When: Friday, Sept. 25Where: Wright City High SchoolTime: 7 p.m.Coaches: Mark Twain — Karl Asbury. Wright City — Jeff Sargent.Records: Mark Twain — 5-0 overall, 3-0 in EMO. Wright City — 3-2 overall, 2-1 in EMO. Last year’s meeting: Mark Twain 32, Wright City 18.A slow start doomed the Wildcats once again as they fell behind 20-0 in the first quarter and could not catch up. Wright City trailed 26-12 at halftime.Running back DeRenzo Blanks had the first touchdown for the Wildcats on a 62-yard run. Quarterback Kyle Tuepker had a three-yard scoring run in the first half and connected with wide receiver Troy Muse on a 53-yard scoring play in the third quarter.The host Tigers threw just five passes in the conference win.Outlook: Mark Twain comes to town with one of the top backs in the conference and state, statistically speaking, and also boasts a state ranking.The unbeaten Tigers are ranked sixth in Class 1 and so far have had little trouble running over their opponents behind senior running back Tyler Elledge.Through the season’s first five games, Elledge has nearly topped his statistics from a year ago. He has rushed for 1,445 yards, an average of 289 yards per game, and 17 touchdowns. As a junior, he had 1,710 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. In his latest effort, a 49-12 win over North Callaway, Elledge ran for 228 yards and four scores. As a team, Mark Twain finished with 412 yards on the ground.The Tigers’ others wins this season are over Westran (50-28), Paris (43-15), Van-Far (41-0) and Clopton-Elsberry (50-14).Bottom line: This contest was shaping up as a possible meeting to determine the conference champion, but Wright City’s loss to South Callaway quells some of that thinking. Instead it’s likely the top spot in the EMO will be decided by South Callaway or Mark Twain, a contest scheduled for Oct. 9.The Wildcats need to get a big game from their defense if they have any chance at knocking off the Tigers.—By Tim Schmidt, Record Managing EditorWright City