Tipton seeks to snap two-game losing skid against Knob Noster

Tipton junior defensive lineman Derrick Hays (center) makes a block for a Cardinal ball carrier against a North Callaway defender during last month's game at Kingdom City.
Tipton junior defensive lineman Derrick Hays (center) makes a block for a Cardinal ball carrier against a North Callaway defender during last month's game at Kingdom City.

TIPTON, Mo. - The Tipton Cardinals look to rebound from their 18-2 loss to the Windsor Greyhounds in Kaysinger Conference play and break their two-game losing streak when they host the Knob Noster Panthers tonight.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

In order to do that, Tipton coach Tony Braby wants his team to focus on the fundamentals of the game.

"We've got to work on ball control," Braby said. "We are just fumbling the ball too much. We are too loose carrying the ball."

In their last two games, the Cardinals have fumbled the ball 11 times, which is way too much for Braby's liking.

The offense is continuing to work on passing the ball better so there is less pressure and attention on the team's running game.

"In our two losses, we have not been able to throw the ball," Braby said. "So we've got to put more of an emphasis on throwing and getting our quarterback on the outside edge. We are throwing in some new pass routes and hoping that it works."

Braby felt like his team can stay in games as long as the Cardinals stop hurting themselves with the turnovers and penalties, which have also hurt them during the two-game losing skid. Tipton will have to remedy both problems to compete against a faster team in Knob Noster.

Since dropping a 51-30 decision to Versailles in its season opener, Knob Noster has won back-to-back games. The Panthers routed Lone Jack 72-13 in Week 2, then blanked Butler 41-0 at home last Friday.

The Knob Noster offense is led by junior quarterback Stevie Elwell, who scored three rushing touchdowns last week against Butler. Elwell led the Panthers with 152 yards rushing and three first-quarter touchdowns in the win against Lone Jack.

Senior running back Marc Casey added a pair of touchdown runs last week against Butler, following a four-touchdown performance against Lone Jack.

The Knob Noster defense has also shown signs of improvement during its win streak. After allowing 51 points in the opener, the Panthers have yielded just 13 points since, and those two scores came after they built a 49-0 lead in the second quarter against Lone Jack.

Tipton wants to keep its game plan basic and focus on the type of plays the team has been shown to perform well in the past. Braby also wants the team to cut down on the bad mental mistakes that have hurt the team recently.

Braby knows if the team does not improve on those areas, there could be more trouble tonight.

"We've got to be really good at our tackling and it is not hard game it is just basic fundamentals and we've got to do those things and if we can't we are going to get beat," Braby said.