North Callaway’s defense didn’t allow much of anything on Friday.
The Thunderbirds won 54-0 at Eastern Missouri Conference foe Louisiana (1-4, 0-4 EMO) for North Callaway’s …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous website, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
North Callaway’s defense didn’t allow much of anything on Friday.
The Thunderbirds won 54-0 at Eastern Missouri Conference foe Louisiana (1-4, 0-4 EMO) for North Callaway’s first shutout victory since August 26, 2022, in a 28-0 win at Westran. North Callaway (5-1, 3-0 EMO) finished with 562 total yards, including 405 rushing yards, compared to the 25 total yards allowed to Louisiana.
Head coach Kevin O’Neal said defensive coordinator Jordan Delashmutt picked up his first shutout and did well leading kids like Wyatt Haden, Collin Moore and Ben Haubner as they played fast all night. Haden finished with 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and Moore had six tackles and two tackles for loss.
“We played well up front, and our linebackers played really well,” O’Neal said. “We just flew around and made plays.”
Moore was North Callaway’s leading rusher with 109 yards and one touchdown on six carries, Jaiden Galbreath had 106 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries, Coltyn O’Neal had 50 yards and one touchdown on six carries, and Haden finished with 30 yards and one touchdown on five carries. Kellen Long added 69 yards on seven carries.
O’Neal said North Callaway was being held back by penalties in the first half, which totaled for 70 yards, but those were weeded out with no penalties in the second half.
“Early on in the game, we had some trouble with penalties as we had a couple long runs called back for some holding penalties,” O’Neal said. “The kids did a good job of cleaning it up.”
Coltyn O’Neal gave North Callaway offensive balance like in last year’s win over Louisiana. O’Neal completed 9-for-15 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns to Moore and Brandon Biggers.
O’Neal said this game was a good “reset” after last week’s 50-12 loss to Palmyra. He said North Callaway didn’t do well at the line of scrimmage against a big Palmyra team but is back on track before Friday’s Homecoming game at 7 p.m. against conference foe Mark Twain (1-5, 0-3 EMO).
“Louisiana’s a pretty young team up front so we were physically stronger than they were,” O’Neal said. “We were able to control the line of scrimmage, and we got back to basics this week.”
