RUSSELLVILLE - The Russellville Indians continue to grow.
The second-year varsity program that collected its first win in program history during Week 1 had to wait an extra week before playing game No. 2 against Sweet Springs. Russellville's Week 2 opponent, Tipton, canceled their game due to COVID-19 concerns.
The Greyhounds' offensive-efficiency was too much Friday night for the youthful Indians, scoring on five of the seven offensive drives that involved the Sweet Springs starters, with another ending on a missed field goal.
Russellville coach Tim Rulo said mid-game adjustments helped the team halt the Greyhounds' offensive success in the second half.
"We made some adjustments at halftime and I think we played much better after that," Rulo said after the Indians' 45-6 loss to the Greyhounds. "If it wouldn't have been for a couple of big plays that we gave up in the second half, the score would have looked a lot closer.
"There are glimpses of some really good stuff, now our guys need to stay the course and be patient with the process."
The Indians' roster, made up of more than half underclassmen, allowed 365 yards on 60 plays, including 243 on the ground.
On the offensive end, the Indians struggled to move the ball early and didn't reach the Greyhounds' side of the field until Russellville's final drive of the opening half.
"There were so many highlights of our guys doing great things and I'm so proud of them for that," Rulo said. " Football is new to this place, we were going against a team with nine seniors that has had football for a long time. I was so happy with our guys."
On that drive, things started to click.
The first two plays went nowhere, setting up a third-and-10 and another drive that looked to be stalling out, but quarterback Jesse Daniel faked a pitch to the left, rolled out far to his right and found Josiah Herman on a drag route for 16 yards to give the Indians a first down - their first time moving the chains in three drives - and only their third overall.
After an incomplete pass and a false start, one of the young roster's seven on the day, Daniel found Herman running the same route and gained another 10 yards.
An incomplete pass put the Indians in a fourth-and-5 spot at their own 41. Then Daniel rolled out to his right again, this time finding Landen Waggoner on a stop right next to the home sideline. Waggoner turned and broke multiple tackles as he sprinted down the sideline for a 42-yard gain.
Christopher Seaver took one of his team-high nine carries for five of his eventual 17 yards, then after another false start, Alex Oligschlaeger took two carries for a combined 15 yards and a score.
"We have to get a bit more consistent with how we're executing," Rulo said.
After the game, Rulo said avoiding turnovers was going to play a major factor in the Indians' development.
Russellville threw two interceptions, both returned for touchdowns, which Rulo credited to play calling in pressure situations.
The first came on a fourth-and-6 attempt on the possession before the Indians' lone scoring drive. The Greyhounds' Seth Rader grabbed the pass at Sweet Springs' 45 and rushed to the right sideline, where he weaved through defenders to put his team up 24-0 with 6:46 left in the first half.
The second came on the Indians' opening drive in the second half.
After the Greyhounds scored on the opening drive to go ahead 31-6, the Indians had a second-and-10 attempt from their own 44. The pass toward the home sideline was jumped and Cole Lovercamp took the green grass ahead of him in a straight line toward the end zone.
"It's good energy here, especially with the fans," Rulo said. "Our guys need to feel that and just keep going."
Daniel ended 4-for-15 passing for 94 yards with two interceptions, while Waggoner totaled the most receiving yards with his single catch for 42.
Oligschlaeger and Herman each totaled 26 yards receiving, Herman on two catches and Oligschlaeger on one.
Herman led the team in rushing yards with 35, while Seaver had 17 and Oligschlaeger racked up 10.
Zapher Lee completed 6-of-10 passes for 83 yards for the Greyhounds, while Blake Schroeder took three snaps from the shotgun and completed all three of his passes for 39 yards. Lee added one touchdown through the air.
Noah Fogerty caught four passes for Sweet Springs, totaling 51 yards, while Lovercamp had three catches for 49 yards including the Greyhounds touchdown through the air
Along with his receiving and defensive touchdowns, Lovercamp opened the game with a score on the ground on one of his 12 rushing attempts for 31 yards.
Lee added a touchdown on the ground as part of his 11 carries for 89 yards, as did Schroeder.
Matt Echoff led the Greyhounds' rushing attack with 15 carries for 96 yards.
Russellville (1-1) will look to rebound for its second win when it faces Grandview: Hillsboro on the road at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Grandview: Hillsboro (2-1) started the season with back-to-back wins before falling 22-12 to St. Pius X: Festus on Friday.
Sweet Springs (2-1) goes to Springfield to face Lighthouse Christian at 7 p.m. Friday.