Rams handle Portageville with ease

~ The Rams remained unbeaten with a 32-0 victory.

SCOTT CITY -- Scott City had to scratch and claw to win its season opener at Malden last week.

The Rams had a much easier time Friday night in their 2007 home debut.

Scott City rode a second straight dominant defensive performance to a 32-0 shutout of outmanned Portageville.

"I thought we played excellent," senior running back/linebacker Cody Carlyle said. "It was another good defensive game."

Added senior running back/defensive lineman Chris Blankenship: "It was defense big time tonight. We had a great effort from everybody."

Scott City, now 2-0 both overall and in the SEMO South Conference, could very well have a pair of shutouts to begin the season.

During the opener at Malden, which Scott City won 14-6, the Green Wave scored its lone touchdown on a fumble return. The Rams later kept Malden out of the end zone on a drive in the closing moments.

"Our defense was dominant again," first-year Scott City coach Ronnie Jones said.

Carlyle, who keyed Scott City's defense from his linebacker spot -- along with plenty of help -- said the Rams' goal every week is a shutout.

"Don't let anybody in the end zone, that's our goal," he said.

Portageville, which went winless last year, has been outscored 65-7 in its first two games this season.

The Bulldogs fought valiantly against Scott City but were no match for the bigger, faster, stronger and more experienced Rams.

Scott City has 11 seniors. All of them start.

"They're all contributing," Jones said. "Everybody has bought into our system. They've really worked hard."

Portageville managed 75 yards of offense and the only time the Bulldogs found themselves in Scott City territory came early in the third quarter after they recovered a fumble.

"But they fought until the end," Carlyle said of the Bulldogs. "They never quit."

The Rams didn't exactly explode offensively -- they finished with 232 yards, including 160 on the ground, with most of the total coming in the first half -- but a large reason for that is the fact they had such good field position all night.

Carlyle not only kept Portageville bottled up with his long kickoffs, he also pinned them back with impressive punts the few times he was called upon in that area. He averaged 41.5 yards on four punts.

The Rams established control right away as they marched 73 yards after taking the opening kickoff. Carlyle's 2-yard touchdown run and his extra point made it 7-0 just 2:04 into the contest.

"I was pleased with the way we came out that first drive and got it in the end zone," Jones said.

Scott City's next two possessions reached into Portageville territory but came up empty, including one on a lost fumble.

The Rams made it 14-0 early in the second quarter as Blankenship's 16-yard run completed a 43-yard drive. Carlyle's PAT made it 14-0.

It looked like Portageville might be able to limit the damage entering halftime, but Scott City exploded with two non-offensive touchdowns in the final two minutes of the second quarter.

With 1:47 left, senior Craig Arnzen returned a punt 40 yards for a score, putting the Rams up 20-0.

Then, with only 28 seconds remaining, senior Trey Schlosser stripped a Portageville ball carrier and raced 30 yards to the end zone for a 26-0 halftime lead.

With the game all but sealed, the Rams' offense sputtered much of the second half, managing 37 yards and one touchdown, a 10-yard pass from senior quarterback Caleb Estes to senior wide out Derek Laxton early in the final period.

But Scott City's defense never let Portageville sniff the end zone. The closest the Bulldogs came was when they reached the Rams' 30-yard line after recovering that fumble early in the third quarter.

"It was good to be at home, and it was good to get a shutout," Blankenship said.

Scott City 32, Portageville 0

Portageville 0 0 0 0 -- 0

Scott City 7 19 0 6 -- 32

First Quarter

SC -- Cody Carlyle 2 run (Carlyle kick)

Second Quarter

SC -- Chris Blankenship 16 run (Carlyle kick)

SC -- Craig Arnzen 40 punt return (kick failed)

SC -- Trey Schlosser 30 fumble return (run failed)

Fourth Quarter

SC -- Derek Laxton 10 pass from Caleb Estes (kick failed)

Port SC

First downs 4 12

Rushes-yards 42-70 31-160

Passing yards 5 72

Passes 2-3-0 4-10-0

Punts 10-32 4-41.5

Fumbles-Lost 3-1 6-3

Penalties-Yards 10-49 5-35

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Portageville, Mikey Johnson 13-53, T.J. Smith 11-24, Jay Singleton 4-12, Landon Roberts 9-12, Cody Cook 1-0, Caden Robbins 1-minus 5, Fernando Minnis 1-minus 7, Team, 2-minus 19. Scott City, Blankenship 8-85, Carlyle 10-74, Schlosser 4-1, Estes 3-minus 12, Team, 2-minus 6.

PASSING -- Portageville, Robbins 2-3-0-5. Scott City, Estes 4-10-0-72.

RECEIVING -- Portageville, Roberts 1-4, Johnson 1-1. Scott City, Laxton 2-23, Arnzen 1-36, Derek Goodin 1-13.