MOKANE, Mo. - For a Bowling Green offense averaging a feeble 11 points per game, the uncertainty of what shape it will take stands out to South Callaway coach Zack Hess.
The Bulldogs will attempt to maintain their unbeaten status tonight when they travel to Bowling Green to face the struggling Bobcats in an Eastern Missouri Conference game. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
South Callaway - which received three points in this week's Class 2 Missouri Media Rankings - improved to 6-0 this season and 4-0 in the EMO after a 28-6 win at Mark Twain last week. Bowling Green, meanwhile, tumbled to 1-5 overall and 1-3 in conference play after a narrow 22-20 loss at Montgomery County.
In breaking down film of the Bobcats' 40-7 home loss to Mark Twain on Sept. 16, Hess noted Bowling Green utilized a double-tight end set with two running backs. In two other videos, he observed that the Bobcats featured more of a spread look - empty backfield with three wide receivers.
"It seems like they're still searching for an identity of what they want to do," Hess said. " I'm really not quite sure (what to expect). Overall, they're a heavy run team, even when they are spread.
"So we're just not really sure what formations we're going to see, so we're going to try and be prepared for everything."
Bowling Green is averaging just 147.4 yards of total offense, and only 93.7 yards rushing. Senior quarterback Noah Gamm (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) is 27-of-54 passing for just 270 yards, with no touchdowns and five interceptions.
Junior Noah Pafford (5-9, 165) has also lined up at QB for the Bobcats and is just 4-of-14 for 52 yards, but has thrown Bowling Green's only touchdown pass of the season. Sophomore running back Kaleo Dade (5-10, 190) tops the Bobcats in rushing with 233 yards and one score, while junior tight end Stephen Merz (6-4, 210) has gained 173 yards and has a team-high three touchdowns.
Pafford has also rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown. Senior tight end Beau Brandt (6-4, 180) is Bowling Green's leading receiver with just five receptions for 108 yards and the lone touchdown catch.
"They move their guys around and I think they're looking for good matchups," Hess said. "We've just got to be ready for all of that."
The Bobcats will likely have a difficult time correcting their offensive hardships tonight against a South Callaway defense that is giving up a scant 8.2 points per game. Mark Twain entered last week's game averaging 347 yards rushing, but the Bulldogs held them to 215 yards on the ground and one score.
South Callaway also crafted a pair of fourth-down stops in the second quarter to set up scores, while creating two turnovers.
While Bowling Green's offensive intentions are anyone's guess, Hess stressed his defensive players must be able to adapt on the fly and adhere to the rules of their respective positions.
"We just have to be flexible and versatile, and just understand where their playmakers are," Hess said. "Once they declare a formation, we just have to understand what to anticipate."
While the Bobcats have had problems in producing points, they've had more than their share of trouble in preventing them on the defensive side in surrendering 36.5 per game. That would also seem like a hairy situation considering the Bulldogs are averaging 35.5 points.
Hess pointed out Bowling Green's defense will probably work out of a four-man front. In the Mark Twain game, he explained, the Bobcats forced the Tigers to go three-and-out on their first three possessions.
"They have the ability to play the run well and start fast," Hess said. "We have to be prepared for that."
South Callaway will continue to depend on a running game that piled up 276 yards last week. Senior running back Bennett Hager accounted for 119 yards on only seven carries and had a 26-yard touchdown run, while Horstman finished with 72 yards in just four attempts and bolted 41 yards for a score.
Sophomore fullback Bradyn Belcher - earning his first meaningful carries of the season - supplied 49 yards in nine attempts and his 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter sealed the Bulldogs' win.
"We want to take care of the ball, move the ball around, give it to our playmakers, and hopefully let them make plays," Hess said.
South Callaway at Bowling Green
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