VANDALIA - The North Callaway Thunderbirds were able to somewhat soften their sadness with a runaway win.
North Callaway senior running back Cody Cash ran for three scores and also caught a touchdown pass as the Thunderbirds tore past the Van-Far/Community Indians in a 45-0 Eastern Missouri Conference romp Friday night.
North Callaway - which hadn't played since a 21-6 loss at South Callaway in the annual Callaway Cup rivalry game Sept. 4 - improved to 2-1 both overall and in the EMO. The Thunderbirds' scheduled conference home game against Clopton/Elsberry on Sept. 11 was canceled after the death of a North Callaway freshman player.
"It's good to see them rally around each other - we had a lot of people make good plays," head coach Don Boulware said of the Thunderbirds. "We had the advantage in experience and size, and probably speed too.
"Overall, I really don't have too much to complain about. I didn't know how we would play, but we came out and played pretty well - a lot of emotion."
North Callaway's defense limited Van-Far/Community (0-2, 0-2 EMO) to a sparse 84 yards of total offense and coerced three turnovers, including two interceptions.
The Thunderbirds preserved their shutout when they forced the Indians to turn the ball over on downs at the North Callaway 21-yard line in the fourth quarter.
"(I liked) the way we rallied to the ball, the way we got after it when they did throw," Boulware said. "We were aggressive. They really wanted the goose egg."
The Thunderbirds constructed a 14-play, 93-yard scoring drive on the game's opening series. Cash closed out the possession on a 12-yard touchdown run with 3 minutes, 33 seconds to play in the first quarter.
After Cash recovered a fumble from his safety position on Van-Far/Community's second series, he scored on an 18-yard run off a reverse to put North Callaway on top 14-0 with 11:49 left in the second quarter.
The Thunderbirds recovered the ensuing onside kick and sophomore kicker Matthew Weber padded their lead by booting a 35-yard field goal with 9:24 remaining in the first half.
Weber was also a perfect 6-for-6 on extra-point attempts.
"We haven't been very good at kicking the ball the last year and a half," Boulware said. "He's dedicated, he went to a camp and worked on it, and he's practiced - he stays late after practice."
Cash then darted 47 yards for a touchdown for his third score of the game with 2:54 to go in the half to give North Callaway a 24-0 edge. Cash finished with a game-high 123 yards rushing on only nine carries.
The Thunderbirds' defense came up with an interception on the Indians' next possession to set up North Callaway's final score of the half.
Sophomore quarterback Braydn O'Neal connected with Cash on a 25-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown on fourth down with :05.1 left to send the Thunderbirds into halftime with a comfortable 31-0 advantage.
North Callaway picked up right where it left off by scoring on the opening series of the second half. O'Neal punctuated a quick four-play, 58-yard drive when he raced 30 yards for a touchdown with 10:20 to play in the third quarter.
After forcing Van-Far/Community to turn the ball over on downs inside the Thunderbirds' 25 in the fourth quarter, North Callaway covered 79 yards in six plays to close out its scoring.
O'Neal punctuated the resounding victory when he delivered a shovel pass to senior tight end Christian Griffith that went for a 32-yard touchdown with less than 2 minutes to play in the game.
O'Neal completed 9-of-13 passes for 165 yards and an interception. Griffith had two catches for 85 yards and Cash finished with four receptions for 50 yards.
Junior running back Trevor Ray also gained 100 yards in just seven attempts.
"We stopped ourselves with some penalties that nullified some big gains and also put us behind the (yard) sticks," Boulware said. "It's hard when you get 20 yards to go for a first down, no matter how many downs you have to get it, that you put yourself behind the eight ball.
"Too many penalties and we've got to clean up the turnovers, but we had big plays out of Cody, a big play out of Christian, some big plays out of Trevor."
The Thunderbirds jump out of EMO play when they return home this week to square off against Strafford, which evened its season record at 2-2 with a 34-7 win at home Friday against Clever.
Ryan Boland can be reached
at (573) 826-2422, or on Twitter @FultonSunSports.