Ricebirds race past Star City, set up Thursday title showdown

Stuttgart 42, Star City 7

Article (250 words)
STAR CITY — Stuttgart blitzed Star City 42–7 on Halloween night, racing to 28 first‑quarter points and never looking back in an 8‑4A tune‑up before next week’s title trip to Hamburg.

Junior quarterback Cain Price spread the ball to a deep receiving corps, tossing four first‑half touchdown passes. Quarterion “Q.T.” Johnson hauled in scoring grabs of 66 and 14 yards, Jaymarrion Hoard added a 27‑yard strike, and Hayden Prine capped a two‑play burst with an eight‑yard TD after a 46‑yard seam catch. The Ricebirds also got two short touchdown runs from tailback Jeremiah Thomas behind a line that controlled the night.

Stuttgart’s defense set the tone with pressure and tackling in space. End Beau Barnes delivered multiple drive‑ending sacks, while linebacker Kaven Bryant and safety Keaton Byers erased yards after the catch. Kicker Dawson McKelvey was perfect on six extra points and Byers steadied the operation with clean holds on two high snaps.

Star City answered late in the half when quarterback Justin Holloway, who returned after an early leg knock, led a 54‑yard march and hit Drew Morgan for a 10‑yard touchdown. Receivers Jackson Socia and Marques Paskel moved the chains, and running back Caleb Hampton fought for tough yards between the tackles. Defensive lineman Cedric Scruggs flashed in the second half with backfield stops.

Stuttgart improves to 9–0, 6–0 in league play, and visits Hamburg on Thursday for the conference championship. Star City hosts Helena next week to close the regular season. Both teams finished without any second‑half scoring.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter
Stuttgart – Jaymarrion Hoard 27-yard pass from Cain Price (Dawson McKelvey kick), 7–0
Stuttgart – Jeremiah Thomas 7-yard run (McKelvey kick), 14–0
Stuttgart – Thomas 2-yard run (McKelvey kick), 21–0
Stuttgart – Quarterion “Q.T.” Johnson 66-yard pass from Price (McKelvey kick), 28–0

2nd Quarter
Stuttgart – Johnson 14-yard pass from Price (McKelvey kick), 35–0
Stuttgart – Hayden Prine 8-yard pass from Price (McKelvey kick), 42–0
Star City – Drew Morgan 10-yard pass from Justin Holloway (Nery Vargas kick), 42–7

3rd Quarter
— None —

4th Quarter
— None —

Players who stood out

• Cain Price (QB, Stuttgart) — four first‑half TD passes.

• Quarterion “Q.T.” Johnson (WR/DB, Stuttgart) — 66‑ and 14‑yard TD receptions.

• Jeremiah Thomas (RB, Stuttgart) — two rushing TDs.

• Hayden Prine (WR/DB, Stuttgart) — 46‑yard catch to set up 8‑yard TD.

• Justin Holloway (QB/SS, Star City) — 10‑yard TD pass to cap late‑half drive.