Rams try to extend reign over Devils

~ Scott City has won the last 21 meetings with neighboring Chaffee.

Neither first-year Scott City coach Ronnie Jones nor third-year Chaffee coach Charlie Vickery knew when asked this week how many straight years the Rams have beaten the Red Devils.

One thing Jones and Vickery do know, however, is each other's coaching styles.

When Chaffee hosts Scott City tonight at 7 p.m. -- with the Rams in search of their 22nd consecutive win over the Red Devils -- it will not be the first time Jones and Vickery walk opposite sidelines. It was not too long ago they met a number of times when Jones was coach of New Madrid County Central and Vickery ran the program at Sikeston.

"We had some tremendous battles over the years there," Jones said. "Charlie Vickery is no stranger to Ronnie Jones, I can tell you that much. ... The first couple years back then, Sikeston handled us pretty good but the overall series whenever he and I went head-to-head ... I think we were pretty even."

Tonight's game will feature some talented ball carriers from both squads.

Chaffee has four players with more than 100 yards on the ground: Jerrod Steger (51 carries 191 yards), Steven Atkinson, (24 carries 136 yards), Dylan McAlister (23 carries 107 yards) and quarterback Andrew Hendrix (41 carries 152 yards).

McAlister primarily played defense the past two weeks because of a bruised thigh and an aggravated shoulder. But he'll return to the backfield tonight.

Jones is not as concerned about the three ball carriers as he is Hendrix, who has also completed 19 of his 51 pass attempts for 257 yards. Jones said his defensive players cannot allow Hendrix to take off and run the football and must keep the quarterback in front of them at all times.

"We plan on trying to know exactly where he is," Jones said. "He's a big part of the success their running backs have had simply because he's the type of kid that, a lot of the time, is going to have his number called because he makes things happen. ... It all starts with him."

Jones said he expects Chaffee to run out of wishbone and shotgun formations and his defense will make adjustments to each. The Scott City defense has allowed 56 points in four games -- 43 of those came last week when the Rams were routed by Fredericktown.

The Chaffee defense, which has surrendered 68 points in its first four games, will have to stop three running backs with more than 100 yards -- Cody Carlyle (59 carries for 334 yards), Chris Blankenship (26 carries 181 yards) and Trey Schlosser (37 carries 116 yards).

"No. 1, we've got to tackle," Vickery said. "Cody has done a real good job, and it's his third year back there. Blankenship also is a good runner and Schlosser has got the speed. They're loaded back there. We change a little bit [defensively] every week, but basically you've got to do what you do."