KINGDOM CITY, Mo. - This could be a good week for the North Callaway Thunderbirds defense to get right.
North Callaway - looking to rebound from a 39-6 home loss to Class 4 Mexico in last week's season opener - will host a Tipton Cardinals squad tonight (kickoff at 7 p.m.) that was blanked by Lexington 35-0 in its first game.
The Thunderbirds surrendered 300 yards on the ground and five rushing touchdowns - four by Karsten Ekern - against Mexico. North Callaway head coach Kevin O'Neal liked what he saw at the outset from his defensive players, but explained that they were eventually worn down by the bigger Bulldogs.
"I was very pleased with what they did early on," O'Neal said. "Technique-wise, we did a very good job with what we've been working on. Then as we got tired, we went back to old habits.
"That happens when you get tired - physically and mentally. ... We have a good game plan for this week and hopefully they execute it the way we want to, and we'll have some success defensively."
The Thunderbirds are well-versed in the jet sweeps that longtime Tipton head coach Tony Braby utilizes to put constant pressure on the defensive edge.
"Coach Braby does an awesome job of working with what he has," O'Neal said. "He's a guy that tries to beat you on the perimeter - somehow, someway. ... The wrinkles that he's developed (off the jet sweep) throughout the years have been, I think, pretty amazing.
"Finding ways to get the ball to the outside more - throwing some more bubbles (screens), throwing some more quick things to the outside. That's what we expect for them to do. They tried those things against Lexington; they had some success with it, but turnovers really hurt them. I think they had three interceptions."
The North Callaway defense will be tracking the whereabouts of senior running back Ryan Wood, who will be the focal point of the Cardinals' offense.
O'Neal emphasized that each defender must stick to their specific task in restricting the Tipton offense.
"They have to play their assignment," O'Neal said. "A lot of times off that jet sweep they have a counter, back off of it with the fullback. So if the linebackers start chasing the jet sweep, they'll hit you back with the counter.
"We have to make sure all 11 guys play assignment football. We've got to make sure we're not trying to do too much."
In the meantime, the Thunderbirds will try to find their offensive footing after managing a meager 41 total yards and recording only four first downs against Mexico. North Callaway avoided a shutout when junior running back J.T. Higgins scored on a 1-yard run with 43 seconds to play in the game.
"Plays were there, it was just the execution," O'Neal said. "We have a couple of guys on the (offensive) line that are new, that we knew against Mexico were going to struggle because those guys on the other side of the ball are big, physical and strong.
"They tried their best, but they didn't quite execute the way we wanted. Hopefully they saw that they are very capable of getting the job done, they just have to work a little bit harder."
Out of necessity because of injuries to the Thunderbirds' two running backs, senior Tyler Mattes and junior Wyatt Branson, Higgins returned to the backfield after moving to tight end over the summer. He gained 51 yards on 14 carries last week.
Mattes missed the opener because of a sprain to the MCL in his knee, while Branson has been battling a groin injury and had just two carries for minus-1 yard against Mexico.
O'Neal was still awaiting word on Mattes' status for tonight's game, while he was planning for Branson to be "full go" against the Cardinals.
Higgins, O'Neal added, will continue to share the workload until Mattes and Branson are both healthy.
O'Neal expects junior quarterback Milo Henry to be more settled against Tipton's 4-3 defensive scheme. Henry struggled in his first varsity start, completing just 3-of-12 passes for only 6 yards and an interception. He also ended up with minus-15 yards rushing in 14 attempts.
"We're really going to work this week on getting him comfortable in the pocket," O'Neal said. "It's something that we had worked on, but you're not comfortable until you go through a game.
"Watching film and him seeing the protection that he had, hopefully will help his footwork. He went back to some old habits and that's why the ball sailed a little bit high when it did. We'll get him back on track."
North Callaway hosts Tipton - Updates on Twitter: @FultonSunSports.
Podcast: