Like a scene out of “Friday Night Lights,” New Madrid County Central sophomore quarterback Matt Riley found himself in the starring role just two weeks into the season after starting the season on the sideline Entrenched senior quarterback Christen Phillips led the Eagles to one of their best seasons in a decade last year and again had NMCC rolling in Week 1 against Malden before an arm injury late in the game forced Riley in to action to finish a game already well in hand. With Phillips still sidelined on Friday, Riley got the nod for the first start of his varsity career and played the part of a veteran in a 46-6 win road-win over East Prairie. He finished the night 14 of 22 through the air for 295 yards and three touchdowns. “He’s just a sophomore and we’ve been grooming him for the last four years getting him ready to go,” NMCC head coach Tyler Fullhart said of Riley. “Losing Christen is a huge blow to our team. He’s our leader and our quarterback. I can’t say enough positive things about Christen, so losing him the way we did is a huge hole. “The way Matt stepped up tonight. He wasn’t afraid to throw the ball and was a very confident. We were confident in him and so was the team. He just had to figure it out and I think he did.” Riley had plenty of help in the form of star junior running back Quazavion Jackson and the rest of the running game. Jackson rushed 13 times for 171 yards and a pair of scored while NMCC’s ground attack combined for 184 yards on 24 carries. “Quazavion is a heck of a back,” Fullhart said. “When he wants to go there’s hardly anyone that can stop him. Keeping him fresh and ready to go is key. He ran the ball well and I’m proud of him tonight.” NMCC out-gained East Prairie 479-206 in total yards while also winning the turnover battle 6-3. Both the defense and special teams also had their moments to shine. With NMCC up 20-0 late in the first half their defense stopped East Prairie on fourth-and-goal at the one-yard line. That set up a 99-yard scoring drive highlighted by Bryshawn Williams hauling in a short pass before outrunning the defense for a 95-yard touchdown. Austin Davis took the opening kickoff back 81 yards for a score to start the second half, making it 26-0, and NMCC scored twice in the third quarter off East Prairie turnovers. By the start of the fourth quarter NMCC built their lead to 38-0 before holding on for a turbo-clocked win. “They came in, had a good game plan and put the rock in Jackson’s hand,” East Prairie head coach Chad Jamerson said. “We knew he would be the load to carry and he was. He played great. Our kids showed moments where we’re growing and developing. “We still have some youth raring its head in places but we’re getting better everyday.” East Prairie was led by running back Hayden Ellis, who rushed 10 times for 80 yards and the team’s only touchdown. They totaled 170 yards on 49 carries as a team. “When we get inside the five yard we have to develop some killer instinct there,” Jamerson said. “That’s what we’re missing right now. I think a lot of that’s because we’re young and we’re still feeling each other out and what we’re doing on offense. “We will right the ship. We just have to get there.” For NMCC, Davis was Riley’s top target, hauling in five catches for 132 yards, including a 50-yard score. Bryshawn Williams caught four passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. In holding East Prairie to just 206 yards and forcing six turnovers, Fullhart gave his defense credit for putting the team in good field position most of the night. “Coach (DJ) Dace has taken over the defense this year and done a phenomenal job,” Fullhart said. “I’m an offensive guy and he’s had me excited all summer for this defense. Watching them live and seeing them make plays like that is a true testament to Dace’s ability. He does a great job.” NMCC13 7 18 8 – 46 East Prairie 0 0 0 6 – 6 First Quarter N – Austin Davis pass from Matt Riley, (Terrence Cranford kick missed) N – Quazavion Jackson 27 run (Terrence Cranford kick) Second Quarter N – Bryshawn Williams 95 pass from Matt Riley (Terrence Cranford kick), 5:48 Third Quarter N – Austin Davis 81 kickoff return (Terrence Cranford kick missed), 11:45 N – Kenyon King 1 pass from Matt Riley (Austin Davis failed), 9:36 N – Troquon Mays 3 run (Terrence Cranford kicked missed), 5:18 Fourth Quarter E – Hayden Ellis 30 run (Jase Aycock pass failed), 11:11 N – Quazavion Jackson 38 run (Austin Davis run), 10:43 TEAM STATISTICS N E Total yards 479 206 Rushes-yards 24-184 49-170 Passing yards 295 36 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING – NMCC, Quazavion Jackson 13-171, Cam Robinson 3-6, Bryshawn Williams 3-4, Austin Davis 1-(-2), NO. 75 1-0, Troquon Mays 2-13, Kannon Nowell 1-(-8). East Prairie, Jase Aycock 9-(-10), Raleigh Archie 7-32, Cameron Gifford 13-36, Hayden Ellis 10-80, John Graham 8-27, Cooper Walters 1-(-1), Ronnie Vinson 2-6. PASSING – NMCC, Matt Riley 14-22-2 295. East Prairie, Jase Aycock 2-3-1 36, Trea Cade 0-1-0 0. RECEIVING – NMCC, Bryshawn Williams 4-92, Austin Davis 5-132, Kenyon King 3-13, Quazavion Jackson 2-23, Jaden McFerren 1-15. East Prairie, Jack Scruggs 1-42, Cameron Gifford 1-(-8).