FULTON - There aren't too many positives to glean from a seventh consecutive loss.
But what the Fulton Hornets did take away from last week's 20-13 setback at Southeast in Kansas City was a grumble in their collective stomachs, the kind that's synonymous with a team famished and eager for its first win.
"We're more hungry. All the kids want to get that losing streak off our back," Fulton coach Trey Barrow said. "And we want to do everything we can this week to make sure that this week we have success."
If prospects of an eighth straight defeat weren't already driving that hunger, a familiar foe almost certainly will. The Hornets return to Robert E. Fisher Jr. Stadium to host North Central Missouri Conference rival Mexico in tonight's annual Highway 54 Bowl. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
The Hornets (0-7, 0-4 NCMC) have lost five straight to Mexico - their last win against the Bulldogs was a 35-19 triumph in 2012.
The Fulton defense built the foundation for what was nearly a comeback victory last week. The Hornets forced a pair of fourth-quarter turnovers, then got a 62-yard touchdown run from senior running back Taeon Logan and a 25-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Tyler Sayler and wide receiver Zaylin McNeil.
Logan's run, in particular, was one that embodied the hunger Barrow previously mentioned. Logan - who totaled a game-high 170 yards on 24 carries - kicked it into another gear on the scoring run, a feat Barrow gladly made an example for the rest of his players."The other team gave up on chasing him because he was going hard the whole way," Barrow said. "He'd had 22 touches up until that point and, you know, a lot of guys would've been pretty gassed at that point, but Taeon's been working his tail off since June - he had a little gas left."
Logan has been a constant for a Fulton lineup that hasn't always had that at key spots in the lineup, namely at quarterback. Sayler - the Hornets' No. 2 signal caller to start the season - has been hampered by injuries for much of the season, forcing Barrow to insert senior wide receivers John Holtkamp and Garrett Johnson at the position at various points.
After engineering both scoring drives last week, Sayler will get the starting nod tonight for a Fulton attack looking to showcase more of its arsenal. Logan has eclipsed 100 yards rushing five times this season, consistency that will aid Sayler's downfield passing ability and the effectiveness of the Hornets' play-action game.
"It starts with having our athletes back out there on the field, guys who can make plays," Barrow said. "The guys that stepped in did a good job, but they weren't deep threats, they weren't threats on jet (sweep) to take it to the house.
" It opens up running lanes for Taeon and you get man-to-man coverage on the outside and then, at that point, you're one mistake away from a touchdown."
Fulton will get a crack at a Mexico defense that stumbled in a 37-7 NCMC home loss to Kirksville last week. The Hornets will also have to keep pace with the Bulldogs' triple-option ground scheme keyed by sophomore quarterback Ty Prince.
Prince has rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns this season, and completed exactly 50 percent of his passes (21-of-42) for 316 yards and three scores. Behind Prince, the main running cog for Mexico (4-3, 1-2 NCMC) is senior fullback Dillon Nichols, who's tallied 635 yards (5.9 per carry) and four touchdowns.
"He sees a hole and he's through it," Barrow said. "He starts in a three-point stance, and he's gone at the snap. He's quick, he's off the ball and he runs hard."
Fulton got a taste of the option - Hannibal's veer approach - in a 47-0 NCMC Homecoming loss to the Pirates last month. Though the two option looks differ in name and philosophy, the Hornets' defensive responsibilities will be the same.
In fact, it'll be the same edict Barrow has been preaching to his defenders for much of the season - adhering to assignments.
"If a guy has dive, tackle dive whether he has the ball or not," Barrow said. " Play assignment football, and that goes for corners, too. Don't go in helping until you know it is or isn't a run."
As anxious as the Hornets are to snap their winless streak and end a drought to Mexico that dates back to when these players were elementary and middle school students, Barrow wants to put some perspective on tonight's game for his players.
"I want to get them in the mindset that this week, no matter what, we need to outperform Mexico and do things a little better than Mexico, so when Friday comes, we can come out with the victory," Barrow said.
III
Tonight will be the 127th meeting between Fulton and Mexico, with the Hornets leading the series 63-57. There have been six ties between the two teams.
Related Media: Fulton Hornets Football Podcast [Mexico preview, Oct. 12, 2018]