MOKANE - South Callaway coach Zack Hess is emphasizing accelerated, precise workouts to keep his Bulldogs fresh for the final three games of the regular season.
South Callaway will seek to sustain its sizzling run when the Bulldogs host the Van-Far/Community Indians in an Eastern Missouri Conference matchup tonight. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
South Callaway stretched its winning streak to five games with a 42-20 EMO victory last Friday at home against Clopton/Elsberry. The Bulldogs are now 5-1 on the season and a perfect 4-0 in the EMO.
To guard against the draining grind for players as district play approaches, Hess said time can't be wasted in keeping practices tight and on schedule.
"I think you just have to be smart about what you're asking them to do in terms of time, and making sure that the practices are up-tempo and quick," Hess said. "For us, it's important just being able to create as much energy as we can in practice, and get good work done.
"Then the practice will go fast. If you can do that, I think you're OK. But when you get those practices and just time together, and it just kind of drags on, it just makes it worse."
Van-Far/Community received a jolt of energy by securing its first EMO win of the season last week, a 28-21 triumph against Mark Twain in Vandalia. The Indians also stopped a three-game losing streak, improving to 3-3 overall and 1-3 in the EMO.
Senior quarterback Eric Hombs directs a Van-Far/Community offense that is averaging 28.7 points per game.