Unbeaten Portageville blows out Rams

Portageville running back Dominique Walker gets hit by Scott City linebacker Gordon Bradley during the Bulldogs' 46-13 win on Friday in Portageville. Brent Shipman, Staff

PORTAGEVILLE -- There's still two weeks to go in the regular season, but the undefeated Portageville Bulldogs can now lay claim to at least a share of the SEMO South conference title.

Led by the dual-threat of running backs, Daniel Allen and Denzell Simmons, the Bulldogs were able to pound out 349 yards on the ground and 400 overall as they ran away from visiting Scott City for a 46-13 win.

"Probably, overall, that was our best effort this year," Portageville head coach Jeff Bullock said. "The biggest thing I can say right now is I'm hoping we're starting to click. It felt like it. The offense is starting to click and the defense has ben pretty steady all year.

"We had some lapses, yet we still manage to keep people out. We played a really good football team tonight."

Though featured back Allen still got the lion's share of the carries against the Rams, Simmons provided a nice complement as he was seeing extra snaps in place of an injured Dion Foster.

Besides carrying for 108 yards on 15 carries, Simmons provided a pair of critical third quarter touchdowns as Portageville was putting the game away.

Having already totaled 694 rushing yards coming into the contest, Allen added another 165 yards to his total on 26 carries while scoring three touchdowns.

"When you have two tailbacks back there that can do that it makes it tough to be stopped," Portageville head coach Jeff Bullock said. "People have been trying to stack up on Daniel a little bit and Denzell, you can't say enough about him. He's waited and put his time in. He got his shot tonight and took advantage.

On top of his efforts in leading the Bulldogs' offense, it was a late second quarter pick by Allen that kept Scott City from fighting their way back into the game.

With Portageville holding a 21-6 lead, Scott City got the ball back with under two minutes before the half and marched down to the Bulldogs' six-yard line where they faced third down with just over just 30 seconds remaining.

Rams' quarterback Jon McFall pitched to running back Zach Haynes as Scott City tried to catch Portageville off-guard with a halfback pass. The throw into the end zone, however, found its way into the arms of Allen, allowing the Bulldogs to then protect their 15-point halftime lead.

"That was a huge stop," Bullock said. "(Scott City) would have got the ball to start the second half and could have cut it to a one score game.

"Instead we come out, get a stop right off the bat and then we score."

Coming back out in the second half, Portageville forced Scott City into a three-and-out on their opening drive before the ensuing 48-yard Bulldog drive was cemented with a three-yard run by Simmons to pull ahead 33-6.

By the end of the quarter, two more scoring drives by the Bulldogs, capped by runs from Allen and Simmons respectively, pushed Portageville ahead 46-13 entering the fourth.

"People stepped up," Allen said. "At first we did struggled some, but we really picked it up in the second half and came away with a big win.

Added Allen on the Bulldogs' stellar night on ground, "That's what we do. Nobody has stopped it yet and that's what we'll keep doing."

For the second straight week, Portageville defensive lineman Carlos McGee found his way into the scoring column.

With Scott City at their own 12-yard line early in the second quarter, a high snap from the line sailed over McFall's head.

McGee pounced on the ball in the end zone to put his team ahead 21-0 after the point after.

On a night where the Rams gained 201 total yards, including 168 on the ground, running back Travis Phillips provided the bulk of the offense. Carrying 17 times for 118 yards, Phillips scored both of the Rams' touchdowns.

"We turned the ball over early and got behind, then they just brought the wood to us.," Scott City head coach Jim May said. "They're a good team and they play physical. Once they got the train rolling we kind of laid down and that really irritates me.

"I just wish we'd have brought more fight tonight."

First Quarter

P -- Daniel Allen 7 run (kick missed), 4:21

P -- Hunter Cook 17 pass from Bryce Wallace (Denzell Simmons pass from Bryce Wallace good), 2:41

Second Quarter

P -- Carlos McGee fumble recovery (kick good), 9:29

S -- Travis Phillips 13 run (pass bad), 7:47

P -- Daniel Allen 4 run (kick missed), 1:52

Third Quarter

P -- Denzell Simmons 3 run (kick missed), 8:12

P -- Daniel Allen 8 run (kick missed), 5:06

S -- Travis Phillips 3 run (kick good), 2:43

P -- Denzell Simmons 4 run (kick good), 0:06

Rushing -- Scott City, Zach Haynes 7-24, Travis Phillips 17-118, Jon McFall 6-17, Caleb Sykes 3-8, Drew Short 1-1. Portageville, Daniel Allen 26-165, Denzell Simmons 15-108, Dominique Walker 6-41, Caleb Gooch 1-(-5), Bryce Wallace 1-0, Brandon Riggs 4-14, Jon Garrett Kellams 4-(-4), Tyler Jones 1-0, No. 44 8-32.

Passing -- Scott City, Jon McFall 2-12-0 33, Zach Haynes 0-1-1 0. Portageville, Bryce Wallace 3-4-0 51.

Receiving -- Scott City, Brett Dirnberger 1-16, Ryan Fortner 1-17. Portageville, Dominique Walker 1-11, Denzell Simmons 1-23, Hunter Cook 1-17.