CHILLICOTHE, Mo. — As Maryville tried to hold on to a late lead, Chillicothe abandoned a stagnant running

attack.

That’s a rare situation for the historically power-running Hornets.

Maryville pressured quarterback Jared McCauslin into seven incompletions on his final eight attempts, and Clint Thompson’s sack of the senior with 2 minutes, 25 seconds represented Chillicothe’s final offensive play.

The Spoofhounds ran out the remainder with one first down and held on for a 7-0 victory Friday night at Jerry Litton Memorial Stadium.

“I would like to know when the last time Chillicothe was shut out,” Maryville coach Chris Holt said. “I bet it’s been a long time. Just an unreal

effort.

“I’m telling you. Shutting out Chillicothe is major, major league.”

October 21, 2005, answers Holt’s query. That’s when the Hornets lost a district game at Odessa, also by the score of 7-0.

This shutout extended Maryville’s winning streak to five, all Midland Empire Conference victories, as the Spoofhounds (5-1, 5-0) became overwhelming favorites in the league race. Maryville lost the MEC against Chillicothe last year in a 28-27 Hornets’ victory.

This time around, Chillicothe (5-1, 2-1) managed minimal offense against a suddenly impenetrable Maryville defense, playing with all-state linebacker Evan Johnson for only the second full game.

The Hornets managed only 83 yards rushing — 22 for all-state running back Bryce Young on 12 carries. One week after neutralizing Cameron’s prolific rushing attack, the Spoofhounds one-upped themselves against Class 3’s second-ranked squad.

McCauslin finished 9-for-19 for 80 yards as the Hornets tried in vain to find a tying score.

“I really felt like we could throw the football,” Chillicothe coach Phil Willard said. “But I’ll tell you what really made the difference was the pressure they were able to put on us with their defensive line — and their linebackers.”

Maryville took the lead late in the third quarter with a 71-yard drive, taking only seven plays and 2:45 off the clock. Gavin Talmadge provided the big yards with a 33-yard run to move Maryville close, and Derek DeMott powered in from 8 yards out three plays later.

Talmadge rolled up the big yards all game, totalling 151 yards on 16 carries, but didn’t mind giving way to DeMott, who put up 52 yards on 13 carries.

“He blocks for me every run,” Talmadge said. “It was great to see him be able to get the glory, too. I love it. We all play as a team, and I don’t think we could have dug any deeper tonight for this win.”

Chillicothe’s ensuing drive took up 6:37 and penetrated Maryville’s 10. But starting with first-and-goal from the 9, the Hornets managed only 1 yard on the next four plays with Maryville nearly intercepting McCauslin’s fourth-down pass.

Maryville couldn’t run out the clock, and Chillicothe’s final possession started with 4:04 left at the Spoofhounds’ 48.

The Hornets passed on seven of the next eight plays with the only completion going 16 yards to Young on a fourth-and-10. Three incompletions and Thompson’s sack later, Maryville took over and ran out the clock.

“It’s great beating Chillicothe, especially shutting them out,” Talmadge said. “It just feels real good.”

Both teams wasted scoring opportunities in the first half.

Chillicothe’s opening possession went all the way to Maryville’s 12, but an intentional grounding penalty stifled the march and led to a turnover on downs.

“Got down there close twice and had penalties,” Willard said. “That’s something you can’t do.”

Only one of Maryville’s four first-half possessions seriously threatened. The Spoofhounds advanced to the 4 during the opening drive of the second quarter with help from a 61-yard scamper from Talmadge down the home sideline.

A holding penalty led to a fourth-and-goal try from the seven where Marcus Grudzinski’s scramble ended with a tough Chillicothe stop at the 1-yard line to regain possession for the Hornets.

But Maryville’s offense put up only 119 of its 248 total yards in the second half, but the one scoring drive proved enough thanks to the defense. All of the Spoofhounds’ offensive yards came on the ground with Holt only calling two pass plays, neither of which was completed.