Dragons shut out Tigers, 41-0

PITTSBURG -- Pittsburg posted its first shutout of Fort Scott High since 1985 Friday night as the Purple Dragons took control of the Southeast Kansas League with a 41-0 victory at Hutchinson Field.

It's the first time the Tigers have been shut out in a regular-season game since the 2008 season, when Independence claimed a 20-0 victory. Pittsburg posted a 36-0 win over Fort Scott in 1985.

Fort Scott (1-1 SEK, 2-1 overall) looked to score first as quarterback Mason Knopp made a pair of big plays on the Tigers' second possession of the contest. On the first play, he kept the ball himself for a 31-yard game to the Pittsburg 32. Three plays later, he found Carter Young for a 23-yard gain on third-and-7 from the Pittsburg 29.

The drive stalled by Brody Southwell was sent out for a 21-yard field goal attempt. However, it was blocked and Elijah Harris picked it up and ran it about 90 yards the other way to put the Purple Dragons (3-0, 3-0) on the board with 3:28 left in the first quarter.

From that point, it wasn't a runaway for Pittsburg. The pace was more of a stroll as the Dragons kept hold of the ball on long drives before scoring on their next three possessions. They held it for seven plays on a 78-yard drive capped by a 38-yard pass from Spencer Turnbull to Dante Richardson with 10:45 left in the half to make it 14-0. Then they held it for 15 plays and 85 yards before Alex Barnes scored on a one-yard run with 1:36 on the clock. The extra-point attempt failed, leaving it at 20-0.

Pittsburg received the second-half kickoff and held the ball for 11 plays and 80 yards, taking nearly five minutes off the clock before Turnbull took the ball in himself with 7:13 to go. Barnes ran in the 2-point coversion to make it 28-0.

A 31-yard interception return by Drake Barkley made it 34-0 with 4:29 to go in the third. The last score was a 38-yard run by Barnes with 1:47 left in the third quarter.

A running clock was used the entire fourth quarter since the margin was greater than 35 points.

Pittsburg ran 48 plays for 318 yards in total offense while Fort Scott was only able to run 36 plays for 174 total yards.

Barnes, who has been getting looks from major four-year universities since he was a sophomore, gained 179 yards rushing on 20 carries. Turnbull added 37 yards on 10 rushes and also completed 4 of 7 passes for 62 yards.

Chase Brown led Fort Scott in rushing with 43 yards on 11 carries.

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FORT SCOTT........ 0 0 0 0 -- 0

PITTSBURG........... 7 13 21 0 -- 41

Scoring plays

First quarter

P -- Harris 90 return of blocked field goal (Powers kick), 3:28

Second quarter

P -- Richardson 38 pass from Turnbull (Powers kick), 10:45

P -- Barnes 1 run (pass failed), 1:36

Third quarter

P -- Turnbull 1 run (Barnes run), 7:13

P -- Barkley 31 interception return (kick failed), 4:29

P -- Barnes 38 run (Powers kick), 1:47

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Fort Scott -- Brown 11-43, Knopp 5-38, Young 4-25, Tome 1-12, Quinney 2-7, Thurston 2-1, W.Tourtillott 1-0, Doherty 3-minus 3, Deloney 1-minus 7. Pittsburg -- Barnes 20-179, Turnbull 10-37, Menghini 4-26, McNeely 1-8, Thomas 1-5, Tallie 2-3, Vaughn 1-1, team 1-0, Harris 1-minus 3.

PASSING: Fort Scott -- Knopp 3-16-1-28, DeLaTorre 1-1-0-30. Pittsburg -- Turnbull 4-7-0-62.

RECEIVING: Fort Scott -- B.Tourtillott 1-30, Young 1-23, Fink 1-5. Pittsburg -- Richardson 3-54, Harris 1-8.

MISSED FIELD GOALS: Southwell 21 (blocked).