'Hounds 9th in latest poll

With two weeks played in the 2009 football season, Jeff Sims and the Fort Scott Community College football team are gaining respect, in the NJCAA /jcfootball.com poll.

After victories in consecutive weeks against Kilgore (Texas) and Coffeyville, the Greyhounds (1-0 Jayhawk Conference, 2-0 overall) are ranked No. 9 in the NJCAA/JCFootball.com Top 20 National Poll. FSCC was picked No. 15 in the preseason poll.

Fort Scott defeated Kilgore in week one by coming from behind in the second half and finishing with a 21-17 victory over the Rangers.

In week two, Fort Scott took off from the opening kickoff and never looked back in route to a 37-20 win over the conference rival Red Ravens. It was the fourth consecutive victory for the Greyhounds over the Ravens.

In both games the pattern has been the same for the Greyhounds: Run the ball and make the opposition stop them. So far the other team's defense hasn't been able to stop the FSCC offensive train. Fort Scott has outrushed their opponents 521 yards to 150.

Sophomore tailbacks Justin Woods and Jasmin Hopkins have been the go-to players on offense for the 'Hounds during the first two games. Woods, a 5'8", 185-pound Shawnee native has averaged 152 yards rushing per game and has scored two rushing touchdowns. Hopkins, a 5'8", 170-pound North Carolina product, has rushed for 124 yards per game and has scored four times, including three times in a career-best 220-yard effort last week.

Sophomore quarterback Dominique Davis, a 6'4", 210-pound transfer from Boston College, has run the offense very well for the 'Hounds and has completed 62 percent of his passes (16 of 26) and is averaging 113 yards per game.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Fort Scott has shut out their opponents in four of eight quarters so far in 2009. They have held their opponents to an average of under 100 yards rushing per game.

Sophomore preseason All-American linebacker Lavonte David has led the way on defense for FSCC with 19 total tackles. The Miami, Fla., native also has 2 1/2 tackles for loss in the two victories.

Defensive end Zach Bowers has been another FSCC standout in the first two games and leads the team with 3 1/2 sacks for 22 1/2 yards in losses. Bowers, a 6'1", 240-pound Topeka sophomore, also has seven total tackles so far this season.

Fort Scott is idle this week. The 'Hounds will travel to Garden City to take on the Broncbusters at 7 p.m. Sept. 19.

The Greyhounds return to Frary Field the following week, Sept. 26, to play conference foe Hutchinson in a 1 p.m. contest.