In a low-scoring defensive battle, each minor play was pivotal.Coach Matt Brooks could feel the game slowly slipping away from his team in the second half of Wright City’s 21-14 loss at North Callaway.“It was kind of a defensive struggle, but we gave them a touchdown too that put it out of reach for us,” said Brooks. “I could feel the tone of the game dictated by defense.”Neither team reached the end zone for the first 15 minutes until Derenzo Blanks gave the Wildcats their only lead on a two-yard run.“We had control of the game at that point,” said Brooks.But then, inevitably, his team allowed a touchdown in the final minute of the half — something for which Wright City has become notorious.“We had a couple offsides penalties that kept the drive going for them,” lamented Brooks. “That’s been a problem for us, giving up late touchdowns.”Michael Early hauled in a three-yard pass with just 36 seconds remaining.“I felt like that was a huge turning point for us, even though it was tied,” said Brooks. “It was kind of an uphill struggle from there.”North Callaway took the lead in the third quarter after gaining favorable field possession off an interception.Justin Menard scored on a 13-yard run with 6:44 left.“I can’t complain about the way we played defensively,” said Brooks. “Our overall play mentally I thought kept us in the game.”With under a minute remaining in the period, Menard would add another score by recovering a fumble in the end zone.“We were glad to get the interception but we were pinned and didn’t execute the snap. It went right off Kyle’s hands right to the defensive end.”Wright City struggled to counter, reaching the red zone only a few times the entire game.“Offensively, we didn’t sustain enough drives to be able to beat them either,” said Brooks.The Wildcats could claim credit for the most impressive play of the game, but Ben Randolph’s 99-yard interception return for a touchdown with 37 seconds left did little more than soften the wound.“It was fourth and one, and they were in a power formation,” recalled Brooks. “They thought they could get us on play action, but Ben stepped in front of the receiver and clear sailing.”The Wildcats, who had won two straight entering Week Six, will host Clopton this Friday.“I can’t complain about effort,” said Brooks. “We just fail to execute sometimes. I felt like we made too many mistakes. It was some of the things that have costs us in the past.”