FULTON, Mo. - There's an edge about the Fulton Hornets - a chip on their shoulder that's carried them to a strong start.
Senior middle linebacker-offensive tackle Kobe Kaminski can explain that one.
"Just how other people view our team; we feel we have something to prove," Kaminski said. "A lot of people are getting state votes and we haven't lost a game yet, and we just feel like we have something to prove."
Yes, the Hornets are unranked in this week's media state poll. They aren't even receiving votes. But the offense is scoring at a 48-point-per-game clip and the Fulton defense has given up only 49 points combined through four games.
The Hornets are unranked but undefeated as they return home for tonight's North Central Missouri Conference clash with the Marshall Owls at Robert E. Fisher Jr. Stadium. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Fulton (4-0, 1-0 NCMC) is off to its best start in eight seasons, logging double-digit triumphs in all four contests. The Hornets' senior class "took its lumps" early in its high school career, according to head coach Pat Kelley, and is now seeing the fruits of that labor on the last go-round.
Ask Kelley to describe his team in one word, and he does so easily.
"They're competitors," Kelley said. "They know what it's like and they want to win. ... We've probably worked harder this summer than we ever had and it's shown on Friday nights."
That competitive spirit sparked Fulton last week as it found itself trailing 6-0 early in the first quarter of its NCMC opener at Moberly. The Hornets hadn't trailed since the closing seconds of the first half against School of the Osage in the season opener.
Last week's deficit lasted less than 3 minutes as junior quarterback Devin Masek raced 10 yards for a touchdown, the first of his four scores on the night. The Fulton defense blanked the Spartans during the final three-plus quarters en route to a 35-6 win, the Hornets' first at Moberly since 2002.
"It's big, and they knew and we talked about it," Kelley said. "We talked about milestones as a team and what we wanted to accomplish, and we've talked about what's ahead."
Toppling the Spartans at Moberly was an objective the Hornets outlined before the season and one they were glad to attain. Marshall (1-3, 1-1 NCMC) presents a different matter Fulton would like to settle.
The Owls - fresh off a 28-12 NCMC win against Kirksville last week - outlasted the Hornets last season in a 52-42 offensive slugfest in Marshall. Fulton outgained Marshall 564-493 yards, but was battered by the Owls' running game that racked up 395 yards on 38 carries (10.4 average).
"The game, I think, still sticks with everybody," Kelley said. "We just didn't play very well on the defensive side of the ball."
Hornets senior outside linebacker Trenton Clines vividly recalls how he felt afterwards.
"I know after the game last year it was pretty bad," Clines said. "We got our butts kicked on defense; we didn't do our jobs and that's one thing we're really focused on this year is to do our jobs."
Marshall quarterback Zach Maupin crafted a number of backbreaking runs on the option keeper as he gained 178 yards and scored four times in that victory against Fulton. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound senior is back under center to guide the Owls' power running attack.
The benefit of 19 years on the sideline allows Kelley to know that there's not much mystery to what Marshall does on offense. Senior Garret Clouse (5-7, 160) and junior Erik Mays (5-10, 170) will join Maupin in the backfield in the Owls' veer-option scheme, and each eclipsed 90 yards rushing last week as the team picked up a season-high 253 yards on the ground.
"They're going to line up with two backs in the backfield and run several formations," Kelley said. "They're going to fire off-tackle, give an option look and they may throw it.
"If they have success, they'll come back to it. If you can defend the off-tackle stuff and the option, you'll have success."
Maupin, Clouse and Mays will set up behind an experienced Marshall offensive line that's blessed with size. Seniors Taylor Anderson (5-9, 280) and Bryant Eads (6-0, 250) man the guard spots, while senior Noah Driskell (6-2, 250) and junior Kaleb Bishop (6-1, 230) will set up at tackle.
Maupin threw for just 28 yards last season against Fulton, but the Hornets' defense - allowing just over 12 points a game - shouldn't get hung up on the run against a Marshall offense that could draw up the same play all the way down the field, according to Kelley.
"They might lull you to sleep, then hit the tight end on a pop pass or rare up and try to hit the split (end) on the sideline," Kelley said. "And probably the scariest thing is they'll keep on the bootleg and go outside."
The Owls' 3-4 defense will try to contain a Fulton offense averaging almost 406 total yards and brimming with weapons everywhere. Senior running back Travis Dean is the centerpiece and already has a team-high nine touchdowns this season.
But Masek's play under center has triggered a diverse offensive assault that's seen 11 different players score touchdowns.
"It gives us a lot of different options and it's one of those things that's a good thing to have," Kelley said.
The edge is still there for the Hornets. Trying to right last season's defensive letdown is key for players like Kaminski.
"Having the momentum we're rolling on right now, we just want to keep things going and just play our best football no matter who is in front of us," Kaminski said. "But this is one we want to win."
Fulton hosts Marshall - Updates on Twitter: @FultonSunSports. Listen live online: kfalthebig900.com or kmmo.com
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