The Mexico linemen got quite a workout the first three weeks.
After facing run-heavy offenses in the first three games, the Bulldogs focused on stopping the pass against Marshall, winning 40-8 …
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The Mexico linemen got quite a workout the first three weeks.
After facing run-heavy offenses in the first three games, the Bulldogs focused on stopping the pass against district foe Marshall, winning 40-8 on Friday at home for their seventh straight win over Marshall (1-3). Mexico (3-1) came away with four interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, and recorded four sacks.
Marshall had -35 rushing yards compared to 171 passing yards, proving to be the spread offense that head coach Steve Haag expected. James Matthews and D’Naz Smith scored touchdowns on offense and each also returned an interception for a touchdown. Matthews was six yards away from another pick six before halftime, which Mexico led 28-0.
“We’ve got guys out there who are good with the ball in the air,” Haag said. “It’s just being in that right position. I don’t think they gave us anything crazy, and we got used to what they were doing.”
Logan Hilderman had an interception late in the game after already coming away with one this season. Smith’s happened early in the first half when he caught the ball after Marshall Ball laid into a would-be Marshall receiver and then the Bulldogs were ready to block, displaying the contact that Haag liked to see.
“We take the guy out of the air, and the guy lets go of the ball,” Haag said. “Physicality plays into it, too. I’ve been happy with the way we’ve played physically all season.”
Kael Smith is a junior this season and is leading Mexico in tackles so far. Smith led the Bulldogs on Friday with 10 tackles, and was followed by seven tackles by Roman Kelly and six by D’Naz Smith. The linebacker said facing a vastly different style of offense this week took some adjusting.
“It’s actually super different,” Smith said. “We were blitzing a lot, so I started to cramp up. Instead of blitzing, I was dropping back and covering the routes.”
Smith said his positioning in the middle of the field helps him be in the right place and track down the ball carrier. He credits his teammates for their contributions.
“I can get to any of the balls, and I just make sure to wrap up because, last year, I had a good amount of missed tackles,” Smith said. “Teammates helping helps a lot like other linebackers and linemen are getting in there a lot this year.”
Mexico didn’t have a sack in the first three weeks while facing run-heavy offenses but then recorded four — one each by Kael Smith, John Kelly, Antonio Mendoza and Travis Shramek. Haag said fighting hard through the line so far this season helped the pass rush break through against Marshall.
“The teams coming at us, our guys have to stay low, come off the ball and take people on,” Haag said. “They weren’t double teaming us, so our guys were getting off the ball thinking people were going to come at you. We controlled the line of scrimmage.”
Mexico finished with 232 rushing yards to follow the previous week’s 238 rushing yards in the 26-6 win at Monroe City. Matthews, Smith and Kyler Benne each ran for a touchdown and finished with 62, 39 and 88 yards on the ground, respectively.
Smith has taken carries on offense in previous weeks and scored Mexico’s second touchdown on Friday after the team was given a short field following a bad Marshall punt. He finds his offensive role fun and said he couldn’t go as far without the linemen.
“I have to give props to the offensive linemen on that one for blocking well, and it was wide open there,” Smith said.
Haag said Mexico should expect Class 4 No. 6 Hannibal (2-2) to be Hannibal like the Bulldogs have faced in the now-disbanded North Central Missouri Conference. Aside from some differences, he said Hannibal, who hasn’t lost to Mexico since 2017, should be big up front and physical to clear the way for their running backs and all-state quarterback Wyeth Dorsey. But Haag mainly said Mexico needs to “get past the name Hannibal” and his team can compete barring Friday’s second half.
“We weren’t very clean in the second half offensively,” Haag said. “We’re running a lot of people in there, but we’ve got smart kids. The backups have to be ready just as well as the starters. We know we’re not going to be perfect, but we want to try to be perfect.”
