RAMS PUT FORK IN DEVILS 59-0

CHAFFEE -- The Homecoming football game Friday night at Chaffee High between the Red Devils and Scott City Rams was an ugly one on many accounts.

The score -- 59-0 Rams -- was ugly and on many accounts the play was sloppy, with penalty flags flying throughout the game against both teams.

Thank goodness for Scott City's Howie Stubenrauch.

The Rams' senior running back had an outstanding game, scoring all four of his touchdowns in the first half, to lead Scott City to victory. The Rams, who led 36-0 at halftime, improved to 4-1 and 1-0 in the SEMO South Conference. Chaffee, fell to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the SEMO South.

Stubenrauch, playing with a broken left wrist suffered just prior to the season opener, led the Rams with 158 yards on only seven carries. He scored the first time he touched the ball on a 55-yard run on the Rams' second play from scrimmage and never slowed down, adding touchdown runs of 16 and four yards.

Stubenrauch's final score came on a 75-yard punt return just prior to halftime that put the Rams ahead 36-0. Stubenrauch, who served a one-game suspension in last week's win over Grandview for disciplinary reasons, fielded the punt at his own 25-yard-line and raced down the Scott City sideline for his final score of the game.

"We do a wall on our punt returns and the wall keeps everybody out," said Stubenrauch. "I just got a lane all the way down the field."

Scott City scored on its first two possessions of the first quarter to take early control of the game. The Rams, who usually run to whichever side tight end Steven Thomas lines up, switched things up for this big rivalry.

"We knew they were going to overload to Thomas' side and we just went back the other way," said Scott City coach Terry Flannigan. "They took him away, but we just kind of used him as a decoy and ran the other way."

Leading 14-0 after two Stubenrauch TDs, Scott City's Jason Bickings intercepted Chaffee quarterback Matt Graham at the Red Devil 15 and coasted in for another score early in the second quarter. Bickings was also on the receiving end of five Lance Amick two-point conversion passes.

"I think our kids are going backwards and we'll have to have some leadership step up to try and right the ship," said Chaffee coach Brian Horrell. "I think we still haven't recovered from losing to a very strong Fulton County (Ky.) team."

The Red Devils were pounded at home by Fulton County 47-6 two weeks ago in a game that also invoked the "mercy rule" that keeps the clock moving continuously in the second half when the score differential reaches 35 points or more.

With Stubenrauch sitting out most of the second half, Pat Johnston took over most of the scoring load. Johnston scored on runs of 41 and 35 yards in the second half to end with 116 yards on seven carries.

Travis Burger, who scored four touchdowns in last year's game against the Red Devils, added a 10-yard scoring run in the third quarter.

Chaffee, which totalled only four first downs, had more penalty yards than total offense.