Tigers Head Back on the Road to Face Chanute

Fort Scott carries a four game winning streak and a 2–0 SEK record into Friday’s matchup with the Blue Comets.

The Fort Scott Tigers are back on the road this week, carrying momentum from four straight wins into a Friday night matchup with the Chanute Blue Comets.

Fort Scott is 4–1 overall and 2–0 in SEK play. The Tigers defeated Labette County 38–35 last week, piling up 318 rushing yards in the Homecoming win.

Through five games, Fort Scott has rushed for 1,475 yards on 223 carries, averaging 6.6 yards per carry and 295 yards per game. Creed Clayton leads the ground attack with 740 yards and eight touchdowns on 126 carries. Quarterback Dredyn Marlow has added 397 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns on 49 carries.

Clayton delivered another big performance against Labette County, rushing for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Marlow ran for 90 yards and three touchdowns, and completed nine of 13 passes, including a touchdown pass to Colt Lipe. With opponents likely to keep loading the box to try to contain the Tigers’ running game, Marlow’s ability to make plays through the air could open up even more room for Fort Scott’s offense to become even more high powered.

Chanute enters the matchup at 1–4 after a 16–8 overtime loss to Independence. The Tigers will also have last year’s meeting in mind, when Chanute defeated Fort Scott 24–12 at Frary Field.

Fort Scott has built momentum this season through its running game, physical play and ability to finish drives. The Tigers will look to maintain that form on the road, take care of the football and keep Chanute from finding a spark at home.

One thing to watch will be how the Fort Scott defense responds after allowing 35 points last week. The Tigers will look to make adjustments, limit big plays and create pressure to disrupt Chanute’s offense. If the defense can put together its strongest performance of the season, it could help Fort Scott control the game on the road.

The conference title is also on the Tigers’ minds. On this week’s Coach’s Corner, senior offensive and defensive lineman Brodie Stoughton, Fort Scott’s Week 5 Player of the Week, shared that winning the conference championship is one of his goals this season, a goal he has carried since first putting on the pads for the Tigers. A win Friday would move Fort Scott to 3–0 in SEK play and put the Tigers in position to all but wrap up the title, with one regular season conference game remaining.

Dillon’s Prediction

Fort Scott 34–13 Chanute

I expect the Tigers’ winning streak and their 21 point scoring streak to continue. With the defense making adjustments, Fort Scott could put together arguably its best defensive performance of the season and bring home another road win.