Rams rally, stay alive in Class 2, District 2 chase

After eight games and 28 minutes of offensive futility that saw the Scott City Rams average only eight points per game, the second half and overtime of Friday's game at Scott City seemed like an offensive renaissance when the Rams scored four touchdowns in rout to a 29-22 win.

"We finally broke through the 14 point barrier," Scott City coach Jason Burkman said.

The Rams kept their Class 2, District 2 title hope alive when Matt Schaeffer took it in from 21 yards out on the first possession in overtime for the game-winning score. The Rams' defense then stepped up with the help of two Chad Weatherspoon sacks to bring Scott City to 4-5 overall and 2-0 in district games.

The win sets up a championship showdown next week with Charleston, which also is 2-0 in the district.

"Never underestimate kids," Burkman said. "They can make it happen. They just made it happen tonight."

Scott City trailed 14-3 at halftime, and looked as if they were in for a long offensive night. The Rams offense came to life right off the bat in the second half, as Luke McClellan hooked up with Weatherspoon for a 67-yard touchdown pass.

The Rams went to the air 18 times, which Burkman said was to try to stop teams from putting as many as nine and 10 guys in the box.

"We threw it more tonight than in my entire life," he said. "I was just trying to make things happen."

After cutting the lead to 14-10, the Scott City rock-steady defense started to fall apart. Crystal City was able to counter with a 38-yard touchdown run from running back Josh Meadows, who ran the ball 34 times for 191 yards and two touchdowns.

Scott City's offense was able to respond though, as McClellan ran the ball in from two yards out after he scampered for 55 yards a couple plays earlier. With McClellan's touchdown the Rams found themselves down 22-16.

Burkman said the play of his offensive line in the second half was a big key.

"The offensive line has done nothing but excel all year long," he said.

After steadying their defense, the Rams got the ball at midfield with about six minutes to go still trailing by six. After running for a couple of first downs, the Rams looked like their drive was going to be stopped. But McClellan scrambled and hit a diving Ryan Glastetter for 14 yards and a first and goal.

Glastetter, who caught four passes for 37 yards, said his diving catch almost didn't happen.

"He kind of overthrew me," Glastetter said. "I just dove and it fell into my hands."

After McClellan went in from five yards out to tie the game, Seth Ward lined up for the extra point to put Scott City up one. The kick hit the upright and fell straight down, giving Crystal City a chance for the game-winning drive with less than three minutes left.

The Hornets made it as far as the Rams' 25 yard line, but Scott City's defense held and the game was headed to overtime.

With Schaeffer's running and Weatherspoon's defense, Scott City found a way to complete the comeback.

Schaeffer led the Scott City offense with 103 yards. McClellan ran for 58 yards, threw for 116 yards and had two rushing touchdowns.

In the win Shawn Hann set the school record for tackles in a season. Hann has 140 on the season. With three sacks Weatherspoon set the school sack record and now has 12.

jjoffray@semissourian.com

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