VERSAILLES, Mo. - The Versailles Tigers got a big shot in the arm with a last-second victory a week ago.
The Warsaw Wildcats are still searching for that much-needed boost.
Warsaw will be again searching for win No. 1 while Versailles will attempt to make it two in a row on Friday when the two meet in Tri-County Conference action at Versailles (7 p.m. kickoff).
The Tigers come in 2-2 overall record and 1-1 in conference play after clipping California 14-10 last week by scoring a touchdown with three seconds remaining. Warsaw fell to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the league with a 42-6 setback at School of the Osage last Friday.
"Getting a win helps go forward in the district standings," said Versailles coach Broc Silvers, whose Tiger squad had dropped its previous two games against high-scoring foes Fulton and Blair Oaks.
Certainly the Tigers will be trying to crank up the offense a notch, as it was the defense that paced the squad to victory a week ago.
Versailles' first touchdown last week came on a long fumble recovery return. And the winning score against California came on a one-yard quarterback sneak by senior David Connor with three seconds remaining.
"In the first half we weren't patient enough on our blocks," Silvers said. "Our line got off the ball better in the second half. Defensively we played really well."
Versailles is facing a Warsaw squad that is averaging close to 300 yards of total offense per game but is scoring just 13.8 points per game. Turnovers and penalties have been the big problems for the Wildcats. Last week Warsaw committed six turnovers, four of which led to Osage touchdowns.
With the turnovers playing a huge role, Warsaw has allowed 39.3 points per game.
"We move the football fine; we just don't finish drives," Warsaw coach Paul Thomas said. "We've got to start finishing drives if we're going to have success."
The Wildcats, which feature several youngsters in their starting lineup, are led by sophomore quarterback Matt Luebbert.
Luebbert has completed 21-of-45 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns, but has tossed six interceptions. He has rushed for 173 yards on 36 carries and scored two TDs.
Senior wideout Trenton Simons has 11 receptions for 166 yards and a TD while junior wideout Jayden Schepker has five catches for 73 yards.
The rugged Warsaw ground game is paced by junior running back Keegan Glenn, who has rushed for 350 yards on 74 attempts while sophomore fullback Eli Hawkins has 136 rushing yards on 36 carries.
Senior linebacker Michael Pierce has 42 tackles (21 solo) to lead the Warsaw defense while senior lineman Dakota Bilderback has 32 tackles (20 solo); sophomore defensive back Dalton Nichols 27 tackles (19 solo) with an interception, and sophomore linebacker Levi Lawson has 22 tackles (12 solo).
"(Warsaw) had no problems moving the ball on California and Osage," Silvers said. "We're not taking them lightly. It takes time to build a program and Coach Thomas does a great job. They do a lot of I-backs, power-run stuff. Their backs are bigger than we have. Schepker is a good receiver and the quarterback does a good job running the ball."
Connor has completed 23-of-49 passes for 145 yards and two interceptions and is also Versailles' leading rusher with 132 yards on 38 carries and three touchdowns. Also for the Tigers, senior running back Shane Randall has rushed for 123 yards on 38 carries and sophomore running back Grant Hutchison has 101 rushing yards on 43 carries and a TD.
Hutchison has nine receptions to lead the squad while junior Taylor Dobbins has seven catches for 84 yards.
Sophomore linebacker Michael Trotter and senior linebacker Gage Smith each has 26 tackles for the Versailles defense while Connor, a back, has 25 tackles and an interception.
Hutchison, a back, 23 tackles, and Randall, a lineman, has 20 tackles including seven for losses and two sacks.
The Tigers are allowing 27.0 points per game while scoring at a 12.0 clip.
"They're a physical football team," Thomas said of Versailles. "They run the football and that's given us problems on defense. I thought they played really well against California; they were very aggressive on defense."
Versailles hosts Warsaw
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