FULTON - Trey Barrow wants to build Fulton into a winner - that much is obvious.
And the rookie head coach knows that's going to come down to more than the mastering of X's and O's. It'll come when that winning mentality permeates every player and every facet of the Hornets' system.
"The culture is shifting where freshmen are starting to buy in," Barrow said. "Sophomores and juniors have always been pretty good about it, but with freshmen, there is that learning curve."
The culture Barrow speaks of is one he's been building since accepting the head coaching job in April, and it's one he hopes translates into results on the field for Fulton in tonight's 2018 season opener. The Hornets - after going 3-7 last season - travel to the School of the Osage Indians for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
When he arrives on the Fulton sideline, Barrow will be the Hornets' third head coach in as many seasons. He succeeded Blake Logan - who resigned last spring after just one season. Logan had taken over for long-time Fulton head coach Pat Kelley in 2017.
Barrow assumes the mantle with the Hornets as a product of three noteworthy and successful programs. A Moberly graduate, Barrow was an all-state wide receiver under former Spartans head coach Jason Ambrosen. He then joined the Missouri Tigers and earned second-team all-Big 12 punting honors in 2011.
Barrow spent the previous two seasons coaching wide receivers and special teams at Waynesville under former head coach Brad Drehle, before accepting the job with the Hornets. All that on- and off-field work informed Barrow the stability at Fulton begins with him.
It starts with establishing Barrow as a pillar rooted at the foundation of the Hornets' program, which begins with a strengthened rapport with the returning group of players and the youth populating Fulton's program at all levels.
"They're growing up and prioritizing things, which is one thing we've tried to preach," Barrow said.
Barrow brings with him a spread offense he helped Drehle install and optimize at Waynesville, a scheme that asks the player behind center to do a bit of everything. That duty falls to senior quarterback Evan Gray, who'll be tasked to step in as signal-caller following the graduation of Cameron Vaughn, who is now playing at NCAA Division II Missouri Southern.
Barrow is a big believer in Gray's mental and physical capacity to carry out the responsibilities of the offense, chief among the reading of the run-pass option.
"First of all, he's really smart and he picked up the offense pretty quick," Barrow said. "We have a lot of different reads we ask of the quarterback, so he's done a really good job of reading (the play) and going where we need to with the ball.
"He throws a good ball, his footwork is really good, and he really picked it up in camp where we want him to be moving in the pocket."
Senior Taeon Logan will serve as Fulton's primary running back, with junior Tyler Sayler and freshman Ian Poore serving as his backups. Barrow praised Logan's work during the summer to improve his speed and explosiveness, but he's challenged Logan to rely less on his quicks and show more of a willingness to be a straight-ahead runner.
So far, Logan - who accounted for 476 yards and three touchdowns last season - has answered the call.
"He gets to a point where he'll bounce outside, and we're working on instead of bouncing, stick your foot in the ground, go north and south, and pick up seven yards," Barrow said.
Logan, Sayler and Poore will run behind an experienced, all-senior offensive line, an element Barrow points out will be something the Hornets will want to lean on. Shane Edwards and Andrew Bauermeister will man Gray's left side at tackle and guard, respectively. JT Clark will anchor the line at center, Izak Barnes will start at right guard and Tyrese Vaughn will handle right-tackle duties.
The quintet already has size working to its advantage. But Barrow is most impressed by how the group has used its physicality to attack and pick up the nuances of the new offense, though he thinks it can be even more productive by committing just a bit more to coming off the ball.
"This is just a little thing, but they come off the ball about one-two steps and if they stay there just a hair longer, that'll free up a lot of lanes for Taeon," Barrow said.
Senior Garrett Johnson and junior Zaylin McNeil will man the outside receiver spots, while seniors Keshawn Maxwell and Justin Leake will play the slots. Barrow noted all four pass-catchers have good hands, signaling out Johnson's big body and the athleticism and playmaking ability Leake, Maxwell and McNeil bring to the table.
Defensively, the Hornets will field a 3-3-5 alignment. Junior Emarieon Clark will man the nose guard position, while juniors Isaac Paup and Cody Settles will handle the end spots. Barrow isn't set on who will occupy each of his linebacking positions, though he tabbed Johnson and senior John Holtkamp as two players who will see reps in that middle unit.
Fulton will trot out five defensive backs, with Maxwell and sophomore Will Privia-Fryrear at the corners and Leake at a safety. Barrow will slot two players as linebacker/walkup safety hybrids, tabbing Tyler Sayler and sophomores Seth Sayler and Jacob Hughey as three who might see time at those spots.
The trio's speed and willingness to get physical make them ideal to occupy the positions.
"They're not quite big enough to be middle linebackers, but they're bigger than corners and they're all pretty long and lanky kids," Barrow said.
Barrow's experience as a kicking specialist informed his reason to revamp Fulton's special-teams look. Leake will handle kicking and punting duties, while Maxwell and Logan will be responsible for kickoff and punt returns.
The Hornets suffered a 32-26 loss to Osage in last year's opener in Fulton. Barrow knows the Indians will be a formidable opponent for his debut game at the helm tonight.
"They're a very physical team, they fly around and I know they'll be a good test for us," Barrow said.