MOKANE, Mo. - When the South Callaway Bulldogs and Hermann Bearcats crank up their prolific running attacks, they both emanate from an identical offensive source.
Variations of the flexbone option will be front and center tonight when ninth-ranked South Callaway (10-0) - the second seed in Class 2, District 5 - hosts third-seeded Hermann (7-3) in a semifinal showdown. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
The Bearcats overpowered No. 6 seed Hallsville in a 42-7 first-round victory last week in Hermann. The Bearcats focus primarily on running the ball out of the flexbone and they do it in emphatic fashion, averaging a dazzling 389.9 yards per game on the ground.
"I wouldn't say that they run as much triple option as we do," Bulldogs head coach Zack Hess said Tuesday morning. "They definitely have it in their offense, the same formations that we run.
"I think (Hermann head coach) Andy (Emmons) has formations and plays that he really likes, and that is working really well for them. Their offensive line, really it starts there - they're very big up front and they're very physical."
Garrett Leimkuehler, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior, is responsible for more than half of the Bearcats' rushing output, piling up an astounding 1,962 yards (10.3 average) and 26 touchdowns. Leimkuehler was Hermann's featured back before moving to quarterback a few weeks ago after senior starter Andrew Budnik suffered an injury.
"He's just smooth, he's one of those athletes that's sneaky fast, long strides," Hess said of Leimkuehler. "He can make you miss. I wouldn't say he's really shifty, but he'll sidestep you."
Leimkuehler is clearly the spark, but isn't a solitary presence in powering Hermann's running game. Junior Trent Oberg (5-9, 160) has also gained 666 yards (6.6 average) and scored four touchdowns, while junior Tanner Unger (5-8, 171) has 493 yards (6.8 average) and four scores.
Senior Hunter Scheidegger (5-7, 207) has also supplied 322 yards rushing (4.5 average) and seven touchdowns.
Hess earlier alluded to the impact the Bearcats' beefy offensive line has on their rushing fortunes. Joey Hanger - a 6-2, 332-pound senior - anchors the middle at center and is joined by senior right guard Drake Yates (6-0, 297) and junior left guard Colt Engemann (6-2, 238).
Seniors Travis Minks (5-11, 173) and Tyler Kuhn (5-7, 227) line up at right and left tackle, respectively.
South Callaway's run defense - which hasn't faced an opponent this season that features the flexbone - will certainly be tested up front tonight. The Bulldogs are allowing only 133.9 yards per game on the ground, but that number is skewed somewhat by the number of times defensive starters have been pulled in the second half of decisive wins.
"We have to fight pressure because there are going to be a lot of big down blocks with those big guys, which is going to be really hard to do in not getting washed down or moved," Hess said. "On the back side, if you get pullers (on blocks), you've got to get in their hip pocket and get down the line to help out on the counter trey.
"With the D-line, their option responsibility is going to be attacking the dive. They're just going to have to get in their gaps, do their jobs and then be able to read on the run. There's a lot of stuff going on on every play."
South Callaway's offense will counter with its own exceptional flexbone attack that is sailing along at an impressive 304.4 yards rushing per game. The Bulldogs amassed 334 yards on the ground and scored on each of their first nine possessions last week in a 60-12 first-round dismantling of No. 7 seed Montgomery County in Mokane.
Junior running back Kaden Helsel tops South Callaway with 749 yards rushing (11.2 average) and 11 touchdowns, followed by sophomore wingback Peyton Leeper with 542 yards (12.6 average) and eight scores. Junior quarterback Landon Horstman has also rushed for 519 yards (7.0 average) and nine touchdowns.
Senior running back Bennett Hager has picked up 470 yards (10.7 average) and scored eight times, while junior running back Dalton Stone is next with 435 yards (7.9 average) and six touchdowns.
The Bulldogs have ramped up their passing game over the past month to make their flexbone even more difficult to defend. Horstman is averaging 169.2 yards through the air in the last four games, throwing 10 touchdown passes and only one interception during that span.
Junior wide receiver Jarrett Livengood paces South Callaway with 21 catches for 332 yards (15.8 average) and four touchdowns. Helsel has 15 grabs for a team-high 412 yards (27.5 average) and four scores.
Many of Hermann's skill players also stand out on the defensive side, which operates out of a base 3-5 scheme similar to the one the Bulldogs line up in. Leimkuehler directs the Bearcats with 73 tackles from his outside linebacker position, while Unger and Scheidegger - also linebackers - have 65 and 62, respectively.
Leimkuehler and Scheidegger have both logged two sacks.
"The big thing for us is we have to be patient and just understand that we may not score every series, and that's OK," Hess said. "The idea is to try to get first downs, time of possession is going to be important and not turning the ball over is going to be the main thing.
" If we play good field position that's only going to help us. Hopefully we'll continue to be explosive on offense and make plays."
No. 5 seed Father Tolton (5-5) travels to suburban St. Louis to square off against top-seeded Brentwood (9-0) in tonight's other District 5 semifinal.
South Callaway hosts Hermann, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, 2016
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