J. T. Rembert's last homecoming game was one he'll remember.
The Oakland Mills quarterback and running back sliced and diced Howard yesterday, rushing 26 times for 166 yards and three touchdowns, and completing three of seven passes for 50 yards and one touchdown.
The No. 7-ranked Scorpions (4-1 overall, 4-0 league) thoroughly dominated No. 13 Howard (3-2, 2-2) at the line of scrimmage behind the blocking of the offensive line en route to a 31-0 victory.
In addition to Rembert, the line opened holes for Gavin Holcomb to gain 107 yards on 18 carries and for Justin Barnes to gain 55 yards on five carries.
Rembert, who started at running back for the first time this season, carried the ball the first eight plays of the game for 40 yards. Then he completed two consecutive passes from the shotgun formation - a 14-yarder to Barnes and a 26-yard touchdown to Greg Braukus in the end zone on fourth down.
"I just put it up, and he [Braukus] made a heckuva play," Rembert said. "Howard is a good team, but they were hurt by their mistakes. I just wanted to go out with a bang at my last homecoming."
Oakland Mills coach Ken Hovet said: "J. T. Rembert showed today that he's the best football player in Howard County. We needed this game. Our offensive line played well, but as a team we played sloppy in the first half."
The Scorpions had a 48-yard touchdown run called back for holding in the first quarter, and lost two fumbles on punt returns in the second quarter.
Oakland Mills recorded its second straight shutout and has allowed 13 points in the past four games. It forced five Howard turnovers, three fumbles and two interceptions.
John Detig made two fumble recoveries and Robert Scott had one. The interceptions went to Maurice Shaw and Matt Miller.
Howard had not been shut out in 22 straight games, since Wilde Lake did it Nov. 8, 1997.
Howard offensive backs Gerrick McPhearson (30 yards), Lamar Parrish (28 yards) and Travis Irving (31 yards) combined for less than 100 yards.
"Our defense had a bad week in practice, but today it stayed home," Rembert said.
Oakland Mills jumped ahead 12-0 in the second quarter after Scott recovered a fumble at Howard's 16. Rembert dove in on the first of his three 1-yard touchdowns.
Howard, defending county co-champions, drove 72 yards to the Oakland Mills 14 late in the first half, but Shaw's interception in the end zone ended the threat.
That turned out to be Howard's last real chance to make a game of it.
On Oakland Mills' first possession of the second half, the Scorpions drove 89 yards on 13 plays. The longest play was a 36-yard run by Rembert, who hurdled one Howard tackler in the open field to gain extra yardage.
His 1-yard dive put his team up 18-0 with 2:21 left in the third quarter.
Howard fumbled on its next possession and Detig recovered at the 24 of Howard. Five straight runs by Rembert put the ball across the goal line and the Scorpions ahead 24-0.
Another 89-yard touchdown drive culminated the scoring with Holcomb getting the points on an 8-yard run. Rembert also had the longest play on that drive, an 18-yard quarterback sneak.
