New faces emerge from Quarterfinals!
Each year, it seems, we have some of the “usual” schools marching forward through the MSHSAA playoff system. While we do still have some of those familiar, annual sounding, names, there are some fresh names emerging…take a look at some of the New Kids on the Block and some of the same ‘ol names….
…Oak Grove, who last made the championship game in 1990, stunned—maybe even shocked- the entire STATE as they snapped the 42 game winning streak and ended the dreams of the Maryville Spoofhounds for a three-peat. The Panthers (11-2) powered their way over the Spoofhounds 69-23. While capitalizing on 3 fumble recoveries and 3 interceptions defensively, the Panthers unleashed Aaron Graham on the ground. Graham was incredible as he gained 345 yards on the ground, scored 7 touchdowns on 25 carries! He averaged 13.8 yards per carry against the previously unbeaten Spoofhounds (12-1). Coach Matt Webb of Maryville suffered his 1st loss as a head coach. He took over the reins in the start of the 2011 season. But a 42-1 coaching record isn’t too shabby is it? Oak Grove faces the California Pintos (13-0) in the semis next week. The Pintos handled Orchard Farm 56-21. The Eagles season concludes with them having achieved their 1st district title in the school’s history. The Panthers Coach, Pat Richard, will be one of our guests on the Road to the Dome Show on Thursday, 7-9pm. Click here for the show …
….in maybe the most riveting game of the night, this game was thrilling from the first seconds until it came down to the final play of the game. Park Hill edged Ft Osage 21-20. The opening 30 seconds of the game was really unbelievable. Ft Osage’s Bailey Williamson took the opening kickoff “to the house” as he went 93 yards. Park Hill took over on their own 35 yard line. On their 1st play from scrimmage, Matt Harris covered all 65 yards! It was 7-7 after just 29 seconds!! Ft Osage led 10-7 after 1 quarter and by a 17-7 lead at half. In the 3rd, Trojans Jeremy Benson plunged over from 1 yard out to cap a 16 play scoring drive for Park Hill. It was now 17-14 Indians. Ft Osage kicked a FG early in 4th and midway in 4th quarter, Benson rambled over from 38 yards out, and with the PAT, and the Trojans snatched a 21-20 lead. The Indians weren’t finished. Starting their final drive with 4:28 and on their own 28 yard line, they marched 14 plays down to the Trojans 3 yard line with 0:06 seconds left. In came the FG unit for Ft Osage. The possible winning FG attempt was missed and Park Hill advances to the semifinals to face a brand new face—the Nixa Eagles. Park Hill’s coach, Josh Hood, and Nixa’s coach, Rich Rehagan, will both be Guests on the Road to the Dome Show this Thursday, 7-9 pm. join us – Click here for the show …
…on the Class 6 level, the Rockhurst Hawklets held off the skilled Vikings of Francis Howell 25-20. The Hawklets jumped ahead 18-0 in the 2nd quarter when TJ Green hit his 2nd TD strike of the half and still were on top 25-6 when Green hooked up with AJ Taylor for a 71 yard TD pass. Howell fought back despite being behind for the FIRST time this season! When Desmond Niboh scored from 15 yards out, the Vikes cut it to a 25-20 game. After getting a huge 4th down stop against Rockhust, Howell drove it to the 21 yard line with 3:33 left. Unable to get the first down, Rockhurst successfully ran out the clock with a 1st down of their own. Click here for the REPlay … Rockhurst, who has won 9 state titles faces CBC in the Class 6 title game.
….CBC (13-0) has been to the STATE championship game twice (2011 & 2006) but has yet to take home the Championship trophy. The Cadets used their blitzkrieg offense to stun the Kirkwood Pioneers 55-10 in the semifinal. The first half was a tight, very competitive, back and forth type of half, which actually saw the score 14-10 until late in the 2nd quarter. The Pioneers intercepted a Cadet pass and were driving down to the CBC 23 yard line. The key play of the game, according to Coach Matt Irvin of Kirkwood, was the 77 yard pick-six by Damion Baker that changed the momentum of the game. CBC erupted for 4 touchdowns in the 3rd quarter to break it wide open. CBC Coach Scott Pingel will also be a guest on our Road to the Dome Show on Thursday night- Click here for the show …
…Two very familiar schools in MSHSAA playoff football history, Kearney (12-1) and Helias (11-2) locked up in a terrific overtime game. Kearney prevailed 23-20. This was really an even game—in total offensive plays-it was Helias 65-64; in total offense it was Kearney 383-381; in 1st downs-it was Kearney 19-18, each team scored all their TD’s on passes…you get the picture! The first quarter was scoreless. In the 2nd, Bulldog QB Johnny Weidmaier threw for two TD’s and Kearney led 14-7 at the halftime buzzer. They stretched it to 20-7 at the end of 3 quarters. The Crusaders rallied and scored two touchdowns in 2:11 stretch to tie it at 20-20. The possible game winning PAT was blocked with only 1:57 left in the game. Dawson Goepferich’s 36 yard FG in the overtime pushed the Bulldogs into the next round against ….who else is there in class 4 but the Webb City Cardinals! The Cardinals (13-0) who own a victory over Class 6 finalist, Rockhurst, shut out Harrisonville 35-0 in the semifinals. Click here for that REPlay …
…Two schools that have often gone into the playoffs in recent years, had an outstanding game on Saturday. In the Jackson Indians and Ladue Rams game, the momentum (and success) ebbed back and forth. For the most part, Ladue had success in 1st and 4th quarters and the Indians had the best of it in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Using a punishing ground game to open the game, the Rams used the hard running of Daylen Edwards and the swift legs of James Scott to open a 14-0 lead after 1 quarter. But…you could feel the tide turning a bit in the 2nd quarter as Jackson cut the lead to 14-7. After halftime, the Indians seemed to really have more bounce in their step as QB Dante Vandeven led the way with nifty running and throwing to score two 3rd quarter TD’s to take a 21-14 lead. James Bell latched onto a beautifully thrown post pattern for a 33 yard strike early in the 4th. Now…the momentum jumped back to the Rams sideline. Neither team scored until Ladue, after receiving back-back short fields, scored on their 2nd great field possession when Daylen Edwards powered his way over the goal line from 4 yards out with only 3:18 left in the game. Jack Fox iced it up with a 36 yd FG with only 0:55 seconds left. Next up for the Rams is Battle High School.
….talk about a brand new face—Battle (9-4), in only its 2nd year of existence, continued its magical dream as they scored two TD’s within 50 seconds in the 2nd quarter to grab a 13-7 lead over Ft Zumwalt North (11-2). The Panthers answered in the 2nd quarter when Deon Lewis dove in from a yard out but, like the Spartans, the Panthers missed their PAT after their 2nd TD and the score was tied 13-13 at half. Just 5 plays into the 2nd half, Battle QB Brevinn Tyler hit Jaevon McQuitty for a 51 yard scoring strike. With the PAT, it was 20-13. From this point on, the Spartan defense dominated. Battle surrendered a meager 28 total yards on 11 rushes, allowed only 1 first down, no completions and forced three turnovers. This was against a Panther offense that averaged 35 ppg throughout the season.
…either team of the semifinal game between Cape Central (11-2) and St Charles West (11-2) will be making their 1st appearance EVER in the championship game. Cape Central (11-1) took advantage of three interceptions while controlling the LOS to hand Affton a 34-14 loss in the Quarters. Jaelin Reddin’s pick early in the 2nd half gave the Tigers a short field that they gobbled up in hurry to open up 21 point bulge. Braion Owens led the Tigers ground attack with 198 yards, 3 TD’s on 21 carries. Meanwhile, the Warriors of St Charles West jumped ahead 21-7 over the Westminster Wildcats in the 2nd quarter only to see the talented Wildcats rally to tie it at 21-21 in the 3rd. SCW then took control by scoring the next 4 touchdowns on their way to a 49-28 victory. While the Warriors rushed for 300 yards offensively, they halted the Wildcat rushing game to just 56 yards. The Warriors lost their first two games of the season and now own an 11 game winning streak. One of those losses was to Cape Central! Click here for SCW vs WCA REPlay …
Cape Coach Nathan Norman will join us on the Road to the Dome Show on Thursday. Click here for the show …
Other guests on the Road to the Dome Show should include Kevin Miles (Palmyra) – Click here for their REPlay … and Brandon Shelby (Skyline). Click here for their REPlay … AND Click here for the show …
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