Junior Matt Jacobs' 180 yards during a 22-0 win over Mexico was the Owls' highest single-game rushing total in four years. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"It makes it a lot easier to go back to practice," remarked Owls head coach Paul Thomas. "Now we have to sustain it."

Marshall found out during its 22-0 victory over Mexico that it can play defense, plug holes and finish tackles. The Owls also discovered the power running game it had been seeking, thanks to solid -- if not yet consistent -- blocking up front and the hard running of junior tailback Matt Jacobs, who gained 180 yards on 34 carries.

"It was getting back to the positive side of it, coming off the football and running to the football," Thomas said. "They understand now more of what we want."

The Birds go on the NCMC road today to face a Fulton club which opened with three close wins in a row, but then ran into tougher competition during losses to Hannibal (49-21) and state-ranked Moberly (33-14) -- which knocked the Hornets out of the Class 3 poll after reaching the No. 6 spot.

"They were in both of those games," Thomas noted. "A few breaks here and there, and they could have gone a different way."

The Hornets (3-2, 1-2 NCMC) are a spread-option offense, as was Marshall the last two years before returning to the veer, but they primarily run out of it. Senior Jon Sidney, a fast 217-pounder, is the main weapon -- with 602 yards and three touchdowns for the season. Junior speedster Antawan Ferguson offers a counter, also averaging over five yards a carry.

"They're both dangerous," Thomas said. "If you don't put hats on them, they'll hurt you."

Sidney is playing both ways full time, at linebacker, for the first time in his career. However, in Fulton's 4-2-5 alignment -- the same the Owls used the previous three seasons and as Mexico presented last week -- senior free safety Darren Jacobs leads the team in tackles with 54.

"It's been good for our offensive line as far as consistency -- working on their techniques and assignments," Thomas explained the advantages of preparing to face a familiar scheme.

The main objective for Marshall (1-4, 1-1) -- other than, of course, winning the game -- is to build on what it accomplished last week insofar as player development.

"We're got to play defense the way we played last week," Thomas said. "We don't want to revert back to what we were doing before."