VERSAILLES, Mo. - It's pretty obvious what the Versailles Tigers need to improve on this week.
Not committing turnovers.
It was Versailles turnovers that turned a game tied well into the third period into a blowout loss.
The Tigers will attempt to change that tonight when they host the Hallsville Indians in their Homecoming game. Kickoff for the Tri-County Conference matchup is slated for 7 p.m.
Versailles comes in with a 3-4 overall and 2-3 conference record. Hallsville is 3-4 and 1-4.
Last week, the Tigers committed seven turnovers - five in the second half - in a 38-12 loss to Eldon, a game Versailles was outscored 32-6 during the last two quarters. The Indians snapped a four-game losing skid last week by blasting Warsaw 51-6.
The past two weeks, the Tigers are a minus-6 in turnover ratio, turning the ball over a total of 10 times during that span.
"We've got to take care of the ball," Versailles coach Broc Silvers said. "It has hurt us the last couple of weeks. Our running backs have done a pretty good job holding on to the ball. The rest of the team has got to do as well. We've got to do a better job playing a field position game."
In Hallsville, the Tigers are facing an opponent coming off a much-needed victory. The previous four weeks, the Indians were outscored 148-40 in four losses, including a pair of shutouts against Southern Boone and California.
So the 51-point outburst against Warsaw was a welcomed sight for Hallsville coach Ty Harrison.
"We played pretty well on both sides of the ball," Harrison said of last week. "Anytime you can win after a stretch we've gone through it gives the kids something to build on. We have talked a lot about playing our best at the end of the season, so (last week) was an important win."
The Indians are one of the few teams in the conference that run a true spread offense, which causes some practice adjustments for their opponents.
"They're probably the one team in the conference that throws the ball more than runs it," Silvers said. "We've got to be sure we're ready to go. It's a challenge for us, a spread team like that. (Graham) Moser, (B.J.) Fisher and (Jadon) Kilpack do a good job catching the ball.
"They run the same defense we've seen the last two weeks - a 5-2 and cover-4. It's the main defense our conference runs. (Junior linebacker Ben) Westhues is probably their best defensive player and they've got some athletes at cornerback and safety. They played California to 6-0; they've been in some close games."
Hallsville is scoring 20.6 points a game while allowing 26.1.
Sophomore quarterback Zane Parnell has completed 68-of-182 passes for 1,041 yards, 13 interceptions and 11 touchdowns for the Indians.
Kilpack, a senior wideout, has 18 receptions for 221 yards and four touchdowns; Fisher, a sophomore wideout, has 15 catches for 406 yards and four touchdowns, and senior wideout Cole Hubbard has 12 catches for 114 yards.
Junior running back DQ Smith has rushed for 261 yards on 84 carries and scored four touchdowns to provide Hallsville some offensive balance.
Kilpack, a defensive back, paces the team in tackles with 46 and has five interceptions, including a pick-6.
Also for the Indian defense, Smith, an inside linebacker, has 38 tackles; senior outside linebacker Parker Bartlett has 32 tackles, including five for loss, and sophomore inside linebacker Jarrett Ballard has 31 tackles, including seven for loss, and an interception.
Versailles is allowing exactly twice as many points per game (28.9) as it scores (14.4), with the turnovers playing a huge role.
Tiger senior quarterback David Connor has completed 37-of-82 passes for 287 yards, six interceptions and two touchdowns while rushing for 277 yards on 66 carries and five TDs.
Sophomore running back Grant Hutchison paces the team in rushing with 319 yards on 69 attempts. Also, senior fullback Shane Randall has 229 yards on 57 carries and junior running back Taylor Dobbins has 94 yards on 22 attempts.
Sophomore linebacker Michael Trotter leads the Tigers in tackles with 61.
"We've seen them several times on film," Harrison said. "They are pretty impressive with several kids they have. We'll have to play our best to compete.
"On offense their ability to run the ball is impressive, and their quarterback can take a broken play and make huge plays. He's been a focus for us. They have skill kids all over the film."
Versailles hosts Hallsville
Updates on Twitter: @MCR2Schools and @HVilleAthletics
Listen live online: lakeradio.com