Van-Far might not have had everybody available in its backfield but could still run all night.

The Class 1 No. 6 Indians needed all of their points to hold off a rallying Wright City 40-34 on the road after the Wildcats scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns. The Indians defeated their Eastern Missouri Conference foe for the first time in nine meetings and since 2014.

Head coach Lucas Gibson said while he was worried about Wright City’s running backs going into the game, Van-Far (6-1) did well making the Wildcats (4-3) worry about his team’s backfield, led by Tyson Douglas and his 291 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries.

“It was being able to control the ball,” Gibson said. “We had a big game on the ground running it. Our offensive and defensive line did awesome tonight, and they have a really good offensive and defensive line too.”

Malik Douglas wasn’t available, so Gibson’s son, Gage, who was an all-state player during his senior season a year ago, made a suggestion. Evan Utterback makes a habit of being a menace on the defensive line and is a blocker at tight end, but coach Gibson he did well running the ball for the first time.

Utterback regularly gained chunks of four, five and six yards and ran for a four-yard touchdown in the first half. He finished with 90 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.

“He might have learned a new spot,” Gibson said with a laugh. “He ran hard. He is one of our best blockers so he was blocking for Tyson back there too. It was Gage’s idea and then offensive coordinator Cale Utterback made the best of it.”

Gibson did say the complexion of the game changed dramatically near the end of the first half. Wright City set up for a field goal, only for it to be blocked and Tyson Douglas to return it for a touchdown. That turned a potential 17-16 deficit at halftime to a 24-14 Van-Far lead.

“Somebody blocked their field goal attempt seconds before halftime,” Gibson said. “We went up 10 at halftime instead of being up two. That was huge.”

Gaven Gaston had a 28-yard receiving touchdown in the first half to build an early lead.

Gibson said every touchdown matters against Wright City since Van-Far let the Wildcats slip away in the second half the previous two years. A crucial first down in the fourth quarter was important too, he said, since Tyson Douglas converting on a 4th-and-4 situation with a little more than a minute left allowed Van-Far to kneel down and not give Wright City’s offense another chance. Douglas led the defense with four tackles.

“Their offense is tough to defend,” Gibson said. “They have lots of weapons, and they spread out very well.”

Van-Far plays at North Callaway (6-1) at 7 p.m. Friday.