North Callaway mounted a comeback to try to salvage its home opener on Friday but didn’t quite get there.
The Thunderbirds lost 35-28 to Macon (1-1) after falling behind 27-14 at halftime. …
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North Callaway mounted a comeback to try to salvage its home opener on Friday but didn’t quite get there.
The Thunderbirds lost 35-28 to Macon (1-1) after falling behind 27-14 at halftime. They came within seven points twice in the fourth quarter on a touchdown run by Jaiden Galbreath and a touchdown pass from Coltyn O’Neal to Collin Moore.
Head coach Kevin O’Neal said the execution wasn’t there in the first half, starting with Macon’s first touchdown on a 48-yard pass and going from there.
“Offensively, we had some good drives, but we would shoot ourselves in the foot with a penalty or a missed block here and there,” O’Neal said.
O’Neal pointed out North Callaway (1-1) had to come back to win at Macon last year 30-22 as the Thunderbirds were down 16-14 going into the fourth quarter.
Talen Holman was the quarterback for the Tigers a season ago, but O’Neal said he is bigger and better. Holman ran for 152 of Macon’s 280 yards and threw for 195 yards and four touchdowns.
“We had trouble containing him while both running and passing the ball,” O’Neal said. “He probably grew at least four inches over the summer. He was good last year throwing the deep ball quite a bit.”
O’Neal said his quarterback Coltyn O’Neal had another good game with 114 yards and two touchdowns on 9-for-17 passing. Galbreath was a bigger threat this week with 129 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries after playing limited time the week prior due to an injury.
“He’s got a little bit of a knee issue, so Tyler Speight got most of the carries last week,” O’Neal said. “Tyler Speight was a little banged up this week, so Jaiden got some more carries this week. He was a workhorse tonight as he also plays defensive line.”
North Callaway hosts Eastern Missouri Conference rival Montgomery County (1-1) at 7 p.m. Friday. The Thunderbirds know Montgomery County as a tough conference rival every year, so O’Neal said they can’t have a repeat of the first half against Macon.
“We need to start better,” O’Neal said. “We still have all of our goals in front of us. I’ve got to do a better job in preparing my kids and making sure they’re ready to go from snap No. 1.”
