VERSAILLES - The goal for the Versailles football team is to get a chance to end the state championship run of Lamar.
To have that opportunity, the Tigers are going to have to get past the El Dorado Springs Bulldogs tonight.
Third-seeded Versailles (6-4) travels to El Dorado Springs to take on the second-seeded Bulldogs (8-2) in Class 2 District 4 Tournament semifinal action (7 p.m. kickoff).
In the other District 4 semifinal game, top-seed and seven-time defending state champion Lamar (9-1) hosts fourth-seeded Sarcoxie (7-3).
The district championship game is set for Nov. 9.
"This will be a great game for us," said Versailles head coach Broc Silvers. "I think it's evenly-matched; it could be a one-touchdown game either way. It would be great for our program if we could win this game. It would give us seven wins and probably a chance to play Lamar. Of course, Lamar is the big favorite to get out of our district. We want to see if we can play with them."
Versailles is coming off a 48-6 romp against sixth-seeded East Newton in last week's first-round game.
The Tigers took care of business early, rolling up a 48-0 halftime advantage and allowing Silvers to rest his starters in the second half.
Quarterback Coby Williams had another big game to power the Tigers. Williams, a junior lefty, completed 15-of-17 passes for 180 yards and a whopping five touchdowns. Williams also rushed for 70 yards and a TD.
Versailles limited East Newton to just 179 yards of total offense and forced five turnovers.
"We came out early and poured it on," Silvers said of last week. "We were able to get some players out after the first half. It was a good game to get some of our younger players some playoff experience."
Now, it's on to a rematch with El Dorado Springs.
As a sixth-seed last year, Versailles met up with El Dorado Springs in Class 2 District 4 first-round action and posted a 34-29 upset victory. The Tigers' season ended the following week against Fair Grove 57-26 in the district semifinals.
"Buffalo is the only common opponent we have with (El Dorado Springs) and we both won fairly close games," Silvers said. "Last year we beat them by five points in Week 10.
"They are a grind-it-out type of team. They run the triple option and will try to really limit our possessions."
Two of the standouts of the El Dorado Springs' T-formation offense from a year ago are back. Versailles will have to again deal with senior running back Tanner Witt and senior quarterback Trey Babcock, who are the leading rushers for the squad this fall.
Haiden Overton is another big-play threat for the Bulldogs.
"(Witt) at running back and Babcock at quarterback are both returning starters offensively and really good players back from last year," Silvers said. "They will throw the ball a little bit and they have a couple of good receivers. On the line they are a lot like Hallsville, in that their kids aren't gigantic, but they play with a little chip on their shoulder. And their quarterback is a lot like Osage's Dalton Depee. He's not as fast as Depee but is elusive and will be tough on us.
"Defensively, they base out of a 4-4 (front), and the only advantage I'd see we have is they haven't played a lot of spread teams. Buffalo in Week 3 might be the last time they've seen trips."
For the Tigers, Williams improved on his big numbers last week and now has rushed for 1,290 yards and 22 touchdowns on 196 attempts and has completed 117-of-180 passes (65 percent) for 1,349 yards, 14 TDs and six interceptions.
Senior wideout Wyatt Espinosa has caught 39 passes for 511 yards and seven touchdowns and junior wideout Dallas Waller has 36 catches for 331 yards.
Senior running back Michael Trotter has rushed for 462 yards and two TDs. As a linebacker Trotter has 132 tackles, with 19.5 for loss and three sacks. Senior safety Colbey Boicourt has 44 tackles and four interceptions.