FULTON - A feeling of incompleteness has plagued the Fulton Hornets through the season's first half.
On the surface, one could point to the Hornets playing 3 games with a wide receiver under center as proof they're not whole. But Fulton's inability to finish - quarters, halves, games and even promising drives - is just as big an indicator.
"That's something we're honestly working on, which is finishing," Fulton coach Trey Barrow said. "A lot of times it's just mental - maybe we get tired at a key position or make a fumble, but those are things we can correct and we're working on at practice.
"Week in and week out, it seems to be an issue, so that's our emphasis is finishing."
A consistency in everything it does is what Fulton is striving for, and something it'll need in tonight's Homecoming game against the Hannibal Pirates. Kickoff for the North Central Missouri Conference matchup is 7 p.m. at Robert E. Fisher Jr. Stadium.
The Hornets' previous two NCMC outings at Moberly and Marshall, respectively, paint pictures of a team close to completing key drives, yet ultimately stubbing their toes in some manner. Against Moberly, Fulton (0-5, 0-3 NCMC) committed miscues on three offensive drives, errors that led to three return touchdowns by the Spartans.
In last week's 41-6 loss at Marshall, the Hornets twice moved into the red zone in the first half. The first series stalled on a third-down fumble at the Owls' 18-yard line, while the second possession ended in a turnover on downs.
Each stoppage led to Marshall touchdowns."This past week, we had a couple of really good-looking drives and then we'd break down somewhere and that'd be the end of the drive," Barrow said.
Barrow's attempt to negate those missteps has started with him dialing up the intensity in practice to better simulate game-night competition levels. If that excitement ever dips during practice, Barrow said his senior leadership - Shane Edwards, Taeon Logan and Tyrese Vaughn - has taken it upon itself to keep those levels consistently high.
"If there's that lull in practice, those are the guys that need to step up, and have in the last few weeks," Barrow said. " Us as coaches, a lot of the times we're preaching the same things over and over in practice and it'll fall on deaf ears.
"But when you get another one of their teammates say it, they buy in more. I'm trying to give them a little more ownership over the program."
This senior class is hoping to own the distinction of being the one that ends Fulton's decades-long drought against Hannibal. If the Hornets are entering tonight's contest reeling and in search of consistency, the Pirates come in firing on all cylinders.
Since losses to Helias and Jefferson City to start the season, Hannibal (3-2, 2-0 NCMC) has won three in a row while combining to outscore its opponents 149-32.
"They're a very physical and very dominant team. They go hard at everything they do, they know their assignments," Barrow said " But at the same time, there are things we do that other teams don't do."
Those distinguishing traits - the little things in execution Barrow wants to become second nature to his team - will need to shine through tonight against the Pirates. Hannibal's offense is still centered around its option attack, a scheme that accumulated 287 yards rushing in last week's 58-14 NCMC rout of Kirksville.
Senior quarterback Gabe Worthington (5-foot-11, 175 pounds) directs the Pirates' vaunted ground attack. Worthington accounted for three touchdowns - two passing - and hit on 5-of-7 passes for 164 yards through the air last week.
One of those scoring tosses came on an 80-yard hookup with senior wide receiver Will Whitaker (6-0, 180).
Senior running back JaQuez McGruder (5-8, 175) produced touchdown runs of 1 and 35 yards, respectively, against Kirksville out of Hannibal's feature back role. Worthington and Whitaker's big-play passing potential and McGruder's running acumen show how crucial it will be for every Fulton defender to know where he needs to be.
"People need to play assignment football," Barrow said. "They need to do their job. Whoever has the quarterback needs to tackle the quarterback. Same with dive, same with pitch."
With the kind of roll the Pirates are on, consistency and completion can't be in short order for the Hornets.
"We need to be physical. No matter when we play Hannibal, they're going to be good," Barrow said. "I want them to have the mindset that we have nothing to lose, no matter what.
"Go out there, play hard and see where the dice fall."
Related Media: Fulton Hornets Football Podcast [Hannibal preview, Sept. 28, 2018]