Portageville at Scott City looks to be game of the year

Friday's showdown between Scott City (2-1) and Class 1 juggernaut Portageville may be the game of the year.

The No. 2 team in Class 1 defeated East Prairie 56-0 the previous week, led by Semoball Award-winning running back Jamarion Smith, who scored three rushing touchdowns and caught another score. He gained 134 yards on 10 carries, as Portagevile rushed for a total of 328 yards, averaging 17.3 yards per carry average.

“That was one of our young guys and the young guys are pretty good too,” Portageville coach Ian Penrod said of sophomore running back Antonio Hickenbottom’s touchdown run. “The only unfortunate thing is we have some really good older guys so you don’t get to see them as much. He just gets the ball on the one-yard line and he is gone.”

After losing a one-point game to Savannah 35-34 to start the season, the Bulldogs won the next two games by a combined score of 118-6.

“It starts in practice, we run full pads three days a week and go full force every practice and we focus up every practice,” said Portageville middle linebacker Connor Jeffries. “We play so physically, we’re all just dedicated, we want it more than anybody right now and it kind of shows.”

Scott City has found its groove after opening the season with a road loss at Dexter and has recently dominated Hayti 58-0 this past week. Tyson Underwood 139 yards and four touchdowns on 15 carries while Mark Panagos threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns, two to Jackson Gloth and one to Andrew Hayden.

As evident in every game this season, if Underwood and Panagos are doing their thing, the Rams will win. Without the hindrance of a labrum injury from last year, Underwood is free to run with full strength and talent. Panagos is still nursing a hamstring injury since the season opener, but he's still a force as long as he's on the field.

"He's the best dude on the field at 80%," Scott City coach Jim May said after the Rams' 16-14 win over St. Vincent on Sept. 1.

Scott City defeated Portageville six straight games since 2018 before the streak snapped in the Class 1 playoffs. The Rams are now in Class 2, so the two teams will not meet in the playoffs again. However, a win for either team will shape the direction of their season.