 56-yard touchdown run with 3:55 left in the third quarter and junior running back Wyatt Branson topped off North Callaway's scoring on a 36-yard touchdown run with 11:11 to play in the game.
The Thunderbirds gained 210 yards rushing as a team, with Reno leading the way with 67 yards on just four carries. Senior running back Tyler Mattes was next with 62 yards in nine attempts, Branson had 47 on two carries and Higgins added 32 in four attempts.
Reno also paced North Callaway with his two catches for 84 yards, while senior split end Manzell Payne finished with two for 31.
Defensively, Mattes and Edwards came up with interceptions from their safety and cornerback spots, respectively.
North Callaway goes back on the road this week for a tough EMO challenge at unbeaten Mark Twain, ranked No. 8 in Class 1. The Tigers (4-0, 2-0) rolled to a 50-14 conference win at Clopton/Elsberry on Friday night.
•Notes: Country music star Neal McCoy sang the national anthem before Friday night's homecoming game. McCoy performed a concert later Friday night in Auxvasse.