ELDON - It will be a district semifinal rematch from a year ago.
And the Eldon Mustangs can only hope for the same outcome.
Fourth-seeded Eldon (6-4) travels to Springfield to meet top-seeded Catholic (8-2) tonight in semifinal action of the Class 3 District 5 Tournament. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
In the other District 5 semifinal game, St. James (6-4) plays at Buffalo (8-2).
The district championship game is set for Nov. 9.
In first-round games last week, Eldon knocked off fifth-seeded Salem 28-7, while Catholic clubbed eighth-seeded Logan-Rogersville 42-7.
Last week the Mustangs scored three first-half touchdowns - two on a 26-yard run and a 6-yard pass reception by junior running back Logan Hall - and was in control the rest of the way. Eldon finished with 360 yards of total offense.
"I was extremely proud of our guys," Eldon head coach Chad Hult said of last week. "We got through some injuries. And our defense played great, shutting them out in the second half."
In last year's District 3 semifinal action, Eldon whipped Catholic 38-13, as the Mustangs would advance to the state quarterfinals, where they were beaten by Mount Vernon.
Catholic is coached by Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer Steve Hancock. In a 42-7 win against Logan-Rogersville in the regular-season finale two weeks ago, Hancock became the eighth coach in Missouri high school football history to reach 300 career victories.
It will be a battle of run-dominated offenses tonight, as Eldon will match its wing-T against Catholic's flexbone.
The Irish have averaged 33.7 points and 364.5 yards per game - 323.6 of that rushing.
"They play out of a flexbone with a lot of option," Hult said. "They are good on the inside and outside veer."
Much like the last couple of seasons, three-year starting senior quarterback Tyson Riley is the hub of the Catholic flexbone attack, having rushed for 1,158 yards (8.4 yards per carry) with 18 touchdowns.
Also for the Irish senior running back Nick Crites has rushed for 776 yards on 152 attempts and 15 touchdowns; senior halfback Adrian Coulter 487 yards on 61 carries; junior halfback Will Crites 271 yards, and senior halfback Hunter Brown 243 yards.
"It's nice to have (Riley and Crites) back," Hancock said. "Riley is a kid who can make it happen at any time. We have several kids who have been in the same system for us the last three years. We're down a couple of kids with injuries, but everyone else is in that same boat."
The Irish don't pass much. Riley has hit on 19-of-48 passes for 362 yards, two interceptions and two touchdowns.
Brown has caught seven passes for 145 yards and two TDs to lead the receiving core.
Catholic's kicker, senior Logan Brock, is also a weapon, as he has nailed 6-of-8 field goal attempts - with a long of 45 yards - and has connected on 43-of-45 extra points.
"They're very similar to last year; they go through the same guys," Hult said. "Riley is an extremely good talent. And they have a couple of linemen up front who are very good."
Defensively, the Irish are allowing just 16.6 points per game.
Defensive lineman Wallace Squibb paces the Irish defense with 49 tackles, while Riley, a free safety, has 46 and defensive lineman George Hall and junior safety Peyton James 45 each.
Senior defensive lineman Wallace Squibb has seven sacks while senior lineman Tyler Welch has six. Sophomore safety Will Squibb leads the team with three interceptions.
"They've got three really solid defensive linemen; as good as we've seen," Hult said of Wallace Squibb, Welch and junior Caden Cook. "They base out of a 4-4, but when they play teams similar to us they have had a 5-3 look."
As has been the case all season, the Mustangs are dealing with injuries. The team's leading rusher, senior fullback Isaiah Parsons, sat out the second half of the Salem game with a knee injury suffered the previous week. According to Hult, Parsons is a game-time decision tonight.
Also, Eldon's junior receiver/defensive back Nathan Wardenburg went out early last week with a concussion and is questionable for tonight.
"It's kind of a running joke; we get one player back and then lose one or two more," Hult said. "We have just one senior who hasn't missed a game this year."
Parsons has rushed for 927 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
Senior quarterback Dawson Brandt, himself rounding back into form after a knee issue, has rushed for 708 yards and eight touchdowns while completing 24-of-55 passes for 342 yards and two TDs. And Hall, who tweaked an ankle two weeks ago, has rushed for 770 yards and three TDs while leading the team in receptions with 19 for 356 yards and five more touchdowns.
Brandt, a free safety, leads the Mustangs in tackles with 72 while junior lineman Kaden Dillon has 70 and Parsons, a linebacker, 63.
"They execute extremely well and don't make mistakes," Hancock said of Eldon. "They see a lot of third-and-shorts and when they have a fourth down and short they don't punt. And traditionally they are always very physical on offense and defense."