Prep Football: North Callaway, Father Tolton to meet for first time

Adam Reno of North Callaway makes a catch against a Clopton/Elsberry defender during a game earlier this season in Kingdom City.
Adam Reno of North Callaway makes a catch against a Clopton/Elsberry defender during a game earlier this season in Kingdom City.

KINGDOM CITY, Mo. - The North Callaway Thunderbirds are receiving a fresh challenge as the caliber of foes starts to climb.

North Callaway will ride a surge into the beginning of Class 2 District 5 play as the fourth seed when it plays a first-round home game tonight against No. 5 Father Tolton. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

It will be the first-ever varsity football meeting between the Thunderbirds and the Trailblazers.

North Callaway coach Kevin O'Neal explained he and his coaching staff were eager to script offensive and defensive strategies tailored specifically for Tolton.

"All of us were raring to go," O'Neal said. "The excitement comes from the kids, because we know these kids are going to have the chance to be successful, so we were excited to sit in and break down film, and come up with a game plan.

"We know the kids are going to give us their best effort this week. They deserve that we give them our best effort as well."

The Thunderbirds have not lost in a month and a half and will carry a five-game winning streak into tonight's matchup. North Callaway has been commanding on both sides of the ball during its sizzling run, averaging an extraordinary 48.4 points per game while surrendering a skimpy 10.6.

O'Neal and his squad realize the stakes start getting serious tonight.

"We have to make sure we get better this week," O'Neal said. "From here on out, every single week, you're not going to play an easy opponent - it's not going to happen anymore."

Tolton will bring some momentum of its own into tonight's clash. The Trailblazers (4-5) rebounded from a four-game losing streak to close the regular season with three straight victories.

Tolton's spread offense, tallying 25.2 points per game, is directed by junior quarterback Steven Devine (5-foot-10, 160 pounds). Prior to the Trailblazers' 32-13 win at St. Paul Lutheran (Concordia) last week, Devine was 76-of-115 passing for 1,595 yards, 10 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

"The Devine kid has improved as the year's gone on," O'Neal said. "A lot of those interceptions came early on in the year against some tough opponents. It's his first year starting at quarterback. He has a great arm and does a good job.

"He has consistently gotten better. We have a couple of films from them early on in the year and then, obviously, the last couple of weeks. Watching him, he's a different quarterback. He makes better decisions with the football."

Devine's main target is senior wide receiver Carson McCarty (5-11, 170), who had 38 catches for 707 yards (18.6 average) and five touchdowns through eight games.

"He's a very impressive receiver, he's their go-to guy," O'Neal said. "When they need a play, they're looking for him. They line him up in all different spots, so we have to make sure we're aware of where he is located."

O'Neal stressed North Callaway's defense wants to break down the pocket and force Devine into having to hurry his throws tonight. The Thunderbirds have logged 17 interceptions as a team this season, led by four apiece from senior cornerback AJ Stubblefield and sophomore cornerback Dawson Wright.

Senior defensive end Wyatt Branson has four of North Callaway's nine sacks.

"I don't think we do as good of a job as we need to at putting pressure on the quarterback," O'Neal said. "We get good pressure from the outside, but we're not forcing him (quarterback) not to step up, getting pressure in his face from the interior.

"We're going to work on that this week and hopefully improve in that aspect."

As for Tolton's running game, the Trailblazers played last week without Patrick Edwards (5-10, 180) after he picked up two personal fouls in a 43-8 win against Cuba on Oct. 7. Sophomore running back Ben Breitwiser (5-8, 150) was more than suitable while filling in for Edwards, rushing for 203 yards and three touchdowns in the victory against St. Paul Lutheran.

"They're trying to find that consistent running back," O'Neal said. "All of the guys that they've used have different talents and different things that they bring."

O'Neal expects a 4-3 defensive scheme from Tolton, which is giving up 25.1 points per game. McCourty has four interceptions from his cornerback position, while junior defensive end Zac Schachtner is among the area leaders with six sacks.

"I'm very impressed with them in the secondary - they do a very good job there," O'Neal said. "Up front, they've got a couple of big boys that they use inside on that defensive line that are definitely hard to move.

"Those are concerns of mine that we're going to have to make sure that we block well there."

The Thunderbirds' backfield will return to full strength after Branson missed last week's 62-24 Eastern Missouri Conference romp at Montgomery County with an unspecified injury. Branson will be back in the lineup tonight, according to O'Neal.

With Branson out last week, junior running back Adam Reno shredded Montgomery County's defense by gaining 252 yards and scoring five first-half touchdowns.

Whether it's the running trio of Branson, Reno and senior JT Higgins, or senior quarterback Milo Henry and his set of receivers in the passing game, North Callaway has the skill options to exploit the Trailblazers' defense.

"We've got to get our playmakers the ball in space, a variety of different ways so that we're not predictable," O'Neal said. "I think we have guys that have very good capabilities and so we have to find ways of getting them the ball - whether that's handing it to them or throwing it to them.

"We've got to find the plays that are going to work."

North Callaway hosts Tolton Catholic 

Updates on Twitter: @FultonSunSports and @ToltonFootball

Preview podcast: North Callaway Thunderbirds Football Podcast [Father Tolton preview, Oct. 21, 2016]