ST. CHARLES — Leading by one at the half, the visiting Francis Howell Vikings pulled away steadily from there in a sloppy, penalty-filled 27-6 victory Friday at rival Francis Howell North.

Howell, ranked eighth among Post-Dispatch large schools, improved to 7-1 overall and 5-0 atop the Gateway Athletic Conference South Division standings, wrapping up its first league title since 2002. Howell North is 4-4 and 3-2.

The Vikings, who led 7-6 at halftime, moved 70 yards on just four plays to add to their lead at the start of the second half. Quarterback Brett Graves had a hand in all four plays, scoring on a tackle-breaking 35-yard run to make it 13-6.

After a high snap over the head of Howell North punter Andrew Richart, Howell took over at the Knights' 19-yard line. Junior running back Justin Schuh capped the six-play drive, scoring on a 3-yard run to make it 20-6 with 6:17 to play in the third quarter.

Schuh, who had 87 rushing yards, added a 45-yard touchdown run on a burst up the middle with 4:23 to play for the 27-6 final.

Howell, in its third season under coach Bryan Koch, has made great strides under the ex-Viking, improving from 1-9 in his first season to making the playoffs in a 3-8 season a year ago.

The Vikings caught an early break Friday when Howell North fumbled on the game's first play from scrimmage and Jared Hagely recovered near midfield. Four plays later, Hagely pulled in a 24-yard touchdown pass from Graves to go up 7-0. Graves, a junior, completed seven of 12 passes for 140 yards and also rushed 17 times for 136 yards.

Howell North responded with a solid drive that stalled with a holding call. A 37-yard field goal from Nick Dimarco cut the Howell lead to 7-3 with 6:29 to play in the first quarter.

Less than a minute into the second quarter, Dimarco booted his fourth field goal of the season, connecting on a 34-yarder to make it 7-6.

The opening half ended with a flurry. After an interception by Howell's Andy Smith, the Vikings' Graves found tight end Kevin Mason for a big gainer down the middle. On the play, however, Mason fumbled, the ball popped out of a pile and Howell North's Reed Lunsford returned it into Howell territory.

A late-hit call on Howell gave Howell North a first down at the Vikings' 31. But the drive was halted as Howell's Cody Johnson came up with an interception near the goal line. It was the third Howell North turnover of the first half.