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East Prairie runs wild, dominates district opener against Scott City
EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — East Prairie turned the tables on Scott City, avenging an earlier season shutout with a decisive 49-29 victory in the opening round of the MSHSAA Class 2, District 1 Tournament on Friday, Nov. 1.
Under the tutelage of first-year head coach Ian Penrod, the Eagles (8-2, 3-1 SEMO Central) have instilled a winning culture, and their physical and aggressive style of play was on full display as they outplayed the Rams (5-4, 2-3 SEMO South) in all phases of the game.
“Biggest takeaway was our players handle a team fighting toe and nail the whole game,” Penrod said. “When Scott City landed a blow, we landed one back. We felt like in Week 1, we didn’t have an identity on offense and struggled to execute. This was big for our kids to get one of the losses we had this year back.”
East Prairie’s offensive attack was spearheaded by standout performances from Connor Marcum and Tavion Ware.
Marcum was a force to be reckoned with, amassing 169 yards on 17 rushing attempts and scoring two touchdowns. His versatility was further showcased with a spectacular 77-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 20-yard reception, highlighting his ability to impact the game in multiple ways.
Ware complemented Marcum’s efforts with a gritty performance of his own, rushing for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries. Ware’s relentless running style wore down the Scott City defense, providing a consistent ground game that kept the chains moving and the clock ticking.
Quarterback Ty Wallace made some key throws, including a 23-yard touchdown pass to Tripp Shoemaker.
East Prairie (8-2, 3-1 SEMO Central) advances to play at Caruthersville (8-1, 5-0 SEMO South) in the semifinal next Friday.