Prep Football: South Callaway pursues third straight victory in EMO

South Callaway offensive coordinator Tucker Bartley instructs players during a drill in practice this week at the high school in Mokane, Mo.
South Callaway offensive coordinator Tucker Bartley instructs players during a drill in practice this week at the high school in Mokane, Mo.

MOKANE, Mo. - After being blindsided with a bait-and-switch, South Callaway head coach Zack Hess isn't quite certain what the Bulldogs will see from Wright City's defense.

South Callaway, which hung on for a narrow 34-32 Eastern Missouri Conference win at Van-Far last week, returns home for a conference clash tonight with the Wright City Wildcats. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

The victory was the second straight for the Bulldogs, now 3-1 on the season and 2-0 in the EMO. Wright City is also 3-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play after shutting out Bowling Green 14-0 at home last week.

South Callaway prepared for an expected defensive scheme by Van-Far, but then the Indians tried to pull a fast one and changed alignments. The Bulldogs were still able to rush for 443 yards as a team.

"It's a little tricky, because we practiced against a certain defense last week and we didn't see it at all in the game," Hess said. "So with offense, you just never know what you're going to get, because coaches will scheme and do different things."

Hess stressed South Callaway's offensive unit has to show the ability to adapt on the fly.

"Your offense has to have a certain set of rules based on what kind of (defensive) front they're seeing," Hess said. "... You just have to make those in-game adjustments, and hopefully coaches up in the (press) box can help the coaches down on the sidelines see those things and communicate that, and then communicate that to the players.

"Then they have to execute, so there's quite a process. That's just what has to happen."

Hess believes the Wildcats will be constantly shifting out of various defensive looks tonight.

"So far we've seen everything," Hess said. "We've seen an odd front, we've seen an even front. We're expecting a lot of 3-4 (scheme) and some odd stack. They're going to roll their safeties down and be very aggressive with their linebackers, and move those guys around."

The Wright City defense is giving up only 9.8 points per game and is led by a pair of senior linebackers - Austin Buchheit (5-foot-11, 175 pounds) and Kyle Tuepker (5-11, 175).

"(Buchheit) is all over the field, he's just making plays, very aggressive, and he gets downhill," Hess said. "(Tuepker) is the same thing - he's just all over the place in the film. Every clip he's in the play, making tackles."

The Bulldogs will continue to hammer opposing defenses with their versatile running attack, which is averaging a robust 348.5 yards.

"Our philosophy is that we want to be able to run the ball," Hess said. "Good teams are able to run the ball, and that's what we want to hang our hat on.

"I think our offense has taken that to heart and they're doing a good job with that."

The Wildcats' offense, meanwhile, is putting up 24.5 points a game - that total influenced mostly by a 52-7 EMO romp at Montgomery County on Sept. 4. Wright City is directed by senior quarterback Andrew Pfuhl (6-0, 180).

"He throws a really pretty ball," Hess said. "He has very good pocket presence, stands in the pocket really well and steps into his throws."

Pfuhl's primary targets will be senior wide receivers Tyler Brittain (5-9, 145) and Troy Muse (6-0, 180).

Senior Derenzo Blanks (5-10, 200) is the focal point of the Wildcats' running game.

"He's just a big, stocky running back, but he's fast and quick," Hess said. "He just seems like one of those guys that's going to run you over.

"He runs very hard and he's going to be hard to bring down."

South Callaway will need to correct a pass defense that allowed Van-Far sophomore quarterback Parker Wallace to throw for 211 yards and four touchdowns last week. Senior wide receiver Nick Barnes topped the Indians with 148 yards receiving and three scores on just eight catches, while also running for a touchdown.

"Our pass defense has to improve on all three levels," Hess said. "Our d-line has to get a better pass rush, our linebackers have to get better pass drops or they have to blitz better, and then our secondary just has to play with better technique and communicate better."

Notes: The Bulldogs will be helped this week by the return of two sophomores, running back-safety Kaden Helsel and backup quarterback-linebacker Landon Horstman. Both players missed the last two games - Helsel with a medial collateral ligament injury in his knee and Horstman with concussion symptoms. The two returned to practice Tuesday and Hess expects both to play tonight.

South Callaway hosts Wright City - Updates on Twitter: @FultonSunSports

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Week 5 Preview: South Callaway vs. Wright City