RAMS STATE CRUSADE ENDS 47-21

SCOTT CITY -- Beep, beep.

The Scott City Rams know how Wile E. Coyote must feel.

The No. 4 Lutheran North Crusaders used their team speed Monday night to dispose of Scott City in the state quarterfinals for the second straight year, this time sprinting past the Rams 47-21 at Scott City High School.

The Crusaders' running backs were so fast, they were in the Rams' backfield before the linebackers even knew they had the ball.

Lutheran North (10-2) made up for 14 penalties for 110 yards and four turnovers by posting five plays of more than 40 yards.

The Crusaders, who will play Palmyra Saturday, racked up 391 rushing yards and 562 yards of total offense.

That, against a defense which had posted five shutouts this season against less-than mediocre competition in Southeast Missouri.

Crusaders running back Jaracz Martin ran the ball 22 times for 168 yards and three running backs ran for at least 70 yards."It didn't make a difference what we did," Scott City coach Roy Williams said. "Their quarterback audibled away from where we were loaded and we just couldn't match up. They were so fast and exploded through the line before our linebackers could even get to them.""Speed is the name of the game and we have some speed," Lutheran North coach Jim Manion said. "But at the same time, you don't open holes like that unless you've got some people that can block and we had some holes tonight."It was evident from the beginning the Crusaders scored two touchdowns on their first three plays from scrimmage that Scott City was overmatched, but the Rams who trailed 26-14 at halftime made a game of it, recovering an onside kick and cutting the lead to 26-21 with 8:44 left in the third.

But then Martin, on the Crusaders' next play from scrimmage took it 44 yards for a touchdown and Lutheran North scored 21 unanswered points for the blowout.

The game couldn't have gotten off to a worse start for the Rams (10-2).On Lutheran North's first play from scrimmage, Martin took a sweep around the right side for a 59-yard score.

Lutheran North took a 14-0 lead on its third offensive play of the game when quarterback Aaron Mueller hit speedy wide receiver Lorenzo Scott down the left sideline for a 79-yard bomb. Mueller went on to hit 4 of 7 passes for 147 yards and two interceptions.

Scott City cut the score in half when quarterback Scott Johnston ran a draw up the middle from 6 yards out.

But Lutheran North answered quickly as it did all night and pushed the score to 20-7 when Quincy Smith scored from 43 yards out. Smith had an unbelievable night. He rushed the ball just four times, but had 96 yards and two touchdowns.

The game looked to be put away with 5:43 left in the first half when Mueller hit Scott for a 22-yard touchdown strike.

But Scott City came roaring back.

With :33 left in the first half, Johnston hit running back David Enderle from 18 yards out to narrow the lead to 26-14 and cut the lead to 26-21 early in the third quarter.

Although it was clear that Lutheran North was by far the more talented team, Scott City was still in the ballgame even when the Crusaders took a 32-21 lead.

But Johnston, on the second play of Scott City's next possession, had a tipped pass intercepted.

With 2:01 left in the third quarter, fullback Robert Douglas (10 carries, 70 yards) scored from 8 yards out to make it 40-21 and Smith capped off the scoring with a 46-yard run with 3:55 remaining.