KINGDOM CITY, Mo. - The North Callaway Thunderbirds' run defense knows what's waiting.
North Callaway will have to figure out a strategy to slow state-ranked and unbeaten Mark Twain - particularly senior running back Tyler Ellege - when the Thunderbirds tangle with the Tigers in an Eastern Missouri Conference encounter tonight in Center. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
North Callaway is 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the EMO after a convincing 43-0 Homecoming blitz of rival Montgomery County last week.
Mark Twain - which moved up two places to No. 6 in Class 1 in this week's media state rankings - is charging along in its first season under head coach Karl Asbury. The Tigers are 4-0 on the season and 2-0 in the conference after a 50-14 rout at Clopton/Elsberry last week.
It's no secret Mark Twain's offense depends almost entirely on its running game, behind a massive wall up front led by junior tackle Finnigan Taron (6-foot-3, 230 pounds) and junior tackle Dalton Hill (6-2, 230). The Tigers are tallying 46.0 points per game
Ellege (5-10, 145) has been the main benefactor, producing 64 percent of Mark Twain's offensive output with a stunning 1,203 yards rushing (14.2 average) and 13 touchdowns to this point.
"The Ellege kid, all he needs is just a small crease," Thunderbirds head coach Kevin O'Neal said. "He's good at finding that crease, and when he gets in the open field, he's got good speed as well."
North Callaway's defense has been punishing in stuffing the run, allowing Montgomery County to gain just 75 yards on the ground last week. That came in the wake of an extraordinary effort in a 22-10 EMO loss Sept. 4 at Bowling Green in which the Thunderbirds forced the Bobcats into the negative with minus-27 yards rushing.
"Those front seven guys ... do a very good job of playing assignment football and attacking the gaps they're supposed to be in," O'Neal said. "They just play sound, fundamental football, they attack when they're supposed to attack, and they don't sit back on their heels at all."
North Callaway's defensive front will need to parallel the physicality shown up front by the Tigers, O'Neal explained.
"Early on, we need to match their intensity on the offensive line and then as the game progresses on, to make sure we're not getting worn down - that we don't start getting high (with stances) and get driven back off the line of scrimmage," O'Neal said.
O'Neal is eager to see how the Thunderbirds' defense fares in tonight's contest.
"I'm excited to see what's going to happen there," he said. "It's a test for us; I think in the first week (against Mexico) we stepped up to that test early in the game, but then we wore down and gave up some points.
"I just want to see if we're able to sustain that for the entire game now."
North Callaway found some stability along its offensive line against Montgomery County, helping the Thunderbirds amass 361 total yards. Junior quarterback Milo Henry completed 10-of-18 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions, and was only sacked once.
Sophomore tight end Adam Reno caught Henry's touchdown passes of 47 and 37 yards in the second quarter. Reno was also incorporated into North Callaway's running attack, finishing with a team-high 67 yards on only four carries and scoring on runs of 4 and 56 yards.
"I think we've got that line solidified up front with five guys who want to get after it," O'Neal said. "I think we're right there, but there's still open competition at a couple of spots just to keep them working hard during the week in practice.
"I'm really pleased with how we controlled the line of scrimmage up front against a big Montgomery County team. All of our backs - (senior) Tyler Mattes, (junior) J.T. Higgins and Adam Reno - ran the ball hard every time they had a chance to carry it."
O'Neal noted the Thunderbirds will have to protect the ball against a Mark Twain defense that gives up just 14.3 points per game.
"They fly to the football, they rally at the football," O'Neal said. "Something we're going to stress this week in practice is making sure we take care of the football; they're good at creating turnovers when they can.
"Really they don't blitz a whole lot, they're just big up front, physical and get after you. We're going to have to hit our holes and execute."
North Callaway at Mark Twain - Updates on Twitter: @FultonSunSports.
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