VANDALIA — North Callaway senior running back Cody Cash ran for three scores and also caught a touchdown pass as the Thunderbirds easily subdued the Van-Far/Community Indians in a 45-0 EMO 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 Eastern Missouri Conference. The Thunderbirds’ scheduled conference home game against Clopton/Elsberry on Sept. 11 was cancelled after the death of a North Callaway player.
Van-Far/Community dropped to 0-2 both on the season and in the EMO with Friday night’s loss.
The Thunderbirds were methodical in tallying points on their first possession of the game. Cash capped off a 14-play, 93-yard drive on a 12-yard touchdown run with 3 minutes, 33 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
After recovering a fumble by Van-Far/Community on its next series, North Callaway went up 14-0 when Cash scored on an 18-yard run off a reverse at the 11:49 mark of the second quarter.
The Thunderbirds recovered the ensuing onside kick and sophomore kicker Matthew Weber boosted their advantage by knocking through a 35-yard field goal with 9:24 to play in the first half.
Cash then darted 47 yards for a touchdown for his third score of the game with 2:54 left to give North Callaway a 24-0 edge.
The Thunderbirds’ defense came up with an interception on the Indians’ next series 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 to go, sending the Thunderbirds into halftime with a comfortable 31-0 lead.
North Callaway quickly increased its advantage on the opening possession of the second half when O’Neal raced 30 yards for a touchdown with 10:20 remaining in the third quarter.
The Thunderbirds closed out their scoring on a shovel pass from O’Neal to senior tight end Christian Griffith that went for a 32-yard touchdown with less than 2 minutes to play in the game.
North Callaway hosts Strafford at 7 p.m. next Friday.
Ryan Boland can be reached at (573) 826-2422, or on Twitter @FultonSunSports.