Scott City falls to 0-3 with 35-13 loss to East Prairie

Not even a monster performance by Garett Schaefer could lift the Scott City football team to its first win of the season.

Schaefer rushed for 202 yards on 24 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of 16 and 63 yards.

But Schaefer represented about all the offense the Rams mustered during Friday's 35-13 loss to visiting East Prairie.

The Eagles, who had won their first two games for the first time in 15 years, improved to 3-0. They are 2-0 in the SEMO South Conference.

Scott City is 0-3, with all of the losses coming in SEMO South play. The Rams have been outscored 120-27.

Scott City coach Jim May, asked whether his players have been able to maintain a positive attitude, said: "It's tough, getting your butts whipped every game. But we were better this week.

"Slowly but surely we're going to get there. We're young. We see flashes, but then we shoot ourselves in the foot."

Schaefer, a junior tailback who gained 149 of his yards in the second half, said the Rams continue to remain upbeat.

"We're a real young team, but we're improving week by week," Schaefer said. "We're staying very positive. We're just trying to get better."

Junior tailback Aaron Miller rushed for 125 yards on 18 carries and had three touchdowns for the Eagles. Miller scored on runs of 8 and 35 yards, in addition to catching a 29-yard TD pass from junior quarterback Connor Scott.

For the second straight week, Scott City dug itself an early hole by having a punt blocked out of the end zone for a safety.

East Prairie tacked on two first-quarter touchdowns after that -- coming within 20 seconds of each other thanks to a Scott City turnover -- to lead 15-0.

That was the halftime score. Scott City got on the board first in the third quarter to make it 15-6, but East Prairie answered with a touchdown and remained in control the rest of the way.

Scott City plays its third straight home game next Friday when Fredericktown visits.

Check Sunday's Southeast Missourian for a more in-depth look at Scott City's game.