Bulldogs perfect in pocketing EMO title

South Callaway loses top district seed despite win

Shelly Sconce/Contributed
Junior running back Dalton Stone squeezes through a slight seam created by South Callaway's offensive line on a 1-yard touchdown run in the Bulldogs' 48-0 EMO triumph over Van-Far on Friday night, Oct. 14, 2016 in Mokane, Mo.
Shelly Sconce/Contributed Junior running back Dalton Stone squeezes through a slight seam created by South Callaway's offensive line on a 1-yard touchdown run in the Bulldogs' 48-0 EMO triumph over Van-Far on Friday night, Oct. 14, 2016 in Mokane, Mo.

MOKANE, Mo. - Even in victory, the South Callaway Bulldogs could not pair a title with another prospective prize.

Sophomore wingback Peyton Leeper rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns, helping South Callaway complete another undefeated march to the Eastern Missouri Conference championship with a 48-0 manhandling of Van-Far on Friday night.

The Bulldogs - who received 12 votes last week in the Class 2 state media rankings - now sit at 9-0 on the season and secured the EMO title with a 7-0 record. South Callaway was also perfect in capturing the conference championship in its first year as a member in 2014, en route to the Bulldogs' Class 2 runner-up finish.

"It means a lot," South Callaway head coach Zack Hess said after Friday night's title triumph. "It was one of the goals the players set before the season started - it wasn't influenced by the coaches.

"It's a pretty special accomplishment and we're pretty proud of those guys."

While the Bulldogs added the championship, they lost another possession Friday night, well, despite not losing. South Callaway was knocked out of the top seed in Class 2, District 5 by Brentwood after the Eagles hammered Class 3 Ste. Genevieve 63-20.

Brentwood (7-1) finished with 49.12 points to edge the Bulldogs' 48.62.

As the second seed now, South Callaway will host either Principia (1-6) or Montgomery County (2-7) - both with 21.07 points apiece - in a District 5 first-round game next Friday night. Principia played Cleveland NJROTC (1-7) on Saturday, while Montgomery County lost at home to North Callaway 62-24 on Friday night.

"Going into Friday night we had a pretty good idea that there was a very good possibility that we could fall out of the top seed," Hess said. "The players did everything that they could do - there was nothing else they could have done.

"We're not going to be bitter about it. It's a one-game season and you can't take anything for granted. It doesn't matter who we play or where we play them - we have to focus on us and getting better, and working toward our potential."

The Bulldogs generated 508 yards of total offense Friday night in easily vanquishing Van-Far (2-7, 0-7). South Callaway broke out for 22 points in the first quarter and added 13 apiece in the second and third quarters to take command.

Leeper finished with seven carries and had touchdown runs of 20 and 17 yards as the Bulldogs produced 358 yards rushing and five different players ran for scores. Junior quarterback Landon Horstman gained 57 yards in eight attempts and delivered a 10-yard touchdown run, while junior running back Kaden Helsel also logged 57 yards on six touches.

Senior running back Bennett Hager contributed 55 yards on six carries and scored on a 2-yard run, followed by junior running back Dalton Stone with 37 yards in five attempts and had a 1-yard touchdown run. Senior fullback Harley Kight added 26 yards on three carries and scored from 4 yards out.

Horstman was also 8-of-14 passing for the second straight week for 150 yards, a 50-yard touchdown pass to Helsel and an interception. Helsel had a team-high three catches for 93 yards.

"Especially in the first quarter, the offense came out and played a heck of a game," Hess said. "We controlled the ball, got first downs, had some big plays with our passing game and got a bunch of different guys the ball (in the running game)."

South Callaway's defense gave up just 123 yards of total offense - only 11 passing - to Van-Far and came up with four turnovers in tallying its third shutout of the season. The Bulldogs bounced back after surrendering season-highs in points allowed and total offense (351 yards) in a 62-30 home victory over Clopton/Elsberry on Oct. 7.

"(The defense) came into Friday night with an idea of having a better showing than last week, and they took it to heart," Hess said. "Our defensive backs did a great job with their pass coverage, in conjunction with the linebackers and defensive line putting pressure on the quarterback.

"I've always been a defensive guy and I was very happy with our performance."