FULTON, Mo. - The feeling of beating the Hannibal Pirates has become a foreign concept for the Fulton Hornets football team during the past decade.
Ever since Darren Jacobs' 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown helped the Hornets down the Pirates 28-20 in 2007, Hannibal has dominated the series behind an average margin of victory of 40 points.
Fulton will try to end the Pirates' monopoly tonight when the Hornets travel to Hannibal for a North Central Missouri Conference game. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
After a resilient 28-15 comeback win at home against NCMC foe Marshall last week, Fulton head coach Blake Logan is hoping that momentum will help the Hornets (2-3, 1-1) shake the Hannibal monkey from their backs.
"It's important that we have everything together on our end with our pass protection and our reads. All 11 guys have to be on one page," Logan said. "We've just been talking to the kids about believing and asking, 'Why not us?'"
The Pirates are a modest 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the NCMC after a 34-7 conference victory at Kirksville last week, but the fact Hannibal is winless at home this season is even stranger. However, Logan attributed the Pirates' start to a tough opening slate and believes they will be ready tonight as they seek a win on Homecoming.
"Their two losses are to two really good teams. Quincy (Ill.) Notre Dame is a really good program with good athletes," Logan said. "That's nothing to be ashamed of and it's the same with Mexico.
"Overall, Coach (Mark) St. Clair has them playing well and his program is a well-oiled machine."
The impetus for stopping Hannibal will start with the Hornets containing the Pirates' signature option-style attack. Hannibal has been led in rushing by five different players this season.
In last week's win against Kirksville, sophomore running back Dante Reading paced the Pirates for 100 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown, on 13 carries. Against Mexico, it was junior running back Diamond Fernando who topped Hannibal with 90 yards rushing.
Whoever gets the brunt of the workload tonight for the Pirates, Logan knows Fulton's defensive line will need to continue its stellar play after recording three more sacks against Marshall last week.
"They're a run-first team and they just come out and try to do what they do," Logan said. "They like to run, run, run and lull the defense to sleep, and then go over the top. They have thrown more than they typically do, which we've noticed on film."
Hannibal's implementation of more passing has come with a mixed bag of results so far. Junior quarterback Gabe Worthington threw three touchdown passes against Kirksville, but was also intercepted twice.
Worthington only completed 7-of-19 passes in a 28-14 loss to Mexico, including an interception at the Bulldogs' 5-yard line.
The Hornets forced a fumble and an interception against Marshall and Logan hopes his defensive line will pressure Worthington into making crucial mistakes.
"We want to stop the run first and foremost, but if we see that they're passing, we want those guys to get after it," Logan said. "On film, (Worthington) will take his chances, so hopefully we're able to capitalize."
Fulton's defense could receive a much-needed boost if senior middle linebacker LeCheyon Williams is able to return to the lineup tonight after missing last week's game.
Offensively, the Hornets are their healthiest since the season opener, as junior Taeon Logan and sophomore Zaylin McNeil, both tailbacks, are expected to be close to 100 percent.
The Pirates allowed more than 300 rushing yards to Mexico and more than 200 to Quincy Notre Dame, so there's opportunity for Fulton's explosive backfield combination to produce big plays tonight.
"We hope they can have a big night, but a lot of it's going to come down to winning our one-on-one battles," Logan said. "We cannot miss a block, we can't run the wrong route. We have to take care of all our responsibilities for that to happen."
After producing two touchdowns and 128 yards on 10 carries to go with four catches against Marshall, expect senior wide receiver Nazir McClain's role in the offense to expand.
McClain scored his first touchdown off a short pass from senior quarterback Cameron Vaughn while he was lined up in the slot and went for 26 yards. His second score came from the backfield as he took an inside zone rush 19 yards to the end zone.
McClain's emergence helped ease the transition for Vaughn to go back under center, and the quarterback responded with his best performance in weeks. Vaughn completed 9-of-13 passes for 92 yards and one score, while rushing for 75 yards and a 12-yard touchdown.
"We want to take what they give us. Every defense has some holes, so we have to capitalize," Logan said. "Each game Cam has played at quarterback, he's looked more comfortable.
"The most impressive thing he did to me was not force the issue and he's making good decisions. All you can ask for a kid who's never played the position before is to improve each week."
Hannibal's defense will certainly challenge the Hornets with its large and physical front seven. On the backside, Fulton's wide receivers Makygh Galbreath and Tre Vaughn, both seniors, will have to create separation as Logan expects man-to-man coverage from the Pirates.
Kirksville was only able to generate 90 yards of total offense last week against Hannibal, so the Hornets are preaching the importance of each individual play.
"We want to make sure we're staying on schedule and not getting behind in the chains," Logan said. "When you're facing a team that's as disciplined and as well-coached as them, if one guy slips up they'll make you pay.
"We're going to have to try and keep them off-balance, but when we do, we have to make sure every individual is ready to make a play."