Phillips top 200 yards in Scott City football team's victory over East Prairie

Travis Phillips enjoyed the kind of night most running backs only can dream about.

But Phillips said he couldn't take too much credit for his huge performance during Scott City's 28-0 shutout of visiting East Prairie on Friday.

"It makes me feel proud of my line," Phillips said. "Everybody could have run through those holes."

Phillips, a 5-foot-7, 171-pound junior, rushed for 218 yards on 27 carries and scored two touchdowns to help the Rams (2-1) notch their second straight win to match their victory total from last season.

"We're getting better. We're improving every week," Phillips said.

Scott City quarterback Jonathan McFall throws a pass as teammate Travis Phillips blocks East Prairie's Brad Beck during the first quarter Friday in Scott City. (Kristin Eberts)

Phillips has taken over nicely for 1,400-yard rusher Garret Schaefer, who graduated. Phillips has gained more than 100 yards in all three games, giving him nearly 450 yards.

"I'm trying," said Phillips, who had 82 yards at halftime before piling up 136 second-half yards.

Scott City coach Jim May said Phillips, who rushed for a little more than 200 yards as Schaefer's backup last year, is not nearly as fast as Schaefer but still very effective.

"He's a real good player. He plays hard for his size," May said. "He doesn't have breakaway speed like Garret had, but he hits the hole hard."

May, like Phillips, was quick to praise Scott City's beefy line of seniors Hunter Cox, Kyler Gettings, Zach Estes and Thomas Patrick, along with junior Caleb Miles.

Scott City's Forrest Copeland, left, and Brett Dirnberger tackle East Prairie's Shawn King during the first quarter Friday. Scott City won 28-0.

"The big guys up front were motivated," May said. "They played hard. They got off the ball."

The line averages 251 pounds per man, topped by the 315-pound Patrick. The unit paved the way for 322 yards rushing by the Rams.

"I think we did really well," Patrick said. "We came off the ball. We hit some people in the mouth."

While Phillips led a powerful offensive attack that racked up 407 yards, the Rams' defense was just as dominant.

The Rams held East Prairie (1-2) to 145 yards and snapped a three-game losing streak to the Eagles.

"I was happy with our defensive effort," said May, whose squad has allowed just six points in the past two contests.

East Prairie gained 90 yards on its first two offensive possessions but was held to only 55 yards the rest of the way.

"Our defense is getting really good," Patrick said.

The Eagles threatened to take an early lead when they drove from their own 27-yard line to first-and-goal at the Scott City 8 on their second offensive possession.

East Prairie running back Brad Beck sliced through a nice hole and appeared ready to cross the goal line when cornerback Forrest Copeland knocked loose the ball.

"I was just trying to hit someone," said Copeland, a 5-6, 137-pound junior.

Senior linebacker Jake Frey recovered the fumble in the end zone. East Prairie never again came close to scoring.

"It's always good to get turnovers," May said.

Scott City immediately capitalized on the miscue, driving 80 yards in just six plays. Senior wide receiver Austin Atchley made a juggling catch in the end zone on a pass from junior quarterback Jonathan McFall.

The 24-yard completion came with 2 minutes, 37 seconds left in the opening period. The first of four extra points by sophomore Layne Spies put the Rams ahead 7-0.

Scott City drove 57 yards in 10 plays on its next possession. Phillips' 4-yard run made it 14-0 with 8:52 to go before halftime.

The Rams went up 21-0 with 4:04 left in the third quarter when Phillips' 1-yard plunge capped a 62-yard, seven-play march.

Scott City iced the victory with an 84-yard, 12-play drive.

Senior Jacob Underwood fumbled just before crossing the goal line, but senior teammate Travis Goodin recovered in the end zone to make it 28-0 with 6:01 remaining in the game.

"I thought we moved the ball well and had some good drives," May said. "We really ran the ball well."

May had special praise for sophomore fullback/linebacker Gordy Bradley, who sparkled on both sides of the ball in place of injured junior Zach Haynes.

Bradley rushed for 71 yards on nine carries and combined with senior Heath Pobst for a quarterback sack.

"He did a great job stepping up," May said about Bradley.

The Rams were excited to finish the shutout, which they did with relative ease. East Prairie never threatened to score following their early near touchdown.

"We wanted it badly," said Phillips, who also plays linebacker.

Scott City plays its third straight home game in Week 4, when it hosts Dexter. The state-ranked Class 3 Bearcats suffered their first loss Friday, falling to Sikeston 57-30.

"We played a great game, but we have to get better for Dexter," Copeland said.

East Prairie 0 0 0 0 -- 0

Scott City 7 7 7 7 -- 28

First Quarter

SC -- Austin Atchley 24 pass from Jonathan McFall (Layne Spies kick), 2:37

Second Quarter

SC -- Travis Phillips 4 run (Spies kick), 8:52

Third Quarter

SC -- Phillips 1 run (Spies kick), 4:04

Fourth Quarter

SC -- Travis Goodin fumble recovery in end zone (Spies kick), 6:01

EP SC

First downs 7 22

Rushes-yards 31-129 45-322

Passing yards 16 85

Passes 2-10-0 6-16-1

Punts 6-40 3-39

Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-0

Penalties-Yards 4-30 7-60

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- East Prairie, Cody Huff 1-44, Frankie Nave 11-37, Adrian Soto 7-34, Brad Beck 8-21, TJ Shands 1-5, Cody Smith 1-2, Dalton Golightly 1-minus 5, team 1-minus 9. Scott City, Phillips 27-218, Gordy Bradley 9-71, Logan Farmer 7-31, Jacob Underwood 1-4, McFall 1-minus 2.

PASSING -- East Prairie, Golightly 2-10-0-16. Scott City, McFall 6-16-1-85.

RECEIVING -- East Prairie, Huff 1-16, Shawn King 1-0. Scott City, Atchley 4-54, Zach Cotner 2-31.