Staunch 'D' leads Rams to 2-0 start

PORTAGEVILLE — The Scott City football team, like last year, is off to a 2-0 start with just one touchdown allowed.

But Rams coach Ronnie Jones said his team will have to play better than it did Friday night to extend the streak and repeat 2007's 3-0 start.

Scott City scored three second-half touchdowns, including one by the defense, to post a 26-0 win against a team that hasn't won a game the last three seasons.

"I told the kids at halftime, 'I guess I should be happy we've got six points,'" Jones said, "because last week we didn't have any in the first half.

"A lot of stuff, we hurt ourselves by turning the ball over. I think the kids came in expecting an easy one, and you've got to respect your opponent."

The Rams did have a pair of 100-yard rushers, as Caleb Gray picked up 103 on 24 carries and scored the lone touchdown of the first half. Jake Campbell added 100 yards on 18 carries and two TDs.

Alex Eichhorn returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown as the Scott City defense outscored Portageville's offense.

Linebackers Josh Trapp and Matt Bradley each reached double figures in tackles.

"If we can continue to do what we're doing and play those guys on one side of the ball, it's going to help us down the road," Jones said.

Next on the road is a trip to East Prairie. Scott City won last year's meeting by 30, but that will be hard to duplicate with M.C. Williams back for the Eagles after rushing for 1,528 yards last year.

"He's a tough little runner," Jones said. "He probably feels like he has a target on his chest this year, and we'll have our eyes on him like everyone else does.

"We're going to have to play better than we did tonight. We were a little sloppy."

But the Rams were effective enough on defense to blank the Bulldogs for a second straight year.

Caleb Anderson joined Bradley and Trapp in double digits on tackles. Jaris Hye had a fumble recovery, and Adam Holmes recorded an interception off a deflection to set up Scott City's final touchdown drive of 51 yards.

Cody Page's 26-yard pass to Austin Brawley, the longest of his three receptions of the night, set up a 3-yard run by Campbell that concluded the scoring.