Led by seniors, Rams ready for running display

~First-year coach Jones inherited experienced group led by trio of backs.

First-year Scott City coach Ronnie Jones would be wise to get the ball in the hands of his senior running backs this season and try to bowl over the opposition.

But putting an offensive lineman at quarterback may be overkill.

Jones insists it's not a ploy to get more blocking in front of returning backs Cody Carlyle, Chris Blankenship and Trey Schlosser.

"We have a good chance to be more than one-dimensional," Jones said. "The quarterback play has been solid, and the receivers are pretty good.

"We're going to try to take advantage of everything we see. If we're going to spend the time working on pass routes, then on Friday night, the people in the stands can expect to see that happen."

Caleb Estes, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior, is expected to be the thrower on the pass routes.

He moves to quarterback to succeed Ethan Watkins, who transferred to Bell City, which doesn't have football. Watkins was a Class 2 all-region selection last year after passing for 935 yards and 10 touchdowns. That's fewer than 100 yards per game during the Rams' 6-4 season, but Carlyle and Blankenship combined for 1,600 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns.

Carlyle (5-9, 190) led the area in scoring with 97 points on 13 TDs, and he added 17 points as the kicker. He finished with 959 yards on 145 carries, an average of 6.6 per carry, and ranked second in rushing yardage for the area behind Perryville's Kris Cottner.

Blankenship (5-10, 200), also a third-year starter, finished with 702 yards on 130 carries for an average of 5.4 per carry. He scored nine touchdowns.

Trey Schlosser (5-7, 140) also will start in the backfield as Scott City looks to employ a veer with three backs behind Estes.

Jones knows defenses are preparing to see a lot of running and that getting the ball in the backs' hands will be important.

"They're going to get the carries, and we're going to try to set up things," Jones said.

Those things might be Estes throwing to the backs or an experienced receiving corps that includes Derek Goodin (6-0), Derek Laxton (5-10) and backup quarterback Craig Arnzen.

Arnzen (6-2, 180) may not get the snaps if Estes does his job, but one of the area's top high jumpers likely will see plenty of time on the field at receiver.

Estes couldn't be happier with his protection, having played alongside senior linemen John Pinkston (6-4, 210), David Massey (5-10, 210) and Eric Lutes (6-2, 205) last year. Also on the line with playing time from 2006 are juniors Cody Page (6-2, 200), Jaris Hye (5-11, 190) and Ethan Weatherspoon (6-6, 250).

Scott City's offense led the Southeast Missourian coverage area in scoring with 27.3 points per game. The Rams allowed 17.7 points per game.

Jones comes to the Rams after two years as the defensive coordinator at Caruthersville, a district champion the last two years. He had been a head coach for several years at New Madrid County Central.

He noticed the difference in speed in his move north.

"The big issue is that we're not usually fast here at Scott City," Jones said, "and we've tried to improve some things. We've done some things with weight training, and it shouldn't be an issue."

Jones also has tried to address the turnout, bringing in 16 freshmen to a program that has just four sophomores.

In replacing Terry Flanigan, who took the job at Class 1 power Marionville after three seasons at Scott City that included an 8-2 run in 2004, Jones knows the cupboard isn't bare.

"He left the situation in pretty good shape," Jones said. "A lot the kids thought a whole lot of him, and rightfully so."

Jones decided to do more than just install a new system this year.

"The way I've approached this job, we spend a lot of time in the classroom before we come out here each day," Jones said. "We go into philosophy and why we do some things so they understand it. I think you could ask any of the kids right now, and they would say it's been a plus for them."

Jones thinks the team was further along in its development than he envisioned.

"In our first meeting, I told them I was asking them to do a whole lot of things in a short time," Jones said, "and I told them, 'You can't be selfish.'"

The senior group has a lot of pride -- "senior strong," as Lutes said after the team's scrimmage.

"Most of the team has been starting since our sophomore year and we've become family," he said. "We want to go undefeated ... just like every year."

Jones has goals beyond football for the season: "Play within the rules, do what's right and not embarrass this city.

"If we continue to work hard, good things will happen."