North Callaway aims to suppress Wright City's passing game

North Callaway junior inside linebacker Jordan Delashmutt leaps over a Tipton ball carrier during the Thunderbirds' 47-0 rout of the Cardinals last month in Kingdom City. State-ranked North Callaway squares off against Wright City in a conference matchup tonight for Homecoming.
North Callaway junior inside linebacker Jordan Delashmutt leaps over a Tipton ball carrier during the Thunderbirds' 47-0 rout of the Cardinals last month in Kingdom City. State-ranked North Callaway squares off against Wright City in a conference matchup tonight for Homecoming.

KINGDOM CITY, Mo. - In order to subdue Wright City's sensational passing attack, the state-ranked North Callaway Thunderbirds will have to be superior with their running game in a contrast of offensive styles.

North Callaway - which moved up one spot to No. 9 in this week's Class 2 Missouri Media Rankings - celebrates Homecoming tonight with an Eastern Missouri Conference clash against the Wildcats. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

The Thunderbirds (4-1, 3-0 EMO) - winners of four in a row - rushed for 417 yards as a team in charging their way to a 73-8 EMO demolition at Clopton/Elsberry last week. Senior running back Adam Reno fueled North Callaway's rampage by gaining 225 yards and scoring four touchdowns.

Wright City, meanwhile, logged its second straight victory with a 49-16 romp at home against EMO opponent Van-Far/Community R-6. Senior quarterback Sean McDonald threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score to spark the Wildcats (3-2, 2-1 EMO).

"The running game that we have right now fits right into everything that we want to do as a team," North Callaway head coach Kevin O'Neal said. "It keeps their offense off the field and allows our defense to make adjustments when they need to, so that when they get back out there, they're ready to go."

The 6-foot-1, 171-pound McDonald has completed 62 percent of his passes (80-of-129) this season for 1,396 yards (279.2 yards per game), 12 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He had touchdown passes of 59 and 40 yards last week to senior wide receiver Devon Holmes and freshman running back Branden Contrares.

McDonald also leads Wright City in rushing with 281 yards (6.5 average) and four touchdowns. He scored on an 8-yard run against Van-Far/Community R-6.

Junior running back Jayden Mahaney (6-0, 169) is second behind McDonald with 220 yards rushing (8.8 average) and two scores. Mahaney raced 52 yards for a touchdown last week.

Contrares (5-8, 165) has also gained 191 yards (11.9 average) and scored on runs of 3 and 8 yards last week. Holmes (6-1, 175) tops the Wildcats with 36 catches for 751 yards (20.9 average) and six touchdowns.

"I see a lot of athletes on that side of the ball," O'Neal said. "They have a very good quarterback - throws the ball well, runs the ball well. (Mahaney) looks to be pretty solid when he gets in the open field.

"The Holmes kid that they have out at receiver, he's just a very gifted athlete, has very good hands, he's quick."

The Thunderbirds' defense forced seven turnovers last week and gave up 219 yards of total offense to Clopton/Elsberry, including 132 yards passing. The IndianHawks' only score came on a 61-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Shawn Yates to senior wide receiver Matt Klopcic.

North Callaway sophomore quarterback Tully Thomsen - making his first start of the season at cornerback - had two interceptions, while junior cornerback Dawson Wright came up with the other one.

"Our pass defense got a little bit of work Friday night, but they're going to get challenged again (tonight)," O'Neal said. "We've got to make sure we're solid on the back end, as well as defending the run up front.

"They'll bust some long ones if you're not ready for it."

O'Neal acknowledged Wright City will profit from its passing game to some extent tonight, and it's important how the Thunderbirds' defense reacts.

"With any team that throws the ball a lot, they're going to have success every once in a while," O'Neal said. "There are routes that are going to come open and they're going to complete passes.

"We just have to make sure we respond in a positive manner."

Reno racked up touchdown runs of 19, 7, 66 and 75 yards last week to energize North Callaway's running attack. Junior running back Jordan Delashmutt also tallied 65 yards rushing and scored on runs of 3, 5 and 58 yards.

Senior wide receiver Austin Edwards supplied a 47-yard touchdown run and freshman running back Cody Cash scored from 2 yards out. Thomsen completed 2-of-3 passes for 61 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown throw to Wright at his wide receiver position.

The Wildcats' defense combined to surrender 99 points during its first three games, but has only allowed a total of 37 points in the two straight wins. Senior inside linebacker Jaime Malta (6-0, 223) guides Wright City with 55 tackles.

"(Malta) does a good job of reading the play, diagnosing the play and reacting fairly quickly to what's happening," O'Neal said. "He fills (gaps) pretty hard."

For the third straight week, the Thunderbirds will face a three-man defensive front tonight.

"Hopefully, blocking scheme-wise, our kids will be ready for that up front," O'Neal said. "We're just going to continue to do what we do offensively - hopefully control the clock, control the line of scrimmage and run the football."