THE RAMS: AT THE CROSSROADS

Desire and determination are big factors in the game of football.

For the next couple of seasons, they will be the focal point of Scott City football.

The Rams have had their share of talent and success over the years, including a 7-3 record last season, but leaner times appear to be arriving for the Class 2A Rams.

"We've been up and down since I've been here," said second-year head coach Stephen O'Brien, who's a graduate of Scott City and been a member of the coaching staff for seven years. "You're going to have cycles at smaller schools."

O'Brien cited the recent turn-around at Hayti, where a long-time doormat is expected to be one of the top contenders for the Class 1A state title.

"Smaller schools, that's what we go through," said O'Brien.

That said, Scott City, which assembled back-to-back 10-2 seasons in 1998 and 1999 -- losing to eventual state champions in the playoffs both years -- faces a challenge this season.

The Rams, who return just four starters, have only nine seniors and six juniors on the team. Also, missing from this year's sparse group of seniors is last year's leading rusher Marcus Klund, who transferred to Cape Central after running for 1,399 yards as a junior, and starting center Garrett Smiley, who elected not to return.

Little depth

Scott City definitely faces more obstacles than just the 11 players they'll be lining up against every Friday.

The lack of seniors and juniors creates depth problems. At least eight players will be going both ways and O'Brien will be forced to use sophomore and even freshmen for substitutions. Lack of depth has already been a factor in practice.

"When you don't have depth, it makes it hard to practice," said O'Brien. "You don't get your best looks. Last year we didn't have a lot either. The year before that and the year before that our scout teams were probably as good as a lot of the other teams. Our starters got a lot of good looks."

One returning lineman

Foremost among O'Brien's concerns are the lines, where the lone returner is Trenton Estes (OG, DL). Scott City has been a traditional power-running team with workhorses on the line and athletic runners in the backfield. But the Rams graduated experienced tackles Tommy Klingman and Justin Wilhelm and guard Josh Heisserer.

The Rams will be plugging in tackles Will Jackson (sr.) and Steven Posey (jr.) and guard Josh Braun (sr.) in their place. Chris Pequeno, a junior, transferred from Texas and will fill the spot vacated by Smiley. Estes, Jackson and Posey all top 250 pounds with Braun and Pequeno in the 180-190 range.

"A lot of the season is going to depend on them," said O'Brien. "I really think they can do it and really believe they can be okay."

Despite the loss of Klund, O'Brien is not concerned about the Rams' backfield, where Brad Glenn, a senior, will step into the role of the featured back. Glenn rushed for 784 yards last year, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.

Glenn, the fastest player on the team, will also play outside linebacker and serve as the team's punter and kick returner.

"Brad is quick and a very good cut-back runner and he runs very hard," said O'Brien.

Changing formation

The Rams, who utilized a split-back offense last year, will use more I-formation, an offense used successfully by long-time Scott City coach William Wilthong. Senior Andrew Estes, who started at tight end last year, will move to fullback and senior Jeremy Glastetter, who served as backup quarterback last year, will direct the offense.

With a talented group of freshmen that numbers 22 and a hard-working sophomore class, O'Brien sees a bright future on the horizon, but the present remains murky.

"Right now it's hard to say if we're going to be real successful or have a sub-par year," said O'Brien. ""We didn't have a bad year and we didn't have a really good year. Which direction are we going to go? I don't want the program to go down.

"I think our team, if we pull together and everybody starts working together, we'll be successful. Maybe not a dominating team of the past years, but we can be successful. If we struggle, we may only win three or four games, if we're lucky. It's kind of what the kids make of it. We could have some fun and be successful."

SCOTT CITY

THE TEAM

P COACH: Stephen O'Brien, second year

P ENROLLMENT, CLASSIFICATION: 313; Class 2A, District 1

P KEY LOSSES: G/DL Josh Heisserer, T/DL Tommy Klingman, T/OLB Justin Wilhem, WR/S Jacob Ressel, OSL Jamie Heisserer

P RETURNING STARTERS: 5

LAST SEASON (7-3) THIS SEASON

Malden W 40-33

at Portageville W 27-14

at East Prairie W 7-6

Brentwood W 48-13

Chaffee W 36-21

at Park Hills Central L 28-19

Hayti L 14-6

Grandview W 31-14

Crystal City W 28-12

at Charleston L 34-21

A. 31 at Malden

S. 7 vs. Portageville

S. 14 vs. East Prairie

S. 21 vs. Brentwood

S. 28 at Chaffee

O. 5 vs. Park Hills Central

O. 12 at Hayti

O. 19 at Granview

O. 26 at Crystal City

N. 2 vs. Charleston

THE MAGNIFICENT ELEVEN

{PROBABLE STARTERS}

P OFFENSE

QB Jeremy Glastetter (6-1, 146, sr.)

RB Brad Glenn (5-7, 195, sr.)

FB Andrew Estes (5-11, 195, sr.)

T Will Jackson (6-1, 250, sr.)

T Steven Posey (6-0, 258, jr.)

C Chris Pequeno (5-9, 188, jr.)

G Trenton Estes (5-11, 252, sr.)

G Josh Braun (6-0, 183, sr.)

TE Zac Callow (6-2, 187, so.)

TE Jason Umfleet (5-9, 200, so.)

FL Jordan Comer (5-10, 167, sr.) or Jeremy Drury (6-0, 170, sr.)

P DEFENSE

DL Trenton Estes (5-11, 252, sr.)

DL Josh Braun (6-0, 183, sr.)

DL Will Jackson (6-1, 250, sr.)

DL Joe Bruner (6-0, 173, so.)

OLB Jeremy Drury (6-0, 170, sr.)

OLB Brad Glenn (5-7, 195, sr.)

LB Zac Callow (6-2, 187, so.)

LB Andrew Estes (5-11, 195, sr.)

S Jeremy Glastetter (6-1, 146, sr.)

CB Jordan Comer (5-10, 167, sr.)

CB Jerry Jackson (5-6, 150, jr.)

P KEY SUBSTITUTES: (QB/LB) David Dees 5-10, 145, so.; (WR/DB) Ryan Glastetter, 6-0, 137, so., (RB) Jerry Jackson, 5-6, 150, jr.; (OL) Joe Bruner 6-0, 173, so.; (OL/DL) Daniel Holloway, 6-0,255, fr.; (OL/DL) Wes Page,

5-10, 275, so.; (OL/DL) Kyle Cox, 5-10, 221, fr.

P SPECIAL TEAMS: (K) Andrew Estes, 5-11, 195, sr.; (P) Brad Glenn,

5-7, 195, sr.; (KR) Brad Glenn, 5-7, 195, sr.; (PR) Jeremy Drury, 6-0, 170, sr

THE GOOD

P Strong senior class

P Quick at the line of scrimmage

P Proven running back in Brad Glenn

THE BAD AND THE UGLY

P Lack of team speed

P Not as big as past teams

P Lack of depth

HOW BOUT IT COWBOY?

{Inside the mind of senior OL/DL Josh Braun}

KEYS TO THE SEASON

P "Our line's going to have to block for sure. We lost our quarterback and our running back so we'll have to control the line of scrimmage."

BEST THING ABOUT FOOTBALL

P "It'd have to be hittin'. I only like it if I hurt somebody."

SUPERSTITIONS

P "I always wear the same T-shirt on game night."

PERSONAL GOALS

P "We lost a lot of players but I'd like to see our team win at least seven games."

QUICK DRAWS

P Leading rusher Marcus Klund transferred to Cape Central for his senior season. Klund ran for 1,399 yards and averaged 7.3 yards a carry. ... The Rams haven't had a losing season since 1996.