Healthy Hornets look to contain Lewis, Kirksville in regular-season finale

Fulton senior linebacker Tre Vaughn (right) pursues Mexico senior running back Cameron Holman during last Friday's 28-7 loss in the annual Highway 54 Bowl at Mexico.
Fulton senior linebacker Tre Vaughn (right) pursues Mexico senior running back Cameron Holman during last Friday's 28-7 loss in the annual Highway 54 Bowl at Mexico.

FULTON, Mo. - The Fulton Hornets' final regular-season tilt against the Kirksville Tigers will have major ramifications tonight at Robert E. Fisher Jr. Stadium.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Not only will it be Senior Night, but a win against Kirksville (2-6, 2-3 North Central Missouri Conference) could propel Fulton (2-6, 1-4) - currently sixth in the Class 3 Distict 6 standings - to the fifth, or even fourth spot before the postseason begins.

Before Fulton can think about seeding, it will need to find a way to contain a Kirksville team that is much better than its record indicates, according to Hornets head coach Blake Logan.

"They're scrappy, that's the best way I can describe this team. They're tough and keep you off-balance," Logan said. "I don't think we've played a team that runs as many formations as they do.

"They'll start off in one formation and then will motion into another. They'll run anything from flexbone to spread."

The challenge of tangling with such a complex offense can't be understated, but it also provides Fulton a reprieve from the run-heavy option attacks it has faced the past three weeks.

The Hornets have allowed an average of 291 yards rushing during their three-game losing streak, including 323 yards in last week's 28-7 loss in the annual Highway 54 Bowl at NCMC rival Mexico.

The Tigers won't hesitate to challenge Fulton's secondary tonight, but their strength is putting the ball in the hands of senior running back Blake Lewis. Lewis gained 142 yards in Kirksville's 27-6 NCMC upset Sept. 22 at Boonville, and rushed for another 147 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-0 conference win Sept. 8 at Marshall.

Lewis' stature and overall game will resemble Mexico junior running back Dillon Nichols, who sliced and diced the Hornets for 145 yards and two touchdowns last week.

"(Lewis) isn't quite as strong, but we'll have to swarm the ball and get all 11 guys around him," Logan said. "We struggle to do that with consistency.

"We have two whistles at practice, one for when the tackle is made and another when all 11 guys get to the ball. We'll have to do that and punish the ball carrier when we get a chance."

Logan also indicated Lewis possesses game-breaking speed as evidenced by his 80-yard touchdown run in a 52-13 home loss to Helias last week. The Fulton defense will need to limit Lewis' touches in space and force sophomore quarterback Paxton Dempsay to beat them.

"They're not afraid to throw it up. There's not one receiver on their team that I would say we need to focus on," Logan said. "However, I would say they're all solid and they give good effort.

"We'll have to keep that in check, but (Lewis) is the guy we have to contain. I know we don't have anybody that can catch him if he breaks away."

While the run defense has been an area of weakness lately for the Hornets, on offense they've failed to rush for more than 100 yards in three straight games.

That could change tonight with the return of junior offensive lineman Tyrese Vaughn, who has missed an extended period of time with an injury. Vaughn was actually cleared to play last week, but the coaches opted to play it on the safe side.

His return, along with the improved health of junior running back Taeon Logan, should enable Fulton to re-establish its identity against a Kirksville defense that is giving up 27 points a game.

"Overall, this is the healthiest we've been since maybe Versailles. Tyrese is a vocal leader and energizes our offensive line," Blake Logan said. "I'm hoping he can come back and bring the juice to the O-line like he did before.

"Since he's been out we've been teasing him, calling him Coach Vaughn, because he's been helping us out so much. This is the first week Taeon is close to 100 percent - he's not there yet, I would say 95 percent, but he looked good and we expect to give him a lot more carries."

The absence of Logan's production has put constraints on an offense that has seen its passing game improve during the last month with senior quarterback Cameron Vaughn.

Vaughn is completing nearly 60 percent of his passes during the past three weeks and has shown improved ball placement and decision-making. However, Logan is imploring Vaughn to use his natural athleticism along with his arm to overcome the Tigers' defense.

"Cameron's a very coachable kid. After the game he came to us and told us, 'Critique me, what do I need to do better?'" Logan said. "He's not a natural quarterback, but he's a natural leader and getting better every week.

"It's usually with kids as fast as him, they like to tuck it too early. After watching film with him, I think he knows he can run more."

Vaughn picking up 4 or 5 yards when his receivers are covered instead of trying to force the ball downfield could help the Hornets avoid another sluggish start tonight. It took Fulton nearly two quarters to record a first down against Mexico.

The Bulldogs' defense is a much different unit than Kirksville's, though. Lewis and Dempsay are the leaders of the Tigers' defense, but overall the unit has been mostly unimpressive.

"I don't think there's any one person that we'll have trouble blocking, but they like to blitz a lot and play downfield," Logan said. "They have a good front and swarm to the ball; we just have to do what we do."

With the Hornets nearly back at full strength and playing at home for what could be the final time this season, they have a chance to build much-needed momentum ahead of district play.

"Hopefully we keep these guys refocused for Senior Night - for a lot of guys this could be their last chance to play at home," Logan said. "We've had a couple of tough losses, but I think we'll come out swinging and hopefully we can finish fast."

Related media:

Fulton Hornets Football Podcast [Kirksville preview, Oct. 13, 2017]