Thunderbirds look to avoid trap against Wright City

North Callaway running back Wyatt Branson tries to slip away from a Clopton/Elsberry defender during the Thunderbirds' 20-6 Eastern Missouri Conference win against the IndianHawks last Friday night in Kingdom City.
North Callaway running back Wyatt Branson tries to slip away from a Clopton/Elsberry defender during the Thunderbirds' 20-6 Eastern Missouri Conference win against the IndianHawks last Friday night in Kingdom City.

KINGDOM CITY, Mo. - North Callaway coach Kevin O'Neal is doing everything possible to sidestep a similar backslide for his Thunderbirds at this juncture.

North Callaway will be looking to create some momentum with the start of district play a month away when it heads to Wright City tonight for an Eastern Missouri Conference game with the Wildcats (1-4, 1-2). Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

The Thunderbirds (3-2, 2-1) are coming off a rain-drenched, 20-6 Homecoming win against previously unbeaten Clopton/Elsberry last week. Wright City is hoping to gain confidence after finally notching its first victory of the season, holding on for a 30-24 conference triumph at home against Van-Far/Community R-6.

North Callaway was almost in the same position a year ago, only a couple of weeks later in the schedule. The Thunderbirds had stopped a two-game losing streak with a dramatic 42-37 win at Clopton/Elsberry, returning home to face the Wildcats.

Wright City overcame a six-point deficit early in the fourth quarter by rallying for 20 unanswered points to stun North Callaway 42-28. The victory was also the Wildcats' second in a row against the Thunderbirds after winning 22-18 at Wright City in 2014.

O'Neal cautioned his squad - from the top down, coaches and players alike - can't afford another relapse tonight against the Wildcats, especially after last week's victory.

" After a big win, after something like that, we tend to kind of cruise through the weekend and enjoy it too much," O'Neal said. "We need to make sure that we're working hard, and those guys (assistants) work hard all the time, but we've got to make sure we're paying attention to details and we're focused on the little things, as much as we were the week before.

"We have those expectations for our kids, too, but we - as a coaching staff - need to do the same thing."

O'Neal also emphasized the Wildcats will be feeling better about themselves after breaking into the win column.

"On film, we point out that Wright City always has athletes," O'Neal said. "They've got a couple of kids that are athletes, that can break runs and that can make plays and they've got some big boys up front.

"If we don't execute and do the things that we need to do, and you let them stay in the game and build confidence, they're a team that can sting you in the end."

The Wildcats' offense - which is averaging just 16.4 points per game - is guided by quarterback Sean McDonald, a 6-foot-1, 169-pound junior. McDonald has completed only 36 percent of his passes (38-of-106) for 526 yards and three touchdowns, while throwing six interceptions.

McDonald has rushed for just 120 yards (3.1 average), but has three scores.

"He has a strong arm and he does run the ball well when things break down," O'Neal said. "They try to move the pocket with him a little bit and get him out on the edge."

Junior halfback Jaime Malta tops Wright City in rushing with 199 yards (4.2 average) and has two touchdowns. O'Neal was also impressed with Malta on the defensive side at his linebacker spot.

North Callaway's defense harassed Clopton/Elsberry and senior quarterback Stephen Talbert last week. The Thunderbirds limited the IndianHawks to 117 total yards, including a scant 10 rushing, sacked Talbert three times and three of the five turnovers they forced were interceptions.

O'Neal expects North Callaway's defensive unit to put constant pressure on the Wildcats.

"When I talked to our kids Saturday morning in film, we need to be known as an aggressive defense," O'Neal said. " Being aggressive, we're going to give up a big play here and there, but we're going to create more negative plays than big plays."

Meanwhile, the Thunderbirds will be looking to take significant strikes against a shaky Wright City defense that is surrendering 41.4 points per game. With the rain stifling its passing game last week, North Callaway produced 194 yards rushing as a team.

Senior running back Wyatt Branson responded with a game-high 127 yards in just 12 attempts and raced 31 yards for a touchdown at the end of the first quarter. Junior running back Adam Reno had just 37 yards on five carries, but scored on runs of 4 and 13 yards.

"We want to establish the run again, I think that's kind of become our MO (mode of operation) offensively," O'Neal said. "That's what we need to continue to do. That's what we're going to do offensively, and then the pass will be dictated off of that and how the defense reacts."

North Callaway at Wright City

Updates on Twitter: @FultonSunSports

Preview Podcast: North Callaway Thunderbirds Football Podcast [Wright City preview, Sept. 23, 2016]