SCOTT CITY TOPS PERRYVILLE FOR THIRD STRAIGHT WIN 20-6

SCOTT CITY -- Since opening the season with a 30-0 loss at Malden, Scott City High's football Rams have been intent on showing the rest of Southeast Missouri that they are still a force to be reckoned with.

After Friday night's performance, very few people are probably doubting the Rams these days.

Scott City captured its third straight victory with an impressive 20-6 triumph over visiting Perryville, a Class 4A team.

The 2A Rams are now 3-1 as they avenged their only regular-season loss from last year. The Pirates, who like Scott City made the playoffs a year ago, fell to 0-4.

"We're a totally different team (since the Malden game)," said Scott City coach Roy Williams. "The guys are really playing well."

You'll get no argument about that from Perryville coach Jerry Tucker, whose squad controlled play early and led 6-0 late in the first half, only to see Scott City totally dominate the second half.

"We played pretty good, but not the kind of football we needed to be successful," Tucker said. "Scott City is a very good football team. Their line is tough. They really get after it."

The final statistics were virtually even, with Scott City gaining 229 yards -- 181 coming on the ground -- and Perryville getting 214 yards -- 161 on the ground.

But it was all Scott City after halftime as the Rams outgained the Pirates 140 yards to 70.

"I think early our kids were afraid we couldn't compete," Williams said. "It's 2A playing 4A and that's always tough.

"We were real tentative at the beginning of the game. They were drilling us and it looked like it might be a long night for us. But we settled down and our lines really did a good job."

Scott City quarterback Scott Johnston led all rushers by gaining 89 yards on 10 carries. He scored one touchdown. Matt Underwood added 64 yards on 14 attempts and scored twice.

Perryville quarterback Tyler Abernathy paced his squad with 56 yards on 10 carries. Matt Tucker had 51 yards on 10 attempts but explosive running back Shawn Statler was held to just 21 yards on 10 carries.

The Pirates grabbed a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter on Tucker's 1-yard run. Two other Perryville first-half drives reached deep into Scott City territory before stalling.

But Scott City, dominated for most of the first half, woke up late. The Rams moved 50 yards in the closing moments of the second quarter and scored with just 34 seconds left on Underwood's 7-yard run. Lucas Ward's extra-point kick put Scott City ahead for good at 7-6.

While Perryville never threatened to score in the second half, Scott City tacked on two touchdowns.

Johnston broke loose for a 65-yard TD scamper on the second play of the third quarter to make it 13-6.

"The blocking on that play was great," said Johnston, who kept the ball on the option after faking a handoff, broke two tackles and raced down the right sideline to the end zone.

A big interception by Marcus Klund, who returned the ball 40 yards to the Perryville 10, set up Underwood's clinching 7-yard TD run with 4:23 left.

"Its' a big win for us," said a satisfied Williams. "Both teams knocked themselves out."