Second upset not there for Scott City

Green Wave freshman Bryce Nelson celebrates a late touchdown against Scott City Wednesday during the Class 2, District 1 semifinals. (Brent Shipman photo)

sports@standard-democrat.com

MALDEN -- Another upset wasn't in the cards for the Scott City Rams.

Coming off last week's surprise takedown of Charleston, the Rams allowed 399 total yards of offense to the Malden Green Wave who rolled to a 62-16 win in the Class 2, District 1 semifinals.

"We didn't answer the bell," Scott City head coach Jim May said. "I don't know if was the weather or what it was, but Malden came out to play. We didn't and when you don't it shows."

To say the Green Wave came out to a hot start would be an understatement. Malden scored on each of their first six offensive drives while getting plenty of help from their defense.

Not only did Malden defenders hold the Rams without a first down until the final minutes of the first half, but they got in on the scoring frenzy with an interception return for a touchdown by Toby Miller.

In fact the only thing that could stop the Green Wave in the first half was the clock as their first stalled drive came when time expired in the second quarter.

By that point Malden held a commanding 56-0 lead, including a 32-point outburst in the first quarter alone.

This start had to come as a relief to the Green Wave, who held a slim 14-7 lead at halftime when the two teams met in the regular season. With a big second half Malden went on to win that meeting 42-7.

"We had to step it up." said, Green Wave running back Dremond Robinson said. "We had more of an advantage this time knowing what they were going to do. It was a nice game."

Robinson was a big part of Malden's early success, with most of his 142 rushing yards came before the break. After a 25-yard run by Nick Thompson put Malden ahead on their first drive of the game, it was Robinson sprinting 46 yards for the first of three touchdowns to put his team ahead 16-0.

Both backs added another touchdown in the quarter while all four two-point conversions put the Green Wave in position for a turbo-clock in the second half well before halftime.

Another 24 points in the second quarter, including Miller's 30-yard pick-six, ensured the rout while the Rams outscored Malden 16-6 after the half.

"They're a quality team," May said of Malden. "We're young and learning, but that wasn't the performance I was hoping for."

Malden gained all but nine yards on the ground against Scott City with their 389 rushing yards coming on 39 carries. They averaged an outstanding 9.7 yards per play while out-gaining the Rams 398-244 on the night.

For his team's big offensive performance, Malden head coach Joel Wyatt credits an offensive line that has continued to improve as the seasons wore on.

"Our offensive line has really come together," Wyatt said. "We have the addition of Seth Mungle, who's back. He's been out with an MCL most of the year. We got him back about three weeks ago and those guys have really gelled together and they have the right chemistry there. They're so much better than they were earlier in the year."

Scott City's offense found it's first signs of life right before the half when Braden Cox hit Zach Carlyle for a 37-yard pass that allowed the Rams to move the chains for the first time.

Carlyle's catch set Scott City up at Malden's 20-yard line before a pass to Skyler Bewley moved the Rams to the 13. Unable to capitalize, however, two straight incomplete passes turned the ball over to the Green Wave with 34 seconds before the break.

Though they were well out of range of stopping the running clock, the Rams came out in the third quarter and broke up the shutout with back-to-back scoring drives.

With 6:03 left in the third quarter Cox capped a 49-yard drive with a 4-yard keeper to put his team on the board.

After stalling a Green Wave drive just 11 yards from the end zone, Scott City marched 89 yards down the field for another score. A 67-yard run by Caden Hilleman fielded the drive and Carlyle punched it in from three yards out.

Still with a comfortable 40-point lead, at 56-16, Malden rode the running clock to a meeting with Caruthersville Monday in the district title game.

"We're obviously happy we're still playing, but by no means are we satisfied," Wyatt said. "Our goal is to keep winning and advance. That being said, Caruthersville has been a thorn in our side all four years that I've been here. I'm glad we're getting to play them one more time because that means we're continuing to win."

First Quarter

M -- Nick Thompson 25 run (Dremond Robinson run good), 7:59

M -- Dremond Robinson 46 run (Dremond Robinson run good), 5:23

M -- Nick Thompson 23 run (Jeremy Jones run good), 2:13

M -- Dremond Robinson 5 run (Nick Thompson run good), 0:52

Second Quarter

M -- Shaeen Perkins 3 run (Nick Thompson run good), 7:33

M -- Dremond Robinson 10 run (Awsten Powell run good), 4:08

M -- Toby Miller 30 interception return (Awsten Powell run good), 3:38

Third Quarter

SC -- Braden Cox 4 run (Braden Cox run good), 6:03

Fourth Quarter

SC -- Zach Carlyle 3 run (Braden Cox pass to Zach Carlyle good), 7:59

M -- Bryce Nelson 10 run (Bryce Nelson run no good), 4:11

Team Statistics

Individual Statistics

Rushing -- Scott City, Nick Bickings 9-45, Braden Cox 9-14, Zach Carlyle 5-23, Gordy Bradley 2-(-3), Caden Hilleman 1-67, Drew Short 1-2, Ty Wilthong 1-2, Noah Hahn 1-1; Malden, Dremond Robinson 14-142, Bryce Nelson 9-76, Awsten Powell 4-60, Nick Thompson 4-55, Jeremy Jones 3-44, Diamontra Finley 2-8, Howie Payne 2-1, Shaeen Perkins 1-3.

Passing -- Scott City, Braden Cox 8-24-2 93; Malden, Riley Chapen 1-2-0 9.

Receiving -- Scott City, Zach Carlyle 2-66, Noah Hahn 2-6, Gordy Bradley 1-0, Skyler Bewley 1-7, Cody Browne 1-6, A.J. Bollinger 1-8; Malden, Jeremy Jones 1-9.