Tyson Underwood scores five TDs as Scott City mauls Malden 62-8

The homecoming king had a ball.

Scott City senior Tyson Underwood rushed for 142 yards and five touchdowns on 11 carries to lead the Rams to a 62-8 win over the Malden Green Wave on Friday, Sept. 22, in Scott City.

“Our plan was to go fast all night," Underwood said. "So the play calling went my way.”

The Rams scored all 62 points in the first, 38 of which came in the first quarter. The running clock commenced immediately at the start of the second half.

"The game was over pretty early," Scott City head coach Jim May said.

It was Underwood's best game of the season. Before Friday, his best game was a 139-yard, four-touchdown effort against Hayti.

“It’s up there,” Underwood said. “I scored a lot of points. I think the more competitive games are more fun.”

Underwood now has 11 rushing touchdowns and 542 yards after five games, which puts him among the top three running backs in the area.

"We did a good job up front and our receivers did a good job blocking," May said. "He's a good hard runner. He runs downhill, that's part of what we're doing. We're gonna throw the ball. We have to throw the ball so we don't get a loaded box and when they have to get out of the box, we'll be able to run."

Scott City quarterback Mark Panagos had a big game of his own on both sides of the ball. The senior completed 10 of 11 passes for 153 yards while also rushing for 65 yards and a touchdown. He is now among the few local passers to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark five games into the season.

"We knew we were gonna be able to throw the ball a lot this year because we have a very good receiver core," May said.

Panagos also scored a touchdown on defense after intercepting a pass. The other defensive touchdown for the Rams came on a fumble recovery by senior linebacker Lawson Graff.

"I just see the football and it's bouncing high," Graff said. "I was like 'Do not drop the ball'. I just picked it up and I ran."

While expected, it was a big win for the Rams, who lost to Portageville the week before. The win gives them added confidence going into their next two games against Kelly and Chaffee.

“It’s big for momentum going into the end of the season,” Underwood said. “Especially after a loss like that (against Portageville) and during homecoming, it’s a special feeling.”

As big of a win as it was for Scott City, it was another loss for Malden, whose losing streak has now stretched to 18 games. The Green Wave are 0-5 on the season and have allowed an average of 50 points per game. The last time the Green Wave won a game was on Oct. 1, 2021, a 44-6 triumph over East Prairie, whom they will meet again next week at home.

Scott City travels to Kelly on Friday at 7 p.m.