When: Friday, Oct. 16Where: Wright City High School.Time: 7 p.m.Coaches: Clopton — Mike Scheibel. Wright City — Jeff Sargent.Records: Clopton — 2-6 overall, 1-5 in EMO. Wright City — 5-3 overall, 4-2 in EMO.Last year’s meeting: Clopton 20, Wright City 0.The Wildcats’ unpredictable season continued as their offense went stagnant in the conference road loss. The IndianHawks jumped ahead with a touchdown in the opening quarter and quarterback Stephen Talbert scored on a keeper midway in the second. Clopton led 14-0 at halftime. The IndianHawks’ final touchdown was scored in the middle of the fourth quarter.Wright City had possession at the Clopton 20 early in the third quarter, but penalties and faulty blocking snuffed out the scoring chance.Outlook: These are two teams heading in different directions compared to last year, when Clopton had a 5-5 campaign and Wright City won just two games.Defensively, the Wildcats will have to place a focus on shutting down Talbert, Clopton’s signal-caller. He has accounted for 2,947 total yards on the ground and through the air, while scoring 23 touchdowns, including an eight-touchdown performance in a shootout against Montgomery County.Through eight games, Talbert has completed 47 percent of his pass attempts for 1,592 yards, 13 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. On the ground, he has rushed for 1,355 yards and topped the century mark in five games.Jamon Graham and Kevin Hammett have been Talbert’s favorite targets, with 36 and 29 receptions, respectively.Clopton’s lone two wins this season came against North Shelby (42-14) and Montgomery County (77-63).On Friday, the IndianHawks fell 28-12 to Van-Far, despite 172 rushing yards from Talbert.Wright City enters Friday’s game on the heels of its second two-game winning streak this season.The Wildcats rallied in the fourth quarter to beat North Callaway 42-28. The Thunderbirds defeated Clopton 42-37 a week earlier.Quarterback Andrew Pfuhl has thrown for 1,737 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions so far. Running back DeRenzo Blanks is closing on 1,000 yards and needs just 127 more to reach the mark.Linebacker Austin Buchheit continues to have a superb senior season. He has collected 118 tackles in the season’s first eight games.Bottom line: If the Wildcats can bottle up Talbert and keep him from making plays with his legs, a third straight win should be within reach. Judging by Talbert’s 18 interceptions, his decision-making should play into the hands of Wright City and its strong secondary.—By Tim Schmidt, Record Managing EditorWildcats