Scott City football regains form, stands 3-0

After Scott City's 17-0 victory against East Prairie on Friday night pushed the Rams' record to 3-0, East Prairie coach Jason Aycock was almost as proud of the Rams as anyone.

"They've got a great group of seniors right now," Aycock said. "They have stuck together all the way through. They deserve what they're getting right now. They took their lumps, and my hat is off to those seniors."

Scott City's seniors struggled through a 3-7 campaign last year, the program's third straight losing season.

With three SEMO Southern Division wins, the Rams lead the conference. They are the only unbeaten team in division play, though winless Chaffee has yet to play a league game.

It wasn't easy for Scott City on Friday. The Rams took advantage of field position for two touchdowns in the first quarter and then were held to three points the rest of the night.

"They were ready," said Scott City coach Terry Flannigan said of winless East Prairie. "We knew it was going to be that way. They've kicked Scott City around the last couple of years. They're always going to play their guts out and they did it tonight. We're just fortunate to get out of here with a 'W'."

Scott City's first touchdown, a 16-yard pass from Mark Johnston to Luke McClellan, capped a five-play, 40-yard drive set up by an East Prairie fumble.

Scott City's second touchdown drive of 35 yards followed a shanked punt by the Eagles. Tailback Matt Schaefer capped the drive with a 3-yard run. Johnston passed to McClellan for two points to make the score 14-0.

Schaefer kicked a 28-yard field goal in the third quarter.

Scott City ran out the game with a 76-yard drive to East Prairie's 7-yard line.

Schaefer finished with an unofficial 104 yards on 23 carries, giving him his third straight 100-yard game.

He outgained the entire East Prairie offense, as Scott City's defense limited the Eagles to 99 total yards.

Scott City takes its perfect mark this Friday to Brentwood.

Indians fall

St. Vincent fell from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 17-14 loss to a Potosi team that it dominated last year.

Potosi was a bit more stout Friday night, scoring on drives of 74 and 89 yards during a stretch of 17 straight points.

For the Indians (2-1), Anthony Brown scored an early touchdown run that was set up by Tyler Lozier's 43-yard scamper to Potosi's 11. After falling behind 17-7, St. Vincent scored a late touchdown when Potosi's fumbled punt gave the Indians the ball at the 4-yard line. Waylon Richardet ran in the score.

Jackson unleashes weapons

Jackson had another big night of offense Friday in a 28-12 win against Vianney. The Indians rushed for 240 yards with four running backs exceeding 30 yards.

Quarterback Joey Starke also impressed with four completions on his 10 passes -- some incompletions slipped through fingers or were dropped by the receivers -- for 91 yards and a touchdown. He also had an interception.

"He's really settled down," Jackson coach Gross said. "He understands the offense, and he's more confident in it. He had one mistake and he knew it."

Starke made two big plays in a touchdown drive that put Jackson ahead 21-6 by passing 43 yards to Jason Meystedt on second-and-22 and hitting Neil Grossheider for a the touchdown.

"Those are the types of plays good teams make," Vianney coach Gene Gladstone said. "Good teams make those."

Eric Poythress (94 yards rushing) and Meystedt (56 yards rushing) led the ground attack.

"I think Eric had a great night for us," Gross said. "Jason can really catch the ball. We've got some athletes that can make plays."

-- From staff reports