Defense was the key to victory in the Fort Scott Community College Greyhound's 2012 season opener against Highland Community College last Saturday night in Highland, Kansas; winning in a rainy 20-7 game.
The Hounds (1-0 conference and 1-0 overall) held the Scotties to minus 35 yards of total offense while holding them to minus 100yds of total yardage in the first thirty minutes of play. The Scottie's (0-1 conference, 0-1) new revamped offense could not get anything going against a Fort Scott defense that was swarming to the ball on every snap.
Offensively, Fort Scott's offensive line more notably known as the "Big Nasties" took care of the line of scrimmage by making big holes for running back Stanley Hagan, and he took advantage of those open seams. Hagan, a 6-1 195 pound freshman from Nashville (TN) carried the ball for a game high 225 yards on 40 carries.
Highland after being held to three and out muffed a punt snap giving Fort Scott good position for their first offensive opportunity of the new season but that opportunity quickly went away when Fort Scott's quarterback Sean Strehl, 6-1 210 from St. Louis, pass sailed into the hands of Highland defensive back Contereze Pierce who returned it untouched 92 yards for the game's first score.
On their second possession it was known that Fort Scott was going to pound the ball on the ground and that they did rushing the ball 13 times out of the 16 plays on the drive gaining 64 yards; the drive was stalled after a 31 yard field goal attempt by freshman kicker Mark Whitrock was blocked.
The Greyhounds had to wait until the second quarter of the contest to score their first points of the new season and it was the defense that came up big. Freshman defensive back Antonio Carter came up with a loose ball from the Highland 8 yard line and scampered into the end zone for the score; Whitlock booted in the extra point to tie the game at 7-7. The turnover was caused by pressure from the front 7 of the Fort Scott's defense that gave Highland's quarterbacks and running back's trouble all evening.
After two successful field goals, 33yds and 29yds, from the Lenexa (KS) kicker/punter Whitrock the Greyhounds took their 13-7 lead into the final stanza knowing that it was the defense who was going to have to seal the deal on a rain soaked field; and seal the deal they did coming up with another defensive score on turnover when sophomore defensive back Austin Fulson jarred the ball loose from Highland's 6-4 245 pound quarterback Shunquez Stephens on a hard hitting quarterback sack by while sophomore linebacker Stephan Martin picked it up and raced 18 yards to pay dirt to capture the victory for the Hounds. Whitrock finished the game's scoring by adding on the extra point to make it a 20-7 final.
"Our defensive coaching staff has done a great job preparing the kids for this game and it showed by the way the defense responded all game long" 2nd year head coach Curtis Horton said about the Greyhounds defensive unit that forced four turnovers, eight punts and also sacked the D1 transfer Stephens five times.
Fulson, 5-9 195 pounds from Olathe (KS), led the Hounds with 3 forced fumbles and also was one of the leaders with 6 tackles for the game.
Defensive linemen Demetrius Hill, 6-3 245 frosh from Kankakee (Il), and 6-6 250 pound frosh William Bland each had 6 tackles; three each from beyond the line of scrimmage. Bland is from Cincinnati (OH).
The Greyhounds finished with 278 total yards of total offense, 240yds on the ground and 38yds thru the air.
Fort Scott will open their 2012 home schedule this Saturday afternoon when they welcome the Apaches of Tyler (TX) Junior College to Frary Field.
Game time for Saturday's game is set for 1:00pm.
Fans that cannot make it to the stadium this Saturday can listen to the game on KSEK "The Ticket" 99.1FM ESPN radio the voice of the 'Hounds. Pregame will start at 1:00pm and live play by play will start at 12:00pm. Fans can also utilize the internet to listen to live streaming of the game on www.991espn.com.
A new feature for FSCC athletic fans is the new and improved Greyhound Athletics Web Page. This can be found by typing www.fsgreyhounds.com. All Greyhounds sports can be found on this page along with stats, media relations, and stories about your Greyhound team.