Southwell's kicking key in FSCC win

INDEPENDENCE -- Fort Scott Community College's only points of the second half were scored by a Fort Scott High School graduate here Saturday night, giving the Greyhounds a 22-20 victory over Independence in Jayhawk Conference play.

Brody Southwell's 23-yard field goal with 11:07 remaining in the fourth quarter was the only score by either team in the second half. It was the third field goal of the game for the FSHS graduate.

Running back Chris Rivers, Jr. rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries for the Greyhounds (1-1 KJCCC, 1-1 overall). He scored the game's first TD on a 2-yard run less than three minutes into the contest.

Independence led by the end of the first. The Pirates (0-1, 0-1) recovered a Fort Scott fumble in the end zone with 8:36 remaining. Quarterback Jonathan Banks scored on a 1-yard run with 6:51 left.

Southwell hit the first of his 3 field goals from 25 yards out with 3:08 remaining to bring the 'Hounds within 14-10. He also connected from 20 yards out with 12:48 to go in the second quarter.

Rivers scored from 34 yards out with 9:11 remaining to put Fort Scott on top, 19-14, after a 2-point conversion was unsuccessful.

Independence went in front, 20-19, with 24 seconds left in the half on a 14-yard pass from Banks to Ivory Kelly with 24 seconds remaining in the half.

Fort Scott gained 354 yards in total offense, 184 of those passing as freshman quarterback Nathan Rourke completed 16 of 24 passes for 184 yards. Ke'Von Love caught 4 passes for 81 yards.

The Greyhounds return home Saturday night for a 7 p.m. kickoff against Iowa Western, a 21-12 loser at Hutchinson Saturday. The loss knocked the Reviers from No. 6 to out of the NJCAA Top 20 poll.

FORT SCOTT...................... 10 9 0 3 -- 22

INDEPENDENCE................ 14 6 0 0 -- 20

FS -- Rivers 2 run (Southwell kick), 12:02

Ind -- Recovered fumble in end zone (Goodrich kick), 8:36

Ind -- Banks 1 run (Goodrich kick), 6:51

FS -- FG Southwell 25, 3:08

FS -- FG Southwell 20, 12:48

Ind -- Kelly 14 pass from Banks (kick failed), 8:11

FS -- FG Southwell 23, 11:07

RUSHING: Fort Scott -- Rivers 13-102, Hankins 23-55, Trotter 9-23, team 2-minus 2, Rourke 8-minus 8. Independence -- Banks 15-120, Stevenson 16-77, Hickman 11-73, Eduoard 1-1.

PASSING: Fort Scott -- Rourke 16-24-1-184. Independence -- Banks 6-16-1-116, Eduoard 1-2-1-5.

RECEIVING: Fort Scott -- Love 4-81, Claybrooks 4-32, Daughtry 2-23, Aldred 1-19, Hankins 2-15, Green 2-9, Trotter 1-5. Independence -- Jackson 3-75, James 2-26, Kelly 2-20.

MISSED FIELD GOALS: Fort Scott -- Southwell (distance not recorded).