DeRousse, deluge wash away Rams' district hopes

Crystal City wins Class 2 District 2 crown with a 38-0 victory over Scott City.

By JEREMY JOFFRAY

Southeast Missourian

SCOTT CITY -- Some may have called it football weather, others just plain nasty.

However you classify the monsoon-like mixture of wind and rain Friday at Scott City, the weather did nothing to deter Crystal City's vaunted rushing attack in a 38-0 rout of the host Rams.

The Hornets moved to 2-0 in Class 2 District 2 and 8-1 overall and clinched a playoff berth with the help of St. Pius' victory against Grandview on Friday. Scott City fell to 1-1 in district play and 5-4 overall.

"It was nasty," Scott City coach Terry Flannigan said. "Bottom line is the weather had a little something to do with it, but it didn't have that much to do with it.

"We didn't show up to play. They showed up to play. That's the bottom line. I've got to apologize for our performance. I'm the coach, and I know we can play better than that. When you play good teams, you have to take a step up and we didn't. We took a step back."

The Hornets gave Scott City a steady dose of tailback Cody DeRousse, and the Rams had no answer for the junior running back. DeRousse came into the game with 14 touchdowns and 1,115 yards rushing.

DeRousse racked up nearly 200 yards in the first half alone on 19 carries, including touchdown runs of 2 and 52 yards.

With Scott City getting nowhere on offense, the Hornets went into the half leading 18-0.

"We knew what they were going to do, and we didn't stop it," Flannigan said. "I'm kind of embarrassed by our performance. The chances were there.

"We had him right there wrapped up. That's what our kids don't understand. Against your average running back, you can grab him. A good tailback, you better lay a lid on him and wrap up. The times we stopped them, we were up there and gang-tackling the ballcarrier."

Early in the third quarter, DeRousse went in from 40 yards out pushing the lead to 26-0. DeRousse had a Scott City defender draped around his waist but broke the tackle and went in untouched the rest of the way.

Danny James got into the act with a 15-yard score in the third and finished the scoring with a 70-yard scamper early in the fourth. James' second score started the running clock.

Dominicque Hall had the other score for Crystal City, a quarterback keeper early in the second from 2 yards out.

DeRousse finished with 247 yards on 23 carries. James finished with 117 yards on 12 carries.

Scott City had one deep drive, which ended when the Rams could not convert on a fourth down inside Crystal City's 30-yard line.

Cody Carlyle led the Rams with 91 yards rushing on 24 carries. Carlyle broke off a 44-yard run, his only carry which covered more than eight yards.

Rynn Eskew added 52 yards rushing on 15 carries. Junior quarterback Ethan Watkins attempted just four passes and completed two for 2 yards.

Scott City will host St. Pius, which beat Grandview 41-22 for its first win of the year, in the season finale on Friday.

"I'm going to see how well we respond," Flannigan said. "We'll find out what kind of team were are, what kind of character we have. We told the kids after the game you can go home and feel sorry for yourself and find a place to lay down, or regroup, work hard and go 6-4."