County vs North Callaway Report: BY ALAN BRAKE

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WILDCATS LOSE TO NORTH CALLAWAY 27-7

For the first time in several years the Montgomery County R-2 Wildcats and the North Callaway Thunderbirds faced each other on the football field, renewing what has always been a great rivalry between the teams.  This time North Callaway gradually built a lead against a stubborn Wildcat defense and won the game 27-7.

With this game the Wildcats’ overall record dropped to 3 wins and 2 losses.  This was also an East Missouri (EMO) Conference game, so R-2’s record dropped to 2-1, while NC improved its conference record to 2-0 to gain first place in the conference standings.

North Callaway got the ball to start the game and moved the ball down the field.  However, on the seventh play of the drive NC running back Justin Menard fumbled the ball which R-2 safety Nick Martin recovered on the 25 yard line.  Unfortunately, the Wildcats could not get anything going and had to punt the ball back to NC on fourth down.

A short punt gave NC the ball on the Wildcats’ 48 yard line.  Again, NC started driving the ball down field through running the ball.  However, on NC’s first pass of the game (sixth play of the drive) R-2’s Colt Ellis intercepted the pass and returned it to R-2’s 43 yard line.  NC’s defense was tough again and the Wildcats were forced to punt on fourth down.

 North Callaway was then able to put together a successful 17 play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 5-yard touchdown run by Vance Allen.  Cole Branson kicked the extra point to give NC a 7-0 lead with 8:23 left to go in the first half.

Neither team could get anything going offensively on their next three possessions, then NC got the ball on its own 43 yard line with a little over 1 minute left in the first half.  On NC’s first play NC quarterback Jacob Haubner completed a short pass to Allen.  Allen stepped out of bounds on the Wildcats’ 42 yard line, but the official nearest the field did not see it and Allen kept running.  The Wildcats finally tackled Allen on the Wildcats’ 5 yard line and two plays later Allen scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run.  Branson kicked the extra point and NC took a 14-0 lead, which was the score at halftime.

The Wildcats got the ball to start the second half.  The offense seemed to be executing much better, but NC’s defense was able to stop each of R-2’s first two drives after six plays each.  The North Callaway then put together an 11-play drive that covered 70 yards, that ended with Allen’s third touchdown of the game on a 1-yard run.  The extra point attempt kick was no good and NC led the game 20-0 with 44 seconds left in the third quarter.

R-2 finally put together its first scoring drive in its last two games.  It was an 11-play drive that covered 70 yards and ended with a 13-yard pass play from Evan Miller to Ellis.  Luke Longstreet kicked the extra point to make the score 20-7 with 7:56 left in the game. 

The Wildcats then tried an onside kick, but NC was able to fall on the ball and take over on its own 45 yard line.  8 plays later Haubner completed a 27-yard pass to Allen on a fourth down play and Branson kicked the extra point to make the score 27-7 with 4:00 left in the game.

After the next kick-off, the Wildcats started its final drive of the game at their 35 yard line.  The Wildcats were successfully moving the ball down field, but on the ninth play of the drive Longstreet fumbled the ball after catching a Milner pass for a 6-yard gain.  NC recovered the fumble with less than a minute to go and ran out the clock to win the game 27-7.

Offensive team stats for Montgomery County were as follows:  160 yards rushing on 34 carries; 12 of 19 passes completed for 52 yards and 0 passes intercepted; 13 first downs; 5 penalties for 25 yards; and 1 turnover (fumble lost). 

North Callaways stats were as follows:  313 yards rushing on 56 carries; 3 of 8 passes completed for 113 yards with 1 pass intercepted; 22 first downs; 4 penalties for 42 yards; and 4 turnovers (3 fumbles lost and 1 pass intercepted).

R-2’s individual offensive stats were as follows:

Rushing:  Milner 72 yards on 12 carries; Martin 60 yards on 11 carries; Dylan Skeens 22 yards on 7 carries; Longstreet 5 yards on 2 carries; and Jerad Jordan 1 yard on 2 carries.

Passing:  Milner completed 12 of 19 passes for 52 yards.

Pass Receiving:  Longstreet 4 receptions for 30 yards; Skeens 6 receptions for 12 yards; Ellis 1 reception for 10 yards; and Justin Hall 1 reception for 0 yards.

Kickoffs – Longstreet 2 kicks for 70 yards.

Punts – Sam Kroll 4 punts for 100 yards.

Kick Returns – Ellis 1 return for 45 yards; Jordan 1 return for 2 yards; and Aaron Henke 1 return for 0 yards.

Punt Returns – No returns.

The individual defensive stats were not available when this report was written.

This Friday, September 28, the Wildcats will host the Van-Far Indians at Jim Blacklock Field in another key match up in the EMO Conference, as R-2 is in second place in the conference with a 2-1 record and Van-Far is tied for third place with a 1-1 conference record.

The Wildcats hope you will attend the Van-Far game this Friday and cheer them on to victory.