North Callaway closed the season with its most productive offense in four years.
The Thunderbirds capped their season scoring average at 27.3 points per game after winning a 46-42 shootout at …
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North Callaway closed the season with its most productive offense in four years.
The Thunderbirds capped their season scoring average at 27.3 points per game after winning a 46-42 shootout at Eastern Missouri Conference foe Wright City on Friday night. Duan McRoberts finished with 218 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries for the Wildcats, but North Callaway was able to lean on its 1,000-yard rusher Jaiden Galbreath and his 247 yards and four touchdowns on 40 carries.
Galbreath scoring the game-winning touchdown with about two minutes left in the game, providing the edge in a contest that was competitive throughout. Wright City only trailed by 2-4 points in the fourth quarter, starting at 30-28 North Callaway, so head coach Kevin O’Neal said the Thunderbirds were able to rely on others for their 480 yards on the ground.
“Our offense is rounding into shape,” O’Neal said. “We are able to get a lot of players involved. Jacob Haubner has done a great job as offensive coordinator, bringing our offense along and putting in new plays every week that kids are executing. Offensively, we’re playing very good at the right time.”
North Callaway has won five straight games heading into its rematch with its in-county rival South Callaway (6-3) at 7 p.m. Friday. The Thunderbirds have averaged 34 points during that stretch, including their two 40-point games this season over the last two games.
Collin Moore has been productive over that time and was against Wright City with 97 yards on 11 carries. Wyatt Haden made a bigger impact this past week with 122 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, following a long touchdown run the previous week against Van-Far.
“He has good vision,” O’Neal said. “When the defense collapses and keys on Jaiden, he’s good at finding the hole on the back side. When he usually carries the ball, it’s on a counter or off to what we’re doing with Jaiden so most of his yards are going to be chunk yards.”
O’Neal said North Callaway has shown an ability to pass during its winning streak but didn’t need to in Wright City because it was doing so well “controlling the line of scrimmage.”
Even though North Callaway defeated South Callaway (6-3) 20-8 this season, O’Neal cautions that it was back in Week 1. Since then, similar to how the Thunderbirds have been on a roll, the Bulldogs had won six straight games before losing 46-12 last week to Class 1 state-ranked Tipton.
“I’m sure both of us are much different than we were in Week 1,” O’Neal said. “Both teams are a lot better. We’re playing our best football at the right time so hopefully we can keep that going.”