Portageville cruises past Scott City 46-13

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- There's still two games to go in the regular season, but the undefeated Portageville Bulldogs can now lay claim to at least a share of the SEMO Conference Southern Division title.

The Bulldogs, led by the dual threat of running backs Daniel Allen and Denzell Simmons, were able to pound out 349 yards on the ground and 400 yards overall as they ran away from visiting Scott City for a 46-13 win Friday night.

"Probably, overall, that was our best effort this year," Portageville coach Jeff Bullock said. "The biggest thing I can say right now is I'm hoping we're starting to click. It felt like it. The offense is starting to click, and the defense has been pretty steady all year.

"We had some lapses, yet we still manage to keep people out. We played a really good football team tonight."

Allen, the featured back, got the lion's share of the carries against the Rams, but Simmons provided a nice complement with an increased role in place of an injured Dion Foster.

A Portageville running back is brought down by a Scott City player Friday night. (Brent Shipman ~ Standard Democrat)

Simmons carried 15 times for 108 yards, including a pair of critical third-quarter touchdowns to help Portageville put away the game.

Allen, who had 694 rushing yards coming into the contest, ran 165 yards on 26 carries and scored three touchdowns.

"When you have two tailbacks back there that can do that, it makes it tough to be stopped," Bullock said. "People have been trying to stack up on Daniel a little bit, and Denzell, you can't say enough about him. He's waited and put his time in. He got his shot tonight and took advantage."

Allen also helped on defense. It was his late second-quarter interception that kept Scott City from fighting its way back into the game.

Scott City trailed 21-6 when it got the ball back with less than two minutes before the half. The Rams marched to the Bulldogs' 6-yard line and faced third down with just more than 30 seconds remaining.

Scott City quaterback deflects Portageville players as he scans the field Friday night. Portageville won 46-13. (Brent Shipman ~ Standard Democrat)

Scott City (4-2) tried to catch Portageville (6-0) off-guard with a halfback pass as Rams quarterback Jonathan McFall pitched to running back Zach Haynes. However, Haynes' pass into the end zone found the arms of Allen.

"That was a huge stop," Bullock said. "[Scott City] would have got the ball to start the second half and could have cut it to a one-score game. Instead we come out, get a stop right off the bat and then we score."

Portageville forced Scott City into a three-and-out on its opening possession of the second half, then put together a 48-yard drive that was capped by a 3-yard run by Simmons to increase the lead to 33-6.

Allen and Simmons added scoring runs in the quarter that extended the lead to 46-13.

"People stepped up," Allen said. "At first we did struggle some, but we really picked it up in the second half and came away with a big win."

Added Allen about the Bulldogs' success on the ground: "That's what we do. Nobody has stopped it yet, and that's what we'll keep doing."

Portageville defensive lineman Carlos McGee found his way into the scoring column for the second straight week.

McGee pounced on the ball in the end zone after a snap sailed over McFall's head with the Rams at their own 12-yard-line early in the second quarter. The touchdown put Portageville ahead 21-0.

Senior running back Travis Phillips provided the bulk of Scott City's 201 yards of total offense. The Rams rushed for 168 yards, with Phillips carrying 17 times for 118 yards. He scored the Rams' touchdowns on runs of 13 and 3 yards.

"We turned the ball over early and got behind, then they just brought the wood to us," Scott City coach Jim May said. "They're a good team and they play physical. Once they got the train rolling we kind of laid down, and that really irritates me.

"I just wish we'd have brought more fight tonight."

Scott City 0 6 7 0 -- 13

Portageville 14 13 19 0 -- 46

First Quarter

P -- Daniel Allen 7 run (kick missed), 4:21

P -- Hunter Cook 17 pass from Bryce Wallace (Denzell Simmons pass from Bryce Wallace), 2:41

Second Quarter

P -- Carlos McGee fumble recovery (kick), 9:29

S -- Travis Phillips 13 run (pass failed), 7:47

P -- Allen 4 run (kick failed), 1:52

Third Quarter

P -- Simmons 3 run (kick failed), 8:12

P -- Allen 8 run (kick failed), 5:06

S -- Phillips 3 run (kick), 2:43

P -- Simmons 4 run (kick), 0:06

S P

Total yards 201 400

Rushes-yards 34-168 68-349

Passing yards 33 51

Comp.-Att.-Int. 2-12-1 3-4-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing -- Scott City, Zach Haynes 7-24, Travis Phillips 17-118, Jon McFall 6-17, Caleb Sykes 3-8, Drew Short 1-1. Portageville, Daniel Allen 26-165, Denzell Simmons 15-108, Dominique Walker 6-41, Caleb Gooch 1-(-5), Bryce Wallace 1-0, Brandon Riggs 4-14, Jon Garrett Kellams 4-(-4), Tyler Jones 1-0, No. 44 8-32.

Passing -- Scott City, Jon McFall 2-12-0 33, Zach Haynes 0-1-1 0. Portageville, Bryce Wallace 3-4-0 51.

Receiving -- Scott City, Brett Dirnberger 1-16, Ryan Fortner 1-17. Portageville, Dominique Walker 1-11, Denzell Simmons 1-23, Hunter Cook 1-17.