Rams' defense bends, holds potent Hayti in check

Hayti and Scott City played a compatible game of control Friday night.

Hayti, which entered at 4-1 and as the highest scoring team in the area, was seeking to temper its quick-strike approach with ball control.

Scott City, entering at 2-4, was on a mission of damage control.

Hayti's 20-0 victory at Scott City's homecoming ended somewhat pleasing to both sides.

Hayti came into the game averaging 43 points a game and rolled to a 41-0 victory over the Rams last season.

The Indians looked like they might be headed for another rout when they scored on two of their first three possessions, but the Indians managed just one more touchdown, which came in the closing minutes of the game.

Scott City's defense bent throughout, allowing more than 300 yards of total offense and 186 yards rushing to running back Torey Nelson, but forced three turnovers and stopped the Indians twice on downs.

"This is what we wanted with this defensive performance and we got momentum going into districts," Scott City coach Jason Burkman said. "I've got a very good feeling. This team is 2-5 and could have already folded, but these guys keep getting better."

The Rams found tough sledding on offense all night, driving only as deep as the Hayti 27 on its 11 possessions. They never picked up more than one first down on a possession and finished with less than 100 yards total offense.

"The only part of our game plan that we came up short on is we couldn't move the ball," Burkman said. "We didn't give up the home-run play and forced them to throw underneath. I'm proud of the kids. We played one of our best games of the year."

The final score was a moral victory for the Rams.

"We did our goal and held them," Scott City defensive back Matt Schaefer said. "We didn't let them blow us out."

Hayti, which has two of the top receivers in the area in William Moore and Lleewellyn Borders, chewed up the clock most of the game by putting the ball in the hands of Nelson, who had 23 carries. On the night, Hayti rushed 40 times for 219 yards and passed just 16 times for 92 yards. Hayti coach David Gilmore said his team normally passes about 60 percent of the time.

Part of the reason the Indians hugged the ground was because Moore was sporting crutches on the sideline with a sprained ankle, suffered a week earlier in a 20-7 loss to Portageville. A junior, Moore set numerous Hayti receiving records last year.

Gilmore said a strong cross wind also kept the Indians more conservative. Last week's loss, which featured six Indian turnovers, also factored in.

"When we play ball-control teams, we need to demonstrate that we can control the football," Gilmore said.

Gilmore, whose team posted its second-lowest point output of the season, said his team accomplished that end.

"We pretty well dominated both sides of the ball," he said.

Scott City opened the game with a failed onside kick and Hayti took advantage of the shortened field. Quarterback Pete Peterson hit Borders with an 18-yard touchdown pass at the 8:01 mark for a 7-0 lead.

Hayti put together a 53-yard, seven-play drive and scored on a Jason Covington 1-yard run on the second play of the second quarter for a 14-0 lead.

The Indians were then denied on their next seven possessions, but finally broke through again on a 1-yard Peterson run with 4:39 left in the game.

Schaefer led the Rams offensively with 52 yards rushing on 14 carries.

jbreer@semissourian.com

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