Opportunistic Chaffee punches rival Rams

As far as Chaffee is concerned, the 21 straight losses it suffered to arch rival Scott City are just a distant memory.

The Red Devils have beaten the Rams three of the past four years, including Friday night's convincing 27-13 road win.

"Man, it's the best feeling in the world. There's nothing else like it," Chaffee junior running back/linebacker Tyson Estes said. "It's awesome, all these people showing up. It's a big deal."

An overflow crowd at Scott City that featured enthusiastic supporters from both sides saw the Red Devils improve to 2-3 with their second straight victory.

The 1-4 Rams suffered their third consecutive loss as Chaffee spoiled their homecoming.

Chaffee junior Alex Davie catches a pass in front of Scott City defender Travis Phillips during Friday's game in Scott City. The Red Devils defeated the Rams 27-13. (Laura Simon)

"Winning three of the last four against them is pretty good, especially after 21 [losses] in a row," Chaffee coach Charlie Vickery said. "They have a good team.

"We're young, but we're getting better every week. Last week [Chaffee[']s first win, 20-6 over St. Pius] we played four quarters and we did again tonight."

Chaffee scored on its first possession, driving 87 yards, and never relinquished the lead.

"The first drive set the tone," Chaffee junior tight end/linebacker Alex Davie said. "We came off a good game last week and we carried it over. It feels great."

Junior quarterback Jordan Yahn scored three touchdowns, on a pair of 1-yard sneaks and on a 9-yard run.

Yahn impressively directed Chaffee's offense while completing 5 of 7 passes for 128 yards. He attempted just one second-half pass.

"It feels real good. They [Chaffee[']s fans] are probably all excited," Yahn said. "I think the key was staying focused the whole time."

Another key was Chaffee committing no turnovers while Scott City turned over the ball four times.

"We were practicing every day [having] no turnovers," Yahn said.

Yet another key for the Red Devils was limiting the big plays by Garett Schaefer, Scott City's small but speedy senior tailback.

Schaefer did his share of damage with 135 yards on 26 carries, including a 35-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter.

But the Red Devils made Schaefer work extremely hard for everything he got. Eighteen of his carries went for 4 yards or fewer.

"The first thing we knew was we had to stop Schaefer," 6-foot-4, 233-pound Chaffee senior two-way lineman Kenny Cummins said. "We knew if we stopped him we'd win."

Said Vickery: "I thought our defense played really well. Schaefer is a really good back and they've got a lot of other good players. Other than the one run, we held him pretty good."

Vickery also was pleased with a Chaffee offense that had its best rushing performance of the season by grinding out 166 yards.

Estes led the way with 74 yards on 19 carries.

"That was by far our best rushing game of the year," Vickery said. "We have to run the ball to be successful."

Chaffee's defense and offense combined for a fast start as the Red Devils held the Rams to five yards in forcing a punt on the game's opening possession.

Chaffee proceeded to march 87 yards in 14 plays the first time it had the ball.

Eleven of the plays were runs, but Yahn completed passes of 21 yards to Estes and 14 yards to junior Zach Dannenmueller.

Yahn finished the drive with a 1-yard sneak and he kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

"I think it was important to score first," Vickery said.

Scott City only needed to go 38 yards for a touchdown late in the opening quarter. Schaefer found the end zone from 35 yards out. But his PAT was off the mark, and the Rams trailed 7-6.

Chaffee came right back with a 65-yard drive that featured a 36-yard pass to Davie and ended with a 3-yard Estes run early in the second period. Yahn's PAT was blocked, leaving the score 13-6.

That's the way the first half ended after Scott City missed a chance to tie by fumbling inside the Chaffee 15-yard line in the final minute.

Both squads missed chances on their opening possessions of the third quarter. Chaffee had a drive end on downs at the Scott City 11, while the Rams lost another fumble inside the Chaffee 30.

Chaffee then put the Rams in a hole by marching 73 yards and scoring on Yahn's 1-yard sneak in the first minute of the fourth quarter.

Yahn's 2-point conversion pass to Davie made it 21-6.

Chaffee junior linebacker Cody Enderle intercepted a tipped pass on Scott City's next possession and, after a facemask penalty, Chaffee took over at the Rams' 39.

Yahn scored on a 9-yard run with 8:41 left for an insurmountable 27-6 lead.

"It was extremely disappointing, mistake after mistake," Scott City coach Jim May said. "But they played a great ballgame. You can't take it away from their kids."

Scott City added its final touchdown with 5:22 remaining when senior quarterback Jamie Scholz hit junior wide receiver Austin Atchley with a 3-yard pass.

But it was much too little, too late for the Rams.

"My senior year, it feels really good to beat them," said Cummins, among only a handful of Chaffee seniors. "I really wanted it. I came out hard, gave it all I had."

Chaffee 7 6 0 14 -- 27

Scott City 6 0 0 7 -- 13

First Quarter

C -- Jordan Yahn 1 run (Yahn kick), 4:38

Second Quarter

SC -- Garett Schaefer 35 run (kick failed), :16

C -- Tyson Estes 3 run (kick blocked), 9:51

Fourth Quarter

C -- Yahn 1 run (Alex Davie pass from Yahn), 11:20

C -- Yahn 9 run (run failed), 8:41

SC -- Austin Atchley 3 pass from Jamie Scholz (Schaefer kick), 5:22

C SC

First downs 17 15

Rushes-yards 50-166 42-199

Passing yards 128 111

Passes 5-7-0 8-23-2

Punts 2-32 2-40

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-2

Penalties-Yards 6-50 10-95

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Chaffee, Tyson Estes 19-74, Cody Enderle 4-41, Trevor Cannon 6-31, Jordan Yahn 19-23, Team 2-(-3). Scott City, Garett Schaefer 26-131, Alex Eichhorn 10-52, Travis Phillips 4-24, Jamie Scholz 2-(-8).

PASSING -- Chaffee, Jordan Yahn 5-7-0-128. Scott City, Jamie Scholz 8-23-2-111.

RECEIVING -- Chaffee, Zach Dannenmueller 2-59, Alex Davie 1-36, Tyson Estes 1-21, Mike Rutherford 1-12. Scott City, Garett Schaefer 3-26, Corey Rogers 2-29, Austin Atchley 2-17, Brett Dirnberger 1-39.