Football is here: Scott City opens season with Green Up Game

While the jury is out on what kind of football season Scott City will have, history says the Rams have a good chance at victory as it opens its season tonight at home against Grandview.

Scott City will launch the 2015 campaign tonight with its Green Up Game, and the Rams have a perfect 3-0 record in Green Up Games, which raises money for organ donation in honor of former player Dominic Hooper, who died in an ATV accident in February of 2014 after his senior football season.

"They're going to be a quality opponent for us to start with," Scott City eighth-year coach Jim May said. "Week 1, we want to come out and play well. We haven't lost a Green Up Game yet, and we'd like to keep it that way."

May, who also wears the hat of head baseball coach, began the Green Up Game in the Spring of 2015, and the Rams responded with a 12-6 victory over Kelly on the diamond. The Rams posted a 10-0 win over Charleston in the fund-raising game this past spring.

The event made its debut on the gridiron in Week 2 of the 2015 season, the Rams' first game, and an emotional evening was a success on multiple fronts. The event raised nearly $5,000 that was donated in Hooper's name to Mid-America Transplant Services. The Rams, who donned green jerseys, won the battle on the field with a resounding 33-6 triumph over St. Vincent. And at least one person signed up for the organ donation drive at the game.

Scott City coach Jim May talks with a player on the sideline during last season's Green Up Game. The Rams host Grandview tonight in their season opener tonight.

Among the large crowd in attendance was a man from Cleveland, Ohio, named Jacob, who had Hooper's heart beating in his chest. May got to meet Jacob, one of five people who were saved by Hooper's organs.

"I talked to him after the game, and that was just an amazing thing in itself," May said.

It was part of an evening that included games, food, T-shirt sales and 50-50 drawings, all designed to raise money and awareness. Hooper's parents, Chris and Sara Snider, also were in attendance and green balloons were released at halftime in memory of their son.

All the events will again be in place tonight as the festivities begin at 5 p.m. before the 7 p.m. kickoff.

"It's a celebration," May said. "You know, we're trying to remember Dominic, but we're also trying to teach these kids about sacrifice and civic duty and trying to help out for a good cause. It's kind of our cause now."

The celebration originated with May, and it's one he said will remain in place as long as he's coaching at Scott City. The only thing changing this year is May's hands-on involvement.

"This year I've kind of handed over the reins," May said. "Last year I was pretty involved with most of the details and it was very difficult getting ready for the football game and doing that."

He's enrolled the help of others. Jessica Braun, who coaches the cheerleaders, and booster club president Casey Hillemann, have taken the lead, and Chris and Sara remain heavily involved.

May said the team has been recruiting elementary children, who will receive free admission, to attend and play the games, which will cost $1 apiece.

"It's kind of a family night out there and it's a lot of fun," May said. "Last year there were a lot of people out there."

Hillemann's son, Caden, is a senior on the team, and it is a personal matter for her, as it is for many in the community.

"He was essentially a freshman when that accident happened," Hillemann said Caden. "This is kind of like the last group of kids that are coming through, seniors this year, that played with Dom. So It's kind of a special year for them."

May does not see that continuity ending anytime soon for a student-athlete who touched many and is remembered throughout the year.

Even at last year's final four, May said huddles by the baseball team often ended with "Do it for Dom" or "Play like Dom."

"We still have a lot of kids at our school who knew Dom," May said. "Even our freshman class this year, they all knew Dom and knew who he was and went through it. It's in memory of him, but it's also a cause we've taken up and run with."

Both teams will be wearing green jerseys tonight.

It will be the first time Grandview, which went 1-9, has played Scott City since the 2009 season, when the schools ended a 12-year run of facing each other in district play. The Rams won the first 11 meetings before the Eagles won the final encounter. Grandview has been a perennial season-opening opponent for Chaffee, with the two schools facing different Week 1 opponents for the first time since the 1997 season.

Scott City played Herculaneum in its last four season openers, splitting the games, which included a victory in last year's 3-7 campaign.

May said his squad has emerged from the preseason and last week's jamboree unscathed.

"I'm anxious to see how physical we're going to be," May said. "It's what we've focused on since the season ended last year. I want to play with great intensity and great passion. I told them I want to be the most physical team on the field every Friday night, and we did a pretty good job last week."

The football season launches around the state tonight, with Chaffee, Jackson and Perryville also opening at home. The Red Devils will host Crystal City, the Indians will be at The Pit against Hickman, while Perryville will open against De Soto. Cape Central will be on the road against Liberty (Mountain View), Kelly will visit East Prairie, and St. Vincent will open at the home of Class 1 state champion Valle Catholic in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.