ELDON, Mo. - The Eldon Mustangs are taking on the second-ranked Class 3 football team in the state of Missouri tonight.
And that's just fine with the Mustangs.
Eldon hopes to elevate its play when it hosts defending Tri-County Conference champion Blair Oaks tonight. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Eldon returns home after playing the last two games on the road and comes in with a 1-2 overall record and a 0-1 league mark after dropping a tough 14-7 conference opener to Southern Boone last week.
The Blair Oaks Falcons are 3-0 and 1-0 after blanking Versailles 36-0 a week ago.
A state semifinalist a year ago, Blair Oaks has won 16 of its last 17 games dating back to the start of the 2015 season.
"It's a great opponent to compete at a higher level against," Eldon coach Shannon Jolley said. "Last week was a disappointing effort but usually our kids really get up to play these guys. Blair Oaks is an outstanding team and some years we play them twice. It kind of lets you know where you are at.
"We've had some tough injuries but we're getting better. We're excited to play Blair Oaks because they're one of the best teams in the state. We've played at district championship levels and in quarterfinal games before, too. Anything less than that and it's a disappointment for us."
Last year was one of those seasons when the Mustangs faced the Falcons twice, losing 62-47 in the conference game and 58-6 in the district playoffs.
For a better fate this year, Eldon will have to slow down a balanced Blair Oaks offensive attack and a defense that has thrown a pair of shutouts so far. The Falcons are averaging 32.7 points per game while allowing just 6.7.
Sophomore quarterback Nolan Hair has completed 27-of-54 passes for 347 yards, three interceptions and five touchdowns while rushing for four more TDs.
Sophomore wideout Ben Thomas has caught seven passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns while senior running back Jake Van Ronzelen has six catches for 43 yards and a TD, and sophomore Brayden Pritchett and Cody Alexander each have five receptions.
Van Ronzelen paces the Falcon effective ground game with 374 yards on 45 carries and three touchdowns while senior Brenden Brown has 118 rushing yards on 15 carries and a TD.
But Van Ronzelen will miss tonight's game due to concussion-like symptoms.
The stingy Falcon defense has been led by Brown, a linebacker, with 29 tackles (16 solo) and junior Drew Boessen with 29 tackles (13 solo) while Pritchett has 22 tackles (17 solo) and Alexander, an all-state defensive back a year ago, has two interceptions.
"The one thing that stands out for them is the effort they play with," Jolley said of Blair Oaks. "They play with extraordinary effort. Their kids get off the ball extremely well and they really believe in their system.
"They have a couple of solid players both on the offensive and defensive line with big-time motors. (Blair Oaks) coach (Terry) Walker just has a good team of players."
Eldon has both scored and allowed a total of 75 points this season (25.0 per game average).
Senior quarterback Austin Kempker has completed 10-of-19 passes for 182 passes, two interceptions and three touchdowns. Senior wideout Jacob Whittle has caught four passes for 105 yards and a TD while junior tight end Cole Walker has a 43-yard catch for a TD.
Sophomore fullback Isaiah Parsons has rushed 39 times for 258 yards (6.7 yards-per-attempt) and three touchdowns while junior running back Isaiah Merida has rushed for 220 yards on 38 attempts (5.8) with a TD.
Sophomore defensive back Dawson Brandt leads the Mustangs with 42 tackles (16 solo) while Parsons, a linebacker, has 31 tackles (11 solo); junior linebacker Trenton Dillon has 26 tackles (10 solo) with 3.5 tackles-for-losses and 1.5 sacks, and Walker, a linebacker, also has 26 tackles.
Blair Oaks at Eldon
Preview podcast: Blair Oaks Falcons Football Podcast [Eldon preview, Sept. 9, 2016]
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