State-ranked South Callaway has accounted for 105 points and 875 yards of total offense in back-to-back, decisive wins as it prepares to host Eastern Missouri Conference opponent Bowling Green tonight. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
The Bulldogs (5-1, 3-1 EMO) - who moved up a spot to No. 9 in this week's Class 2 Missouri Media Rankings - put up 480 yards of total offense, including 390 yards rushing, in a 49-13 EMO rout of Mark Twain last Friday at home. Junior tailback Peyton Leeper ran for three scores and also caught a touchdown pass to fuel South Callaway's outburst.
The week before, South Callaway tallied 395 yards of total offense in a 56-21 rampage at EMO foe Montgomery County. Senior tailback Kaden Helsel sparked the Bulldogs with a pair of long scoring runs and a touchdown catch.
"We want to be able to execute on offense, no matter who we're playing," Bulldogs head coach Zack Hess said. "I think our offensive coaching staff does a good job of picking out the plays that we like to run in trying to attack what we feel like the weaknesses are in their (opponents') defense."
Bowling Green is 3-3 overall and 3-1 in the EMO in its first season under head coach Kevin Krietemeyer. The Bobcats had their three-game winning streak end last week in a 55-28 home shootout loss to conference foe Montgomery County.
Bowling Green's defense - which will utilize 3-4 and 3-5 looks, according to Hess - has been susceptible to potent offenses this season, giving up 36.7 points per game.
"By position group, their defensive line is real big - they're young but they're big and pretty physical up front," Hess said. "Their linebackers have some good athletes - they're big, strong, fast guys.
"They've got all their receivers playing in the secondary, as well. It'll be a challenge for us, just in terms of competing with their athletes."
Krietemeyer has introduced the spread offense to the Bobcats and they've embraced it by scoring 32.8 points per game. Senior Stephen Merz (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) and sophomore Austin Callahan (6-2, 165) are "interchangeable" at both quarterback and wide receiver for Bowling Green, Hess explained.
The Bobcats' backfield will include juniors Kaleo Dade (5-10) and Matt Kay (5-9, 150). Seniors Noah Pafford (5-10, 155) and Brenden Henderson (5-11, 175), and sophomore Lane Parker (5-6, 120) will lead Bowling Green's collection of wide receivers.
"They have a lot of guys and different style of players," Hess said.
Hess added the Bobcats' assortment of skill players will make it difficult for South Callaway's defense to predict personnel usage and formations.
"We're going to have to base a lot of our anticipation coming from the plays that they like to run, instead of who they're trying to get the ball to," Hess said. " What we have to do is trust our rules and do your job, that's that famous phrase.
"We have a job on defense with every position, you just have to do it well."
The Bulldogs gave up 251 yards of total offense, including 164 yards passing, to Mark Twain last week. Both of the Tigers' scores came on touchdown throws of 6 and 47 yards in the second quarter.
South Callaway, however, locked down Mark Twain in the second half, limiting the Tigers to 44 total yards. The Bulldogs also came up with five interceptions.
"I think last week gave us a little bit of a taste of what it's like to compete for the ball, to be a ball hawk, to go make a play," Hess said. "The idea is to build off of that and we understand what it takes to compete for the ball when it's in the air."
Related media:
South Callaway Bulldogs Football Podcast [Bowling Green preview, Sept. 29, 2017]