MOKANE - South Callaway Bulldogs head coach Tim Rulo knows the knack is a timely mix of meticulous preparation and opportunity.
South Callaway's defense has tallied a remarkable seven touchdowns off turnovers so far this season as the state-ranked and unbeaten Bulldogs prepare for their final home game of the regular season tonight against EMO rival Montgomery County. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Ranked No. 3 in Class 2, South Callaway improved to 6-0 on the season and 4-0 in the Eastern Missouri Conference with a 66-6 blitz of North Callaway in the annual Callaway Cup series last week. The Bulldogs, already up 21-0, broke the game open with a 28-point rampage during a 42-second span early in the second quarter.
The outburst included a pair of defensive scores from senior linebacker Dylan Hare, including a 22-yard interception return and a 9-yard fumble return. Hare now has four defensive touchdowns this season, while South Callaway's defense has forced 24 turnovers.
"To have two or three defensive touchdowns in a season is awesome," Rulo said. "To have seven is lights out, but we have to know as long as we're playing fundamentally sound football - whether or not we score - man, we definitely still want to take the ball away.
"That's going to be a key. You always want to be winning the turnover margin. ... I think that happens by us being prepared and playing fast and furious."
Factoring in senior slot receiver Cory Hanger's four punt returns for touchdowns this season, South Callaway's defense and special teams have partnered up by themselves in outscoring the Bulldogs' opponents by a 66-56 margin.
"We can't count on that, but right now we're blessed by it, and we're going to enjoy the feast while we can," Rulo said. "We know that we need to keep doing the things that are going to allow us those opportunities - taking the ball away, flying around, swarming to the ball, tackling well, et cetera."
South Callaway's defense - which is allowing a scant 9.3 points per game - will square off tonight against a Montgomery County team that has altered its offensive identity. The Wildcats, coached by former Bulldogs assistant John Klekamp, are 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the EMO after last week's 34-16 conference home win against Clopton/Elsberry.
Montgomery County opened the season running the pistol spread option but has moved to the single-wing to better suit its personnel. Senior quarterback Kyle Kroll completed all nine of his passes last week for 164 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for 102 yards and a score on 16 carries.
Junior halfback Brayden Rajchart topped the Wildcats with a game-high 136 yards rushing and a touchdown. Junior wide receiver Nicolas Galarza had five catches for 83 yards - both team highs - and a score.
"They're getting their athletes the ball," Rulo said. "Kyle Kroll is, by far, their best athlete - they're getting him the ball and he's not having to worry about running or reading anything.
"(Rajchart) is probably their second-best athlete and they're getting him the ball. As you commit more and more people to stopping the run now, they've opened up the passing game. That was the next step they took last week; their passing game looked great.
Rulo explained South Callaway's defensive success tonight will be based on proper positioning and controlling the line of scrimmage.
"We have to align properly and be physical up front," Rulo said, "whether that's our D-line handling the double-teams and not getting driven back (or) our linebackers getting downhill and filling.
"It's a three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust mentality. (Montgomery County) is going to keep pounding the ball away and we have to put them in long-down situations."
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, will seek to build off an efficient offensive showing last week when they scored on seven-of-eight first-half possessions. Hanger had touchdown runs of 9, 39 and 15 yards as South Callaway amassed 384 of its 423 net yards in the first half.
Senior quarterback Troy Hentges also scored on runs of 62 and 49 yards and completed 5-of-6 passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Hentges connected with senior slot receiver Mason Shoemaker and senior wide receiver Luke Horstman on scoring passes of 29 and 22 yards, respectively.
"We really liked the fact that we were able to score from so many different directions, in different ways," Rulo said. "Literally, passing touchdowns, running touchdowns, multiple guys running for touchdowns, multiple formations, different styles ... It was one of our most complete offensive games that I've seen."
Kroll also directs the Wildcats' 4-3 defense from his strong safety spot. He leads Montgomery County with 69 tackles - 58 solo - and also has two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
"Montgomery County is going to know us well. Coach K coached here; he knows our offense," Rulo said. "We're going to have to make sure to figure out how they're going to scheme us, and then, how can we take advantage of that?"
South Callaway hosts Montgomery County - Updates on Twitter: @FultonSunSports