MHS football: Owls close out season at home

Last week was a strange one for the Marshall football team.

For the first time in his 10 years at the helm, head coach Paul Thomas wasn't around, having been hospitalized Monday with heart trouble.

"That's the first football game and practices I've missed in 25 years of coaching," said Thomas, who is back in action this week. "It was tough sitting there and listening on the radio."

Even more difficult was hearing the Owls mauled by Thomas' hometown Hannibal club, 28-0, losing by more than two touchdowns for the first time this season and being eliminated from playoff contention in Class 4, District 8.

The Owls now look at the end of the campaign today at home, looking to salvage some pride against NCMC foe Kirksville.

"It's very important, especially for our seniors," to go out on a winning note, Thomas said. "They've played hard for four years."

Marshall's struggles seem mild in comparison to those of the Tigers, who have only win for new head coach Chris Daniels -- that a 32-7 decision over Class 2 Palmyra, a program which has likewise seen better days. The Kirksville native arrived from the staff of Washburn Rural (Kan.) to succeed Doug Baughman, now a Hannibal assistant.

The Tigers (1-8, 0-5 NCMC, 0-2 District 8) are now playing the veer, with senior quarterback Trevor Allinson carrying much of the load -- passing for 687 yards and 11 touchdowns and leading the team with 322 rushing yards.

"He's a good runner and reads well," Thomas noted. "They option quite a bit out of it."

Kirksville also has some good size up front, notably senior tackle Hunter Kelley, and Thomas attributes much of the squad's strength to a Class 2 state-champion wrestling team.

"They've got a good nucleus to build on with their wrestling program," Thomas explained. "Most of the time, those kids can tackle and are pretty aggressive."

The Tigers' 4-4 scheme features a lot of blitzes, and "they attack you," according to Thomas.

The Owls (2-7, 2-3, 0-2) are trying to avoid the season's second four-game losing streak and would like to finish out with the type of performance they had against Kirksville a year ago -- when Matt Jacobs ran for 203 yards and a touchdown for a 22-12 win.

"I want to see us put a full football game together, and give great effort for our seniors," Thomas remarked.