VERSAILLES, Mo. - The Versailles Tigers were hoping to use their tough schedule against the larger schools of the Tri-County Conference to toughen up for its postseason run.
Mission accomplished in the first round of the Class 2 District 4 Tournament.
Now, the Tigers must turn it up another notch the rest of the way.
After sixth-seeded Versailles upset third-seeded El Dorado Springs 34-29 in the first round last week, the Tigers (3-7) now take on second-seeded Fair Grove (8-2) tonight in semifinal action. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Fair Grove.
And if Versailles can pull another upset, undefeated defending state champion Lamar probably looms in the district finals.
In other first-round district games last week, Fair Grove shut out Stockton 44-0; top-seeded Lamar crushed eighth-seeded California 69-6, and fourth-seeded Warsaw blasted fifth-seeded Cole Camp 44-14.
In the other District 4 semifinal game tonight, Lamar (9-0) hosts Warsaw (5-5).
Certainly, the Tigers grabbed the attention of Fair Grove head coach Bill Voorhis with its performance against El Dorado Springs. Versailles snapped a five-game losing skid and last week scored the most points since its season-opener.
Last week the Tigers trailed El Dorado Springs by one point with just more than eight minutes remaining when they staged a 70-yard, seven-minute game-winning scoring drive. Sophomore quarterback Coby Williams got the winner on a 13-yard touchdown run with 1:10 left.
Williams scored three TDs against El Dorado Springs.
"What you don't know is what kind of confidence your team has after playing our brutal schedule," said Versailles head coach Broc Silvers. "We knew we would have a shot if we played well (last week) and we did. Williams and (senior running back Taylor) Dobbins had great nights. They had a couple of big runs."
"When we saw how they played against (El Dorado Springs), they didn't look like a two-win team," Voorhis said of Versailles. "Their quarterback is a pretty dynamic player and (El Dorado Springs) didn't have an answer for him. Their running back (Dobbins) is a special player. And (junior defensive end Michael Trotter) is a big, physical kid on defense.
"They're really playing well right now."
The Tigers are taking on a Fair Grove Eagles program that has been on an upswing since Voorhis took over. Voorhis has a 32-12 record in four seasons with the squad.
"We feel like we've done a good job," he said. "We've concentrated at making our junior varsity program very important, where our junior players enjoy playing at that level. Our JV team hasn't lost a game in three years. We have a bunch of good assistant coaches who make sure we don't take the JV games for granted. Now we have juniors and seniors who are ready to step into varsity roles and win. It's really helped us."
After winning the Mid-Lakes Conference and advancing to the district finals against Lamar last year, the Eagles finished second in the league to Strafford this season. Fair Grove's only losses in 2017 are to Strafford and Class 3 Springfield Catholic.
The Eagles use a very effective spread offensive formation, and can also shift into a read-option rushing attack. Fair Grove averages 38.5 points per game.
Senior quarterback Jayden Kensinger, a backup last year, is one of those Eagles who have stepped in nicely to his varsity role this fall. Kensinger has completed 189-of-240 passes for 2,400 yards and 26 touchdowns.
And Kensinger has a dangerous 1-2 receiving punch to throw to. Senior Isaac Mauldin, the defending state champion in the Missouri Class 3 track 400-meter dash, has 49 receptions for more than 900 yards and sophomore Cole Gilpin has 54 catches for 800 yards.
And bruising 5-8, 230-pound running back Noah Sandridge powers the ground game with 690 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.
In addition, the Fair Grove defense has been smothering.
The Eagles are allowing 15.7 points a game and have thrown shutouts in their last two outings and have given up seven or less points four times. The squad is currently on a four-game winning streak and during that span has allowed a total of 25 points.
"They've got their program rolling," Silvers said of Fair Grove. "They've got weapons all over the field. Their offense reminds me of Blair Oaks' more than anyone we play. They have a tall, 6-3 receiver to can catch it and a power back who is probably 230 pounds. Their quarterback is pretty athletic; the kid pulls it out and reads it right.
"And they only play three guys both ways. Their defense is an odd-man front and we've seen a ton of those 3-4 teams. The strength for them is probably the defensive line, with a big noseguard. We'll try to spread them out a little."
That defense will be trying to slow down a Williams-led Tiger offense. Williams has completed 106-of-184 passes for 1,408 yards, 14 interceptions and nine touchdowns.
Senior slotback Kooper Wilson has caught 53 passes for 684 yards and four TDs.
Dobbins has rushed for 642 yards on 69 carries and seven TDs, Williams 345 yards on 100 carries and eight TDs and Trotter, a fullback, 270 yards on 39 carries.
Trotter paces the Tigers in tackles with 128, including 15.5 tackles for loss.