Football notes: Roxana not a game to overlook

Two years ago, Vandalia traveled to Roxana in week three and were upset, 32-14.

And if the Vandals aren’t careful this Friday, it could happen again.

“They are a pretty good ball club,” said coach John Stout of the Shells. “In all three of their games, they have been able to move the ball, and have some guys with some skills.

“They are a threat to us.”

The likelihood of Vandalia (2-1) overlooking any opponent this season is minimal, however, as every player on the team has big aspirations.

And the weekly coaching approach doesn’t hurt, either.

“When you look at some things in the Staunton game (a 36-21 win last Saturday), there is still room for improvement,” Stout said. “We approach every week in that there is room for improvement and steps to get better.”

Roxana runs a wing-T offense and is 1-2 on the season, with a win against Hillsboro (0-3) and losses to Carlinville (3-0) and Pana (2-1).

Weather report

The past two Vandalia football games have been delayed by heavy rains, and it could be another wet Friday night this week.

As of Wednesday morning, Friday's forecast for Roxana was a 50 percent chance of morning rain and a cloudy evening.

SCC review

Through the first three weeks, the South Central Confernce hasn’t had too many surprises.

The biggest one came last Saturday, when Carlinville thumped Greenville, 59-14, in a game that many expected to be much closer.

“Really, the only thing that surprised me was the margin that Carlinville won by,” Stout said. “I knew they were good, and maybe the best in the conference.”

Otherwise, the top four teams – Carlinville, Vandalia, Greenville and Satunton – have all been at the top, and the rest of the teams have jockeyed for position in the standings, with every team but Hillsboro having at least one win already.

Scoring summary

Saturday, Sept. 8
at Staunton
First quarter
VHS: 1:47 – 5-yard run by Luke Smith (Ryan Ambuehl kick).
Second quarter
VHS: 0:42.2 – 1-yard run by Tim Ritchey (Ambuehl kick).
SHS: 0:01.8 – 49-yard pass from Jake Bruhn to Samual Allison (Bo Davis kick).
Third quarter
SHS: 11:09 – 53-yard run by David Vaughn (Davis kick).
Fourth quarter
VHS: 11:15 – 12-yard run by Ambuehl (Ambuehl kick).
VHS: 8:32 – 10-yard run by Ambuehl (Ambuehl kick).
SHS: 6:59 – 3-yard run by Bruhn (Davis kick).
VHS: 6:48 – 50-yard run by Ambuehl (Ritchey pass to Smith for 2-point conversion)

Around the SCC

Friday, Sept. 7
Litchfield 12, Southwestern 6 (OT)
Pana 28, Gillespie 7
Saturday, Sept. 8
Vandalia 36, Staunton 21
Carlinville 59, Greenville 14
Roxana 41, Hillsboro 26

Standings

•Carlinville, 3-0
•Vandalia, 2-1
•Greenville, 2-1
•Staunton, 2-1
•Pana, 2-1
•Gillespie, 1-2
•Southwestern, 1-2
•Litchfield, 1-2
•Roxana, 1-2
•Hillsboro, 0-3