Van-Far’s Erin Childs has consistently been finishing within the top 14-15 this season. Her latest such finish gave her an important distiction.

Three North Callaway runners earned all-EMO honors, including Pressley Schmauch and Grace Rasmussen on the first team for the girls and Tristan Young on the second team for the boys. Childs earned a second-team all-conference award after she finished 11th — falling within the top 14 to earn honors and within the latter seven for second team.

Childs had a time of 23:14.03 in a field of 36 runners, and on the boys side for Van-Far, Richard Hayden was 37th out of 44 runners with a time of 23:40.13.

Montgomery County had the individual champion in Lyric Ford, and her winning time of 18:16.81, and the team title with its five all-conference runners. Bowling Green’s Ben Chance won the individual championship with a time of 15:25.68, and the Bobcats’ four all-EMO runners contributed to a team title with 27 points.

Football

Van-Far injuries, second quarter hurt in 36-6 loss to Louisiana

Van-Far was able to rattle off a huge play early Friday for its homecoming game but didn’t muster much after.

The Indians lost 36-6 to Eastern Missouri Conference and district foe Louisiana after falling behind 28-6 at halftime. Van-Far only trailed 8-6 after one quarter because of a 61-yard touchdown pass from Nikos Connaway to Cody Smith, but a turnover and players missing time helped Louisiana score touchdowns to break away.

Van-Far was held to 104 rushing yards, with Brandon Eoff gaining a bulk 50 yards on 13 carries. On defense, Gage Gibson led the Indians with eight tackles, followed by seven each from Nikos Connaway (plus an interception) and Ty Evans.

Head coach Lucas Gibson said he has four starters hurt – including two linemen – so that makes it difficult on the Van-Far offense, who likes to run the ball to maintain control once the Indians snag that control early in the game.

“It was definitely our worst game,” Gibson said. “Our few numbers are showing up it seems like. We’re getting toward the end of the season, and we keep losing kids to injury and different things.”

Early in the second quarter, Van-Far (1-7, 1-5 EMO) fumbled on a punt that gave Louisiana the ball at the Indians’ 15. The Bulldogs (2-6, 2-4 EMO) needed one play to extend their lead and scored on another first snap of a drive to firmly take control.

Gibson said Connaway sustained a hit in which his facemask was grabbed that “shook him up” so freshman backup Kasen Christian took charge of the offense. He fumbled on the first snap, which was recovered by Louisiana and turned into a touchdown.

Connaway was missed on defense too as he plays safety. He returned to the game and ended up intercepting a ball in the fourth quarter. But Louisiana was too far ahead at that point after the scoring drive.

“They recognized that, on defense, (Connaway) plays safety, and they took a shot at our sub and scored,” Gibson said.

Gibson said young defensive players shined on some plays in the third quarter, like when freshman Easton Sharp recovered a Louisiana fumble and the freshmen Evans and Pacey Reading combined on a tackle for a loss. Evans, in particular, caught Gibson’s eye.

“Ty Evans had a really good second half,” Gibson said. “He’s a freshman playing linebacker. He played very well in the second half – what we’ve been looking for all season out of him. I think he’s finally getting it. Our future is still bright. We’re just young and small in numbers.”

Van-Far travels to conference foe Mark Twain (3-5, 2-4 EMO), who lost 46-8 at South Callaway in Week 8, on Friday.