FORT SCOTT — Pittsburg pulled away in the second half of Friday night’s contest versus Fort Scott, scoring three second-half touchdowns on its way to a 28-0 victory at Frary Field.
The Purple Dragons (3-1) led just 7-0 at halftime as Sam Roark ran in from 12 yards out to cap a 9-play, 65-yard drive with 8:37 remaining in the second quarter. Quarterback Cooper Hayden scored on a 1-yard run with 9:12 on the clock in the third and Caiden Barber scored from 17 yards out with 4:24 to go in the third.
Pittsburg secured its seventh consecutive victory over the Tigers (1-3) on a 25-yard scoring run from Barber with seven seconds into the final stanza.
The Dragons outgained Fort Scott in total offense 361 yards to 83. The Dragons gained 291 yards on the ground led by 128 on 10 carries from Roark and 92 yards on just 6 rushes by Barber.
Connor Fess led Fort Scott in rushing with 42 yards on 20 carries. Fort Scott had just 33 rushing yards as a team on 35 carries.
Hayden completed 6 of 11 passes for 70 yards while Fort Scott signal caller Brody Bowles was 5 of 11 for 50 yards. Jerek Butcher caught 3 passes for 34 yards to lead Pittsburg while C.J. Horton led Fort Scott’s receivers with 3 snags for 26 yards.
Since beating Coffeyville in its season opener 40-14, Fort Scott has been outscored 106-18 in three losses having suffered two shutouts.
Pittsburg leads the series with Fort Scott 71-42-5.
The Purple Dragons host Ulysses Friday, Oct. 4 while Fort Scott will travel to Labette County for a Southeast Kansas League contest the same night.
PITTSBURG…….……. 00 07 14 07 — 28
FORT SCOTT…..……..00 00 00 00 — 00
Team stats Pittsburg Fort Scott
First downs 17 10
Rushes-yards 42-291 35-33
Passing yards 70 50
Total offense 361 83
Penalties-yards 12-120 4-33
Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1
Scoring Plays
Second quarter
P — Roark 12 run (Turnbull kick), 8:37
Third quarter
P — Hayden 1 run (Turnbull kick), 9:12
P — Barber 17 run (Turnbull kick), 4:24
Fourth quarter
P — Barber 25 run (Turnbull kick), 11:53
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Pittsburg — Roark 10-128, Barber 6-94, Mahnken 10-35, Nelson 6-22, Hayden 5-8, Roelfs 1-4, Petty 1-3, Team 3-minus 3. Fort Scott — Fres 20-42, Franks 7-7, Team 1-minus 1, Reed 3-minus 3, Bowles 4-minus 12.
PASSING: Pittsburg — Hayden 6-11-0-70. Fort Scott — Bowles 5-11-0-50.
RECEIVING: Pittsburg — Butcher 3-34, McCoy 2-23, Roark 1-13. Fort Scott — Horton 3-26, Emerson 1-18, Brown 1-6.
(Statistics provided by Fort Scott’s coaching staff.)