- Blue Springs grad impresses in K-State spring game
By Cody Thorn
St. Joseph News-Press
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – If Saturday is any indication, Elijah Lee could be in for a breakout season at Kansas State.
The Blue Springs High School graduate, a two-time Examiner Defensive Player of the Year, racked up a game-high 10 1/2 tackles, as well as a sack and an interception returned for a touchdown for the Purple team in Saturday’s spring game at Sporting Park.
Lee spent time moving between outside linebacker and defensive end, where he shifted to on third-down plays.
Last season, Lee recorded 4 1/2 sacks, the most ever by a true freshman at K-State – almost all coming from his pass rushing spot on the end. Now, he is shifting to outside linebacker where he vying to take the role that Jonathan Truman held last year.
“That is my favorite thing to do,” Lee, whose sack consisted of two-hand touch during Saturday’s festivities, said of rushing the passer. “Just getting a feel for it and seeing how the real groove is instead of rushing off the edge. Getting a real feel of playing in the box was a big opportunity.
“This is something I need to take on. At the same time, I can’t let it go over my head or get too big-headed. I have to stay confident and keep pushing. The sky is the limit and I’m not there yet. I’m starting to get the feel for it (outside linebacker), so I’m starting to get better at it.”
Lee showcased that feel when he dropped back on a passing down and returned an interception for 18 yards in the fourth quarter. The 6-foot-3, 214-pound letterman had five tackles in the first half and added 5 1/2 more in the second half in addition to adding a sack, tackle for loss and the interception return.
The two-time Buck Buchanan Memorial Award recipient – given to the best linebacker or lineman in the Kansas City metro area – played in all 13 games last year. He recorded at least one tackle in nine of those games, including a season-high four against UTEP. Lee added three tackles against Texas, as well as three against UCLA in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
St. Joseph News-Press
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – If Saturday is any indication, Elijah Lee could be in for a breakout season at Kansas State.
The Blue Springs High School graduate, a two-time Examiner Defensive Player of the Year, racked up a game-high 10 1/2 tackles, as well as a sack and an interception returned for a touchdown for the Purple team in Saturday’s spring game at Sporting Park.
Lee spent time moving between outside linebacker and defensive end, where he shifted to on third-down plays.
Last season, Lee recorded 4 1/2 sacks, the most ever by a true freshman at K-State – almost all coming from his pass rushing spot on the end. Now, he is shifting to outside linebacker where he vying to take the role that Jonathan Truman held last year.
“That is my favorite thing to do,” Lee, whose sack consisted of two-hand touch during Saturday’s festivities, said of rushing the passer. “Just getting a feel for it and seeing how the real groove is instead of rushing off the edge. Getting a real feel of playing in the box was a big opportunity.
“This is something I need to take on. At the same time, I can’t let it go over my head or get too big-headed. I have to stay confident and keep pushing. The sky is the limit and I’m not there yet. I’m starting to get the feel for it (outside linebacker), so I’m starting to get better at it.”
Lee showcased that feel when he dropped back on a passing down and returned an interception for 18 yards in the fourth quarter. The 6-foot-3, 214-pound letterman had five tackles in the first half and added 5 1/2 more in the second half in addition to adding a sack, tackle for loss and the interception return.
The two-time Buck Buchanan Memorial Award recipient – given to the best linebacker or lineman in the Kansas City metro area – played in all 13 games last year. He recorded at least one tackle in nine of those games, including a season-high four against UTEP. Lee added three tackles against Texas, as well as three against UCLA in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
- Wildcats send class of nine to college
By Bill Althaus
[email protected]
Kirk Finley called it a “dream,” while Aliyah Lee said that signing with Northwest Missouri State University is the beginning of “the most exciting time of my life.”
The two Blue Springs seniors joined seven classmates as they signed their national letters of intent Wednesday morning at the school’s Performing Arts Center.Finley will play basketball at Northwest, where Blue Springs graduate and former Examiner Player of the Year Austin Meyer is an assistant coach, and Lee will run the 400 and 800 meters and relay teams for the Bearcats' track and field.
“It’s been my dream to play basketball at Northwest Missouri State,” said Finley, who is also an outfielder on the Wildcats’ baseball team. “My dad (Jim, the superintendent of the Blue Springs School District) played basketball at Missouri Western, so I’ll be going to a rival school.“And I can’t wait. From day one, I always wanted to go to Northwest. I like the coaches and the university – I like everything about it.”Finley, who was dressed in color-coordinated Bearcats colors, said he had not selected a major, although he said, “It might be something in finance. I’ll make my decision once I get there.“Today, I’m just excited about playing basketball. It’s been my dream as long as I can remember.”
Lee, too, dreamed of running track in college, but until a few days ago she thought it was going to be at Emporia State.“I had committed to Emporia State, but the coaches at Northwest kept calling me,” said Lee, whose older brother Elijah played linebacker at Kansas State last year, “so I finally made a visit.“Once I met the girls and the coaches I knew that was the place for me. It was tough to de-commit from Emporia State, but this is the biggest decision I will ever make, so I wanted to make the right one.
“This is the most exciting time of my life.”It’s exciting for their coaches, too.“When I took over as head coach, I wanted our kids to play hard and be tough, and Kirk personified that,” Blue Springs basketball coach Adam Jones said. “He’s a kid who scored some big baskets, but his lasting legacy will be his toughness. It was infectious to his teammates and we’re going to miss him.”
Girls track coach Jennifer Reeder feels much the same about Lee, who has battled a series of injuries throughout her career.
Click here to read the full article
[email protected]
Kirk Finley called it a “dream,” while Aliyah Lee said that signing with Northwest Missouri State University is the beginning of “the most exciting time of my life.”
The two Blue Springs seniors joined seven classmates as they signed their national letters of intent Wednesday morning at the school’s Performing Arts Center.Finley will play basketball at Northwest, where Blue Springs graduate and former Examiner Player of the Year Austin Meyer is an assistant coach, and Lee will run the 400 and 800 meters and relay teams for the Bearcats' track and field.
“It’s been my dream to play basketball at Northwest Missouri State,” said Finley, who is also an outfielder on the Wildcats’ baseball team. “My dad (Jim, the superintendent of the Blue Springs School District) played basketball at Missouri Western, so I’ll be going to a rival school.“And I can’t wait. From day one, I always wanted to go to Northwest. I like the coaches and the university – I like everything about it.”Finley, who was dressed in color-coordinated Bearcats colors, said he had not selected a major, although he said, “It might be something in finance. I’ll make my decision once I get there.“Today, I’m just excited about playing basketball. It’s been my dream as long as I can remember.”
Lee, too, dreamed of running track in college, but until a few days ago she thought it was going to be at Emporia State.“I had committed to Emporia State, but the coaches at Northwest kept calling me,” said Lee, whose older brother Elijah played linebacker at Kansas State last year, “so I finally made a visit.“Once I met the girls and the coaches I knew that was the place for me. It was tough to de-commit from Emporia State, but this is the biggest decision I will ever make, so I wanted to make the right one.
“This is the most exciting time of my life.”It’s exciting for their coaches, too.“When I took over as head coach, I wanted our kids to play hard and be tough, and Kirk personified that,” Blue Springs basketball coach Adam Jones said. “He’s a kid who scored some big baskets, but his lasting legacy will be his toughness. It was infectious to his teammates and we’re going to miss him.”
Girls track coach Jennifer Reeder feels much the same about Lee, who has battled a series of injuries throughout her career.
Click here to read the full article
Still Seeing Red
By Bill Althaus
[email protected]
An all-football Blue Springs High School signing class, highlighted by three Division I recruits, put a big smile on the face of Wildcats football coach Kelly Donohoe’s face Wednesday morning in the school’s Performing Arts Center.“We don’t have any water polo signees today,” joked Donohoe, as the winter signing day is usually reserved for football, basketball and water polo, according to Missouri State High School Activities Association guidelines, “but we have some awfully good football players to talk about today.”Leading the seven-person signing class were three Division I (FBS) or Division I-AA (FCS), including twin brothers Carlos and Khalil Davis, who will play football at the University of Nebraska, and quarterback Ian Brown, who will study medicine and play football at Holy Cross.
Joining that trio were: Trevon Allen, Washburn; Marqus Andrews, Northwest Missouri State; Buddy Morrill, Missouri Valley; and Zach Robinson, William Jewell.
The signing of the Davis twins, considered two of the best Division I defensive line prospects in the Midwest, put an end to the worst-kept secret among any signees in the state.When Bo Pelini was fired as the Nebraska coach, the twins said they would begin looking into other schools, including Missouri. But Nebraska was always their No. 1 choice as their head-to-toe Cornhusker clothing and Twitter handles would indicate.“We knew all along it was Nebraska and we appreciate people ... who didn’t write anything until today, because today was for us and our family and we wanted to make it special,” said Carlos, who walked across the stage in the school’s Performing Arts Center on crutches.“A little basketball accident last week that is nothing, nothing at all,” Carlos said, grinning. “I rolled my ankle, and I am going to be fine for track. Coach (Joe) Cusack (Blue Springs head track coach) was on top of it right after it happened.”Carlos had the longest discus throw in the nation last year with a toss of 212 feet, 5 inches, helping the Wildcats win a state track and field championship. Khalil had the fifth-best throw, and they are No. 1 and No. 2 among returning high school track and field performers this upcoming season.Like many of their classmates and football teammates, the Davis twins kept the mood light.“Nebraska was always No. 1 because it had the best fishing holes of any school we visited,” Carlos joked, as Khalil nodded in agreement.Their uncle, former Nebraska standout Lorenzo Hicks (who starred for the 1988 Cornhuskers that lost to Miami 23-3 in the national championship game), played a key role in the brothers.
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An all-football Blue Springs High School signing class, highlighted by three Division I recruits, put a big smile on the face of Wildcats football coach Kelly Donohoe’s face Wednesday morning in the school’s Performing Arts Center.“We don’t have any water polo signees today,” joked Donohoe, as the winter signing day is usually reserved for football, basketball and water polo, according to Missouri State High School Activities Association guidelines, “but we have some awfully good football players to talk about today.”Leading the seven-person signing class were three Division I (FBS) or Division I-AA (FCS), including twin brothers Carlos and Khalil Davis, who will play football at the University of Nebraska, and quarterback Ian Brown, who will study medicine and play football at Holy Cross.
Joining that trio were: Trevon Allen, Washburn; Marqus Andrews, Northwest Missouri State; Buddy Morrill, Missouri Valley; and Zach Robinson, William Jewell.
The signing of the Davis twins, considered two of the best Division I defensive line prospects in the Midwest, put an end to the worst-kept secret among any signees in the state.When Bo Pelini was fired as the Nebraska coach, the twins said they would begin looking into other schools, including Missouri. But Nebraska was always their No. 1 choice as their head-to-toe Cornhusker clothing and Twitter handles would indicate.“We knew all along it was Nebraska and we appreciate people ... who didn’t write anything until today, because today was for us and our family and we wanted to make it special,” said Carlos, who walked across the stage in the school’s Performing Arts Center on crutches.“A little basketball accident last week that is nothing, nothing at all,” Carlos said, grinning. “I rolled my ankle, and I am going to be fine for track. Coach (Joe) Cusack (Blue Springs head track coach) was on top of it right after it happened.”Carlos had the longest discus throw in the nation last year with a toss of 212 feet, 5 inches, helping the Wildcats win a state track and field championship. Khalil had the fifth-best throw, and they are No. 1 and No. 2 among returning high school track and field performers this upcoming season.Like many of their classmates and football teammates, the Davis twins kept the mood light.“Nebraska was always No. 1 because it had the best fishing holes of any school we visited,” Carlos joked, as Khalil nodded in agreement.Their uncle, former Nebraska standout Lorenzo Hicks (who starred for the 1988 Cornhuskers that lost to Miami 23-3 in the national championship game), played a key role in the brothers.
2014 football Highlights
CONGRATULTIONS TO CARLOS DAVIS ON BEING SELECTED MISSOURI DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
2014 blue springs All-state players
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Carlos Davis
Khalil Davis Cobi Bissell |
Defensive Line
Defensive Line Running Back |
Three local players win top honors on MFCA All-State teams
By The Examiner staff
Eastern Jackson County is well-represented on the Missouri Football Coaches Association’s all-state teams that were announced Friday.
They included three state players of the year.Blue Springs senior defensive lineman Carlos Davis was chosen as the MFCA Class 6 Defensive Player of the Year and joined his twin brother Khalil Davis as first-team selections on the defensive line.Carlos Davis, who is verbally committed to Nebraska along with his brother, helped lead Blue Springs to an 8-4 record and a Class 6 state quarterfinal berth while recording 64 tackles, including 34 for loss, 18 sacks and 21 quarterback pressures. Davis was also chosen as the Suburban Big Six Conference Defensive Player of the Year and is a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award given to the top large-class lineman or linebacker in the Kansas City area. Khalil also was first-team All-Big Six.
Blue Springs senior running back Cobi Bissell, who rushed for 1,670 yards and 19 touchdowns, joined three Blue Springs South Jaguars on the Class 6 second team. South senior offensive lineman Christian Boyles, senior linebacker David Dye and senior defensive back Keeyon Incle earned second-team honors along with Lee’s Summit North senior linebacker Chase Overton.In Class 5, Fort Osage junior quarterback Skylar Thompson and senior linebacker Josh Tuimaseve claimed first-team honors.Thompson, a finalist for the Simone Award for the top player in the Kansas City area, led the Indians to an 11-1 record and a Class 5 state quarterfinal berth. He completed 158 of 244 passes for 2,385 yards and 24 touchdowns and also rushed for 461 yards and another eight scores on 161 carries. Tuimaseve totaled 86 tackles, including 15.5 for loss and three sacks, three forced fumbles and two recoveries.Fort Osage senior offensive lineman Steven Anderson and junior defensive lineman Sima Thomas claimed second-team honors, while running back Jesse McBee was a third-team pick. Raytown’s Aaron Spradley was a third-team punter.
Oak Grove swept the top awards in Class 3. Oak Grove senior running back Aaron Graham was chosen as the Class 3 Offensive Player of the Year and senior defensive lineman Dalton Brinegar was chosen the Class 3 Defensive Player of the Year after leading the 14-2 Panthers to the program’s first state championship. Pat Richards was selected as the Class 3 Coach of the Year.Graham's 2,934 yards rushing this season is the ninth-best single-season total in Missouri state history. He also scored 41 touchdowns. His totals included 345 yards and seven TDs when the Panthers halted Maryville’s 42-game winning streak in the state quarterfinals and 266 yards and four scores in the Class 3 state championship game win over St. Louis John Burroughs. He finished his high school career with 7,238 rushing yards, fifth best all time in state history. Brinegar totaled 121 tackles, including 32 for loss and nine sacks.Graham and Brinegar also were first-team picks along with four other teammates – junior offensive lineman Brennen Kellogg, junior defensive lineman Josh Klipper, senior defensive back DaWaun Johnson and junior kicker Scott Jones.
Eastern Jackson County is well-represented on the Missouri Football Coaches Association’s all-state teams that were announced Friday.
They included three state players of the year.Blue Springs senior defensive lineman Carlos Davis was chosen as the MFCA Class 6 Defensive Player of the Year and joined his twin brother Khalil Davis as first-team selections on the defensive line.Carlos Davis, who is verbally committed to Nebraska along with his brother, helped lead Blue Springs to an 8-4 record and a Class 6 state quarterfinal berth while recording 64 tackles, including 34 for loss, 18 sacks and 21 quarterback pressures. Davis was also chosen as the Suburban Big Six Conference Defensive Player of the Year and is a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award given to the top large-class lineman or linebacker in the Kansas City area. Khalil also was first-team All-Big Six.
Blue Springs senior running back Cobi Bissell, who rushed for 1,670 yards and 19 touchdowns, joined three Blue Springs South Jaguars on the Class 6 second team. South senior offensive lineman Christian Boyles, senior linebacker David Dye and senior defensive back Keeyon Incle earned second-team honors along with Lee’s Summit North senior linebacker Chase Overton.In Class 5, Fort Osage junior quarterback Skylar Thompson and senior linebacker Josh Tuimaseve claimed first-team honors.Thompson, a finalist for the Simone Award for the top player in the Kansas City area, led the Indians to an 11-1 record and a Class 5 state quarterfinal berth. He completed 158 of 244 passes for 2,385 yards and 24 touchdowns and also rushed for 461 yards and another eight scores on 161 carries. Tuimaseve totaled 86 tackles, including 15.5 for loss and three sacks, three forced fumbles and two recoveries.Fort Osage senior offensive lineman Steven Anderson and junior defensive lineman Sima Thomas claimed second-team honors, while running back Jesse McBee was a third-team pick. Raytown’s Aaron Spradley was a third-team punter.
Oak Grove swept the top awards in Class 3. Oak Grove senior running back Aaron Graham was chosen as the Class 3 Offensive Player of the Year and senior defensive lineman Dalton Brinegar was chosen the Class 3 Defensive Player of the Year after leading the 14-2 Panthers to the program’s first state championship. Pat Richards was selected as the Class 3 Coach of the Year.Graham's 2,934 yards rushing this season is the ninth-best single-season total in Missouri state history. He also scored 41 touchdowns. His totals included 345 yards and seven TDs when the Panthers halted Maryville’s 42-game winning streak in the state quarterfinals and 266 yards and four scores in the Class 3 state championship game win over St. Louis John Burroughs. He finished his high school career with 7,238 rushing yards, fifth best all time in state history. Brinegar totaled 121 tackles, including 32 for loss and nine sacks.Graham and Brinegar also were first-team picks along with four other teammates – junior offensive lineman Brennen Kellogg, junior defensive lineman Josh Klipper, senior defensive back DaWaun Johnson and junior kicker Scott Jones.
No three Peat
By Bill Althaus
[email protected]
Rockhurst coach Tony Severino devised a game-plan that was Taylor-made for his Hawklets, who ended the dream of a three-peat state championship run by the Blue Springs Wildcats.
Rockhurst running back A.J. Taylor scored five touchdowns, including the game-winner with just 2:16 left, to lead the Hawklets to a dramatic 34-29 come-from-behind Class 6 District 4 championship victory over visiting Blue Springs Friday night at Dasta Memorial Stadium.For a brief moment, it appeared a gutsy call by Blue Springs coach Kelly Donohoe might lead the Wildcats to a victory. Cobi Bissell scored on a 1-yard run with 6:51 left in the fourth quarter to cut Rockhurst’s lead to 28-27.
When Rockhurst jumped offsides on the ensuing extra point attempt, moving the ball to the 1 1/2-yard line, Donohoe called a timeout and sent the offense back on the field.“We kick the ball and go for the tie without the penalty,” Donohoe said as he walked off the field to have a post-game session with his heartbroken team. “We gave (quarterback) Ian (Brown) the option to pass or throw for the two points, and there was a lot of running room and he scored to give us the (29-28) lead.“I was thinking – if we make one stop, and can get a first down, we can win this thing,” Donohoe said. “But that didn’t happen. The Taylor kid and (quarterback T.J.) Green are special players.“We didn’t have an answer for them.”Rockhurst took the ensuing kickoff and marched 71 yards in 10 plays with Taylor scoring on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line with 2:16 left.“We talked about kicking a field goal,” Severino said, “but A.J. was having such a great night, we decided to give him the ball. I don’t even want to think what people would be saying if he didn’t score.”
Taylor just found his way across the goal line.“I want to see it on tape,” Donohoe said when asked about the final touchdown. “It looked to me like we stopped him short, but they signaled touchdown and there’s nothing you can do about that. The kid had a great game.”It turned out that Severino was a bit prophetic.“A.J. has been kind of nursing a groin injury and I told him this week, ‘We’re riding you to a big win Friday night,’ and he really responded,” Severino said after picking up his second victory over the Wildcats this season.
To read the full article, click here.
More Familiar Faces
By Bill Althaus
[email protected]
Ian Brown wants to be a part of history.But the Blue Springs High School quarterback is not going to let that chance to etch his name in the record books serve as a distraction as he prepares for the marquee matchup of Friday night’s postseason football games.Brown, a longtime former resident of Raymore, Mo., and his Wildcat teammates ended the Raymore-Peculiar football team's postseason dreams last Friday with a dominating 42-17 win at Panther Stadium.
This Friday, they can accomplish the same goal against a Rockhurst High School team that included a sophomore quarterback named Ian Brown when the Wildcats marched to a Class 6 state championship in 2012.“We're looking at history, becoming the first team to win three straight big class state championships since 1965,” Brown said Wednesday afternoon in coach Kelly Donohoe's office. “But you can't think like that or you're not going to be focused on the job at hand Friday, and that's beating a very good Rockhurst team.”Brown paused for a moment, flashed that smile that can light up a room, and added, “I'd be going for my third straight state title if it wasn't for these guys (the Wildcats), because they beat me when I was at Rockhurst my sophomore year.“The guys here at Blue Springs are going for their third straight title. I came over to Blue Springs when I was a junior, so I'm going for No, 2, and you bet I want to help them get it.“Last year was Dalvin's and Elijah's and the seniors’ team (referring to Dalvin Warmack and Elijah Lee, who are now part of Kansas State's football team).
This year it's our team – the seniors. And we want to be a part of history. But to be a part of history, we have to win Friday night at Rockhurst and we know that's not going to be an easy feat to accomplish.”Brown lived in Raymore until his family moved to Blue Springs before his junior year at Blue Springs. He played football at Rockhurst his freshman and sophomore years, so last Friday's win and this Friday's game have added importance to the quarterback who has verbally committed to Holy Cross University.“Ian just handles himself so well in any situation,” Donohoe said, as his 8-3 Wildcats prepare for the Class 6 District 4 championship aganinst the 10-1 Hawklets, who own a 14-13 regular-season win over Blue Springs this season. “This is a big game for Ian, it's a big game for all of us. Ian faced a lot of pressure last week, playing against all those kids he knew growing up in Raymore, and this week, he's going to be playing against Rockhurst for the second time this season.
To read the full article, click here.
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Ian Brown wants to be a part of history.But the Blue Springs High School quarterback is not going to let that chance to etch his name in the record books serve as a distraction as he prepares for the marquee matchup of Friday night’s postseason football games.Brown, a longtime former resident of Raymore, Mo., and his Wildcat teammates ended the Raymore-Peculiar football team's postseason dreams last Friday with a dominating 42-17 win at Panther Stadium.
This Friday, they can accomplish the same goal against a Rockhurst High School team that included a sophomore quarterback named Ian Brown when the Wildcats marched to a Class 6 state championship in 2012.“We're looking at history, becoming the first team to win three straight big class state championships since 1965,” Brown said Wednesday afternoon in coach Kelly Donohoe's office. “But you can't think like that or you're not going to be focused on the job at hand Friday, and that's beating a very good Rockhurst team.”Brown paused for a moment, flashed that smile that can light up a room, and added, “I'd be going for my third straight state title if it wasn't for these guys (the Wildcats), because they beat me when I was at Rockhurst my sophomore year.“The guys here at Blue Springs are going for their third straight title. I came over to Blue Springs when I was a junior, so I'm going for No, 2, and you bet I want to help them get it.“Last year was Dalvin's and Elijah's and the seniors’ team (referring to Dalvin Warmack and Elijah Lee, who are now part of Kansas State's football team).
This year it's our team – the seniors. And we want to be a part of history. But to be a part of history, we have to win Friday night at Rockhurst and we know that's not going to be an easy feat to accomplish.”Brown lived in Raymore until his family moved to Blue Springs before his junior year at Blue Springs. He played football at Rockhurst his freshman and sophomore years, so last Friday's win and this Friday's game have added importance to the quarterback who has verbally committed to Holy Cross University.“Ian just handles himself so well in any situation,” Donohoe said, as his 8-3 Wildcats prepare for the Class 6 District 4 championship aganinst the 10-1 Hawklets, who own a 14-13 regular-season win over Blue Springs this season. “This is a big game for Ian, it's a big game for all of us. Ian faced a lot of pressure last week, playing against all those kids he knew growing up in Raymore, and this week, he's going to be playing against Rockhurst for the second time this season.
To read the full article, click here.
First-half turnaround helps Cat avenge loss
By Bill Althaus
[email protected]
PECULIAR – Although the final score might not indicate it, for one half, the Blue Springs Class 6 District 4 football game at Raymore-Peculiar was a nail-biter.The Panthers, who upset the Wildcats 31-13 at Peve Stadium Oct. 3, held a 10-9 lead when a fumble gave the host team the ball on its own 4-yard line with seconds left in the second period.
That’s when Ray-Pec quarterback Reed Davis fumbled the snap and an alert Zach Robinson jumped on the ball to give the Wildcats possession on the Panthers’ 2 with 11 seconds left in the half.“I couldn’t believe it when I saw it, because there was so little time left in the half,” Robinson said. “It was just a bad snap and I was in the right place at the right time.”Moments later, so was Wildcats wide receiver Terrance Sanders, who caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Ian Brown to make it a 15-10 game. Cobi Bissell then broke two tackles en route to a successful 2-point conversion and the Wildcats had a 17-10 lead that they turned into a 42-17 victory.
That sets up a Class 6 District championship game next Friday at Rockhurst, another school that claimed a regular-season win (14-13) from Kelly Donohoe’s 8-3 Wildcats.“The score before the half was huge – the biggest play of the game,” said Brown, who enjoyed a stellar night by completing 15 of 25 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns and carrying the ball 10 times for 55 yards and another score.“Not a lot of people know I grew up in the Raymore-Peculiar area. I played little league football with all the kids on that Ray-Pec team, and I heard about it when they beat us a couple of weeks ago. Tonight, we came in with a great game plan, and our offense, defense and special teams got it done.“But the score before the half gave us a lot of confidence going into the second half. We all went into the locker room feeling like we were going to win this game.”The Wildcats then scored 25 unanswered points in the second half to put the game out of reach.On the first series of the third period, Bissell carried the ball for 17 yards and Brown followed with a 47-yard run.
Three plays later Bissell scored on a 6-yard run and the rout was on.Before the game, Ray-Pec coach Tom Kruse, who won three Class 5 state championships before jumping up to Class 6, said after the Oct. 3 win over Blue Springs, “I think we might have awoken the sleeping giant.”
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PECULIAR – Although the final score might not indicate it, for one half, the Blue Springs Class 6 District 4 football game at Raymore-Peculiar was a nail-biter.The Panthers, who upset the Wildcats 31-13 at Peve Stadium Oct. 3, held a 10-9 lead when a fumble gave the host team the ball on its own 4-yard line with seconds left in the second period.
That’s when Ray-Pec quarterback Reed Davis fumbled the snap and an alert Zach Robinson jumped on the ball to give the Wildcats possession on the Panthers’ 2 with 11 seconds left in the half.“I couldn’t believe it when I saw it, because there was so little time left in the half,” Robinson said. “It was just a bad snap and I was in the right place at the right time.”Moments later, so was Wildcats wide receiver Terrance Sanders, who caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Ian Brown to make it a 15-10 game. Cobi Bissell then broke two tackles en route to a successful 2-point conversion and the Wildcats had a 17-10 lead that they turned into a 42-17 victory.
That sets up a Class 6 District championship game next Friday at Rockhurst, another school that claimed a regular-season win (14-13) from Kelly Donohoe’s 8-3 Wildcats.“The score before the half was huge – the biggest play of the game,” said Brown, who enjoyed a stellar night by completing 15 of 25 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns and carrying the ball 10 times for 55 yards and another score.“Not a lot of people know I grew up in the Raymore-Peculiar area. I played little league football with all the kids on that Ray-Pec team, and I heard about it when they beat us a couple of weeks ago. Tonight, we came in with a great game plan, and our offense, defense and special teams got it done.“But the score before the half gave us a lot of confidence going into the second half. We all went into the locker room feeling like we were going to win this game.”The Wildcats then scored 25 unanswered points in the second half to put the game out of reach.On the first series of the third period, Bissell carried the ball for 17 yards and Brown followed with a 47-yard run.
Three plays later Bissell scored on a 6-yard run and the rout was on.Before the game, Ray-Pec coach Tom Kruse, who won three Class 5 state championships before jumping up to Class 6, said after the Oct. 3 win over Blue Springs, “I think we might have awoken the sleeping giant.”
Blue Springs Wildcats cruise through first round of districts
BY KATHLEEN GIER THE KANSAS CITY STAR
After an up and down regular season, the two-time defending Missouri Class 6 champions are off to a solid start in district play.
Blue Springs cruised to a 48-23 victory against Lee’s Summit with four touchdowns from Terrance Sanders in the Missouri Class 6, District 4 tournament. The Wildcats have won three consecutive games to improve to 7-3 after back-to-back losses.
“We fought through a little adversity in the middle of the season, and they responded really well to the changes,” Blue Springs coach Kelly Donohoe said. “They have a lot of confidence on both sides of the ball, and this is where we want to be.”
Blue Springs struggled early with a three-and-out on its first possession and allowed a 25-yard field goal to Jackson Lillard of Lee’s Summit. However, it was all Wildcats from there as they scored on their next four drives to take a 27-3 lead into halftime.
Sanders started the scoring with a 31-yard touchdown catch from Ian Brown with a minute left in the first quarter. The two connected again in the second quarter for a 40-yard pass that was bobbled then caught by Sanders as he crossed the goal line. Although he did not score on the next possession, it was his 75-yard run that helped set up a 1-yard touchdown for Cobi Bissell.
Sanders scored once more before the break on a 30-yard touchdown run.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats’ defense forced three punts and a turnover on downs to limit the Tigers’ attack. Blue Springs also was able to keep Missouri commit Drew Lock, who entered the game with 25 touchdown passes, from being much of a factor until late in the second half. A big part of that was the Wildcats’ twin linemen, Carlos and Khalil Davis, who are headed to Nebraska next year.
“Our four guys up front really help up front, because we can drop seven and still get to them with four guys,” Donohoe said. “That is a big plus for us.”
Bissell picked up where he left off in the second half for the Wildcats with a 58-yard touchdown run on the opening drive. The defense then forced a fumble on the kickoff and Tresten Spruell ran in a 7-yard touchdown.
Lee’s Summit put together a few late touchdown drives with passes from Lock to Trevor Fell and two to Hunter Allee. Sanders added one more touchdown in the third quarter for the Wildcats, who will face Raymore-Peculiarin the second round on Oct. 31. It will be a rematch of Blue Springs’ 31-13 loss on Oct. 3.
“That left a bitter taste in our mouth, so we are excited to have a chance to go there and play,” Donohoe said.
After an up and down regular season, the two-time defending Missouri Class 6 champions are off to a solid start in district play.
Blue Springs cruised to a 48-23 victory against Lee’s Summit with four touchdowns from Terrance Sanders in the Missouri Class 6, District 4 tournament. The Wildcats have won three consecutive games to improve to 7-3 after back-to-back losses.
“We fought through a little adversity in the middle of the season, and they responded really well to the changes,” Blue Springs coach Kelly Donohoe said. “They have a lot of confidence on both sides of the ball, and this is where we want to be.”
Blue Springs struggled early with a three-and-out on its first possession and allowed a 25-yard field goal to Jackson Lillard of Lee’s Summit. However, it was all Wildcats from there as they scored on their next four drives to take a 27-3 lead into halftime.
Sanders started the scoring with a 31-yard touchdown catch from Ian Brown with a minute left in the first quarter. The two connected again in the second quarter for a 40-yard pass that was bobbled then caught by Sanders as he crossed the goal line. Although he did not score on the next possession, it was his 75-yard run that helped set up a 1-yard touchdown for Cobi Bissell.
Sanders scored once more before the break on a 30-yard touchdown run.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats’ defense forced three punts and a turnover on downs to limit the Tigers’ attack. Blue Springs also was able to keep Missouri commit Drew Lock, who entered the game with 25 touchdown passes, from being much of a factor until late in the second half. A big part of that was the Wildcats’ twin linemen, Carlos and Khalil Davis, who are headed to Nebraska next year.
“Our four guys up front really help up front, because we can drop seven and still get to them with four guys,” Donohoe said. “That is a big plus for us.”
Bissell picked up where he left off in the second half for the Wildcats with a 58-yard touchdown run on the opening drive. The defense then forced a fumble on the kickoff and Tresten Spruell ran in a 7-yard touchdown.
Lee’s Summit put together a few late touchdown drives with passes from Lock to Trevor Fell and two to Hunter Allee. Sanders added one more touchdown in the third quarter for the Wildcats, who will face Raymore-Peculiarin the second round on Oct. 31. It will be a rematch of Blue Springs’ 31-13 loss on Oct. 3.
“That left a bitter taste in our mouth, so we are excited to have a chance to go there and play,” Donohoe said.
Sanders thrives in new role, Cats roll
By Bill Althaus
[email protected]
Here’s some bad news for Blue Springs High School football opponents – Terrance Sanders is not just a breakaway threat as a wide receiver.
The junior standout, who has become the favorite target of quarterback Ian Brown, was used for the first time this season as a halfback, and he carried the ball four times for 123 yards and a touchdown in a 48-23 district victory over visiting Lee’s Summit Friday night at Peve Stadium.He also caught touchdown passes of 31 and 40 yards to cap his big night.
The Blue Springs win sets up a much-anticipated rematch between coach Kelly Donohoe’s Wildcats and Raymore-Peculiar. Coach Tom Kruse’s squad overcame a 17-0 halftime deficit Friday night against Lee’s Summit West and put 20 points on the scoreboard in the second half to claim a 20-17 victory. That means the Wildcats will travel to Raymore-Peculiar to continue their quest for their third consecutive Class 6 state championship next Friday.“That game is not going to be about revenge,” Dohonoe said after his starters left Friday night’s win with a 41-3 lead. “It’s going to be playing a much better game than the first time we faced them (a 31-13 loss in which the Panthers dominated all phases of the game).“I’m just so happy for our guys the way we played tonight.
What about Terrance? We thought he’d have some success in the backfield and he is just the perfect complement to Cobi.”Cobi Bissell, the bruising running back who had a typical Bissell night – 16 carries for 151 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown run and 1-yard plunge – praised his new backfield mate.“Terrance and I really complement each other,” Bissell said. “He had a great night, the line did a great job and, like I’ve said all season, the best defense is a good offense. We had the great running game and we were able to keep the ball away from (quarterback Drew) Lock and their offense.”While Lock, who is committed to the University of Missouri, was on the field, he had no success against the Wildcat starters.
When Blue Springs grabbed a 41-3 lead and the running clock, Donohoe put in his second team and Lock responded with three touchdown passes, including a 4-yard strike to Hunter Allee with no time left in the game.“Drew does not like to be hit,” said defensive tackle Khalil Davis, who had three sacks and several tackles behind the line of scrimmage, “so the game plan was to rush him hard and put seven men back in the secondary.
To read the full article, click here.
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Here’s some bad news for Blue Springs High School football opponents – Terrance Sanders is not just a breakaway threat as a wide receiver.
The junior standout, who has become the favorite target of quarterback Ian Brown, was used for the first time this season as a halfback, and he carried the ball four times for 123 yards and a touchdown in a 48-23 district victory over visiting Lee’s Summit Friday night at Peve Stadium.He also caught touchdown passes of 31 and 40 yards to cap his big night.
The Blue Springs win sets up a much-anticipated rematch between coach Kelly Donohoe’s Wildcats and Raymore-Peculiar. Coach Tom Kruse’s squad overcame a 17-0 halftime deficit Friday night against Lee’s Summit West and put 20 points on the scoreboard in the second half to claim a 20-17 victory. That means the Wildcats will travel to Raymore-Peculiar to continue their quest for their third consecutive Class 6 state championship next Friday.“That game is not going to be about revenge,” Dohonoe said after his starters left Friday night’s win with a 41-3 lead. “It’s going to be playing a much better game than the first time we faced them (a 31-13 loss in which the Panthers dominated all phases of the game).“I’m just so happy for our guys the way we played tonight.
What about Terrance? We thought he’d have some success in the backfield and he is just the perfect complement to Cobi.”Cobi Bissell, the bruising running back who had a typical Bissell night – 16 carries for 151 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown run and 1-yard plunge – praised his new backfield mate.“Terrance and I really complement each other,” Bissell said. “He had a great night, the line did a great job and, like I’ve said all season, the best defense is a good offense. We had the great running game and we were able to keep the ball away from (quarterback Drew) Lock and their offense.”While Lock, who is committed to the University of Missouri, was on the field, he had no success against the Wildcat starters.
When Blue Springs grabbed a 41-3 lead and the running clock, Donohoe put in his second team and Lock responded with three touchdown passes, including a 4-yard strike to Hunter Allee with no time left in the game.“Drew does not like to be hit,” said defensive tackle Khalil Davis, who had three sacks and several tackles behind the line of scrimmage, “so the game plan was to rush him hard and put seven men back in the secondary.
To read the full article, click here.
Second-half surge helps Cats share title
By Bill Althaus
[email protected]
After an uninspired first half of play at Lee’s Summit North High School Friday night, the Blue Springs Wildcats turned it up a notch in the third quarter.
The result was a 31-13 Suburban Big Six victory for the Wildcats in the regular-season finale. The win gave Blue Springs a share of the Big Six title with Raymore-Peculiar at 4-1.“Every time we come over here, we face a scrappy team that gives us everything they have,” said Wildcats coach Kelly Donohoe, whose team has won the last two Class 6 state championships.“We weren’t that bad in the first half – we scored on two of three possessions – but we were lackadaisical at times and, well, it’s one of those games where the kids see we’re playing a 1-7 team, then they come over here and realize they better start playing some football because those kids on North aren’t going to just roll over because we’re Blue Springs High School.”After a scoreless first quarter, Cobi Bissell scored on a 4-yard run to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead, but North quickly answered as Nathan Webb hit Ryan Martinez on a 37-yard pass play.
With 4:48 left in the half, Ian Brown hooked up with Terrance Sanders on a 35-yard touchdown play to help Blue Springs take a 14-7 lead into halftime.The second half belonged to the Wildcats as Bissell ran for 59-yard touchdown and Brown scored from the 1-yard line. A 27-yard Benjamin Hellon field goal accounted for the final score. North scored with no time on the clock when Martinez ran for a 31-yard score.
Following Bissell’s 59-yard run, a familiar voice said, “It’s about time I saw you break a long one.”Bissell looked up from the bench and saw former teammate and two-time Simone Award winning running back Dalvin Warmack, a redshirt freshman at Kansas State.“It was great seeing Dalvin,” said Bissell, who finished the night with 31 carries for 234 yards and two touchdowns. “I’m glad I was able to break a long one for him. I saw him do it enough times, now he gets to see me.”As Bissell took the wraps off his hands, the word TEAM was written along the back of his hand.“Team, that’s what it’s all about,” the senior leader said. “We played like a team tonight, especially the second half. Now is the time we have to play our best football.”
To read the full article, click here.
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After an uninspired first half of play at Lee’s Summit North High School Friday night, the Blue Springs Wildcats turned it up a notch in the third quarter.
The result was a 31-13 Suburban Big Six victory for the Wildcats in the regular-season finale. The win gave Blue Springs a share of the Big Six title with Raymore-Peculiar at 4-1.“Every time we come over here, we face a scrappy team that gives us everything they have,” said Wildcats coach Kelly Donohoe, whose team has won the last two Class 6 state championships.“We weren’t that bad in the first half – we scored on two of three possessions – but we were lackadaisical at times and, well, it’s one of those games where the kids see we’re playing a 1-7 team, then they come over here and realize they better start playing some football because those kids on North aren’t going to just roll over because we’re Blue Springs High School.”After a scoreless first quarter, Cobi Bissell scored on a 4-yard run to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead, but North quickly answered as Nathan Webb hit Ryan Martinez on a 37-yard pass play.
With 4:48 left in the half, Ian Brown hooked up with Terrance Sanders on a 35-yard touchdown play to help Blue Springs take a 14-7 lead into halftime.The second half belonged to the Wildcats as Bissell ran for 59-yard touchdown and Brown scored from the 1-yard line. A 27-yard Benjamin Hellon field goal accounted for the final score. North scored with no time on the clock when Martinez ran for a 31-yard score.
Following Bissell’s 59-yard run, a familiar voice said, “It’s about time I saw you break a long one.”Bissell looked up from the bench and saw former teammate and two-time Simone Award winning running back Dalvin Warmack, a redshirt freshman at Kansas State.“It was great seeing Dalvin,” said Bissell, who finished the night with 31 carries for 234 yards and two touchdowns. “I’m glad I was able to break a long one for him. I saw him do it enough times, now he gets to see me.”As Bissell took the wraps off his hands, the word TEAM was written along the back of his hand.“Team, that’s what it’s all about,” the senior leader said. “We played like a team tonight, especially the second half. Now is the time we have to play our best football.”
To read the full article, click here.
Blue Springs rebounds, defeats Lee’s Summit West
BY RYAN ATKINSON/SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Entering this season, the Blue Springs Wildcats weren’t used to the feeling of having their backs pressed against the wall.
The Wildcats, the Missouri Class Class 6 two-time defending state champions, had — for the most part — enjoyed relatively stress-free outings. But back-to-back recent losses and three setbacks overall made for an entirely new mindset for the Wildcats entering Friday night’s showdown at Lee’s Summit West.
Blue Springs 38, Lee’s Summit West 14.
“Things definitely weren’t easy for us, but things had gone so well lately that we hadn’t experienced much adversity,” Blue Springs coach Kelly Donahoe said. The Wildcats bounced back in impressive fashion, led by 207 rushing yards from Cobi Bissell against Lee’s Summit West.
“This win was special,” said Bissell, who averaged 6.3 yards per carry on the night. “We switched some people around and fired it up at practice. We had to step our game up, and we did that tonight.” Blue Springs, 5-3, rode behind a revamped offensive line and piled up 523 yards of total offense — 280 rushing and 243 passing from quarterback Ian Brown.
Arguably the biggest of those offensive plays came in the third quarter, after Lee’s Summit West used an interception and two big pass plays to set up quarterback Bryce Kreikemeier’s 1-yard touchdown run that cut Blue Springs’ lead to 21-14. Three plays later, Bissell broke free for a 64-yard run up the middle. He punched it in two plays later to restore Blue Springs’ 14-point lead.
“That’s probably was the play of the game right there,” Donahoe said. Bissell agreed.
“We knew we were going to face adversity. This is a good team,” he said of Lee’s Summit West. “We needed to answer that touchdown and the line came out and did all the work. They opened a huge hole and I just had to run.” The Blue Springs defense then came up with two interceptions and a forced punt. The Wildcats’ offense added a field goal and a 63-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Terrance Sanders.
“They just executed and made the plays when they needed to,” Titans coach Royce Boehm said. “I was talking to (Donahoe) and he was telling me how they were getting healthy again and this is right, as we’re banged up. But, hey, that’s big-boy Class 6 football. They made the plays tonight.” Kreikemeier passed for 169 yards for Lee’s Summit West, which goes to 6-2 with the loss. The Titans’ Ryan Williams rushed eight times for 91 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown that knotted the game 7-7 in the first quarter.
“We just have to keep playing,” Boehm said. “That’s what we’re telling our kids right now. We were in that game but didn’t do what we needed to give ourselves a chance. Now we just have to move on and keep playing.”
To read the full article, click here.
Entering this season, the Blue Springs Wildcats weren’t used to the feeling of having their backs pressed against the wall.
The Wildcats, the Missouri Class Class 6 two-time defending state champions, had — for the most part — enjoyed relatively stress-free outings. But back-to-back recent losses and three setbacks overall made for an entirely new mindset for the Wildcats entering Friday night’s showdown at Lee’s Summit West.
Blue Springs 38, Lee’s Summit West 14.
“Things definitely weren’t easy for us, but things had gone so well lately that we hadn’t experienced much adversity,” Blue Springs coach Kelly Donahoe said. The Wildcats bounced back in impressive fashion, led by 207 rushing yards from Cobi Bissell against Lee’s Summit West.
“This win was special,” said Bissell, who averaged 6.3 yards per carry on the night. “We switched some people around and fired it up at practice. We had to step our game up, and we did that tonight.” Blue Springs, 5-3, rode behind a revamped offensive line and piled up 523 yards of total offense — 280 rushing and 243 passing from quarterback Ian Brown.
Arguably the biggest of those offensive plays came in the third quarter, after Lee’s Summit West used an interception and two big pass plays to set up quarterback Bryce Kreikemeier’s 1-yard touchdown run that cut Blue Springs’ lead to 21-14. Three plays later, Bissell broke free for a 64-yard run up the middle. He punched it in two plays later to restore Blue Springs’ 14-point lead.
“That’s probably was the play of the game right there,” Donahoe said. Bissell agreed.
“We knew we were going to face adversity. This is a good team,” he said of Lee’s Summit West. “We needed to answer that touchdown and the line came out and did all the work. They opened a huge hole and I just had to run.” The Blue Springs defense then came up with two interceptions and a forced punt. The Wildcats’ offense added a field goal and a 63-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Terrance Sanders.
“They just executed and made the plays when they needed to,” Titans coach Royce Boehm said. “I was talking to (Donahoe) and he was telling me how they were getting healthy again and this is right, as we’re banged up. But, hey, that’s big-boy Class 6 football. They made the plays tonight.” Kreikemeier passed for 169 yards for Lee’s Summit West, which goes to 6-2 with the loss. The Titans’ Ryan Williams rushed eight times for 91 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown that knotted the game 7-7 in the first quarter.
“We just have to keep playing,” Boehm said. “That’s what we’re telling our kids right now. We were in that game but didn’t do what we needed to give ourselves a chance. Now we just have to move on and keep playing.”
To read the full article, click here.
Refocused Wildcats Take Down Titans
By SJ Munoz
PrepsKC.com
After a third loss a week ago, Blue Springs decided it was time to refocus, and it appeared to have done so in beating previously once-beaten Lee's Summit West 38-14 to improve to 5-3 and remain in the race for the Suburban Big Six crown.
The Wildcats owned nearly all statistical categories on the night as they played smashmouth football, were the more physical team and won the battle up front.
“We just feel like it’s a new season, we made a lot of changes this week,” Blue Springs head coach Kelly Donohoe said. “We just needed to get certain guys on the field that weren’t on the field. We talked all week about the season starting with Lee’s Summit West and I feel like our confidence right now is sky high. This is as complete a game as we've played in a real long time.”
Blue Springs (5-3, 3-1 Big Six) took the opening possession and cashed it in, marching 63 yards in less than four minutes. A 22-yard quarterback keeper by Ian Brown capped the drive, and the Wildcats led 7-0 with 8:10 to play in the first.
It didn’t take long for the Titans (6-2, 2-2) to even things back up as their first drive also ended in points. The big play came on LS West's first snap when Ryan Williams raced for 69 yards down to the Wildcat 4. The Blue Springs' defense made it difficult, but the Titans converted on fourth-and-goal to tie the game at seven.
Just seven seconds into the second quarter, Blue Springs converted their own fourth-and-goal, to go up 14-7. The Wildcats then went to the air after a run-laden offensive attack for most of the first half. The Wildcats first drew a pass interference call which set up a 50-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Terrance Sanders, making it 21-7 Blue Springs at halftime.
The Titans Josh Woodruff came up with a big interception to start the second half, which sparked the offense. West converted the turnover into points as quarterback Bryce Kreikemeier ran it in from 9 yards out and it was back to a seven-point game (21-14) with 6:45 to go in the third.
The Wildcats went back to the legs of Cobi Bissell, who ran for 210 yards in the game, as he shouldered the load on the Blue Springs scoring drive before punching it in from a yard out. With 4:17 left in the third Blue Springs led 28-14.
Gabe LaVar’s then snared the first of his two interceptions at the West 36, and the Wildcats capitalized on the field position with a field goal early in the fourth quarter to go up 31-14.
“We felt like if we could get up by more than two scores we had a chance,” Donohoe said.
PrepsKC.com
After a third loss a week ago, Blue Springs decided it was time to refocus, and it appeared to have done so in beating previously once-beaten Lee's Summit West 38-14 to improve to 5-3 and remain in the race for the Suburban Big Six crown.
The Wildcats owned nearly all statistical categories on the night as they played smashmouth football, were the more physical team and won the battle up front.
“We just feel like it’s a new season, we made a lot of changes this week,” Blue Springs head coach Kelly Donohoe said. “We just needed to get certain guys on the field that weren’t on the field. We talked all week about the season starting with Lee’s Summit West and I feel like our confidence right now is sky high. This is as complete a game as we've played in a real long time.”
Blue Springs (5-3, 3-1 Big Six) took the opening possession and cashed it in, marching 63 yards in less than four minutes. A 22-yard quarterback keeper by Ian Brown capped the drive, and the Wildcats led 7-0 with 8:10 to play in the first.
It didn’t take long for the Titans (6-2, 2-2) to even things back up as their first drive also ended in points. The big play came on LS West's first snap when Ryan Williams raced for 69 yards down to the Wildcat 4. The Blue Springs' defense made it difficult, but the Titans converted on fourth-and-goal to tie the game at seven.
Just seven seconds into the second quarter, Blue Springs converted their own fourth-and-goal, to go up 14-7. The Wildcats then went to the air after a run-laden offensive attack for most of the first half. The Wildcats first drew a pass interference call which set up a 50-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Terrance Sanders, making it 21-7 Blue Springs at halftime.
The Titans Josh Woodruff came up with a big interception to start the second half, which sparked the offense. West converted the turnover into points as quarterback Bryce Kreikemeier ran it in from 9 yards out and it was back to a seven-point game (21-14) with 6:45 to go in the third.
The Wildcats went back to the legs of Cobi Bissell, who ran for 210 yards in the game, as he shouldered the load on the Blue Springs scoring drive before punching it in from a yard out. With 4:17 left in the third Blue Springs led 28-14.
Gabe LaVar’s then snared the first of his two interceptions at the West 36, and the Wildcats capitalized on the field position with a field goal early in the fourth quarter to go up 31-14.
“We felt like if we could get up by more than two scores we had a chance,” Donohoe said.
Breaking Down
By Mike Genet
[email protected]
When it didn’t overwhelm opponents the past two seasons, Blue Springs’ football team still could quell an opponents’ momentum and create a majority of breaks in its favor.
This season has been a bit different for the Wildcats, and visiting Raymore-Peculiar provided a prime example Friday night at Peve Stadium, as the Panthers seized the momentum for good in the second quarter and never gave it up to record a 31-13 Suburban Big Six victory, their first win over the Wildcats in the program’s history.
A wayward shotgun snap all but handed the Panthers (5-2, 2-1 Suburban Big Six) their first touchdown by Isaiah Truss, and Ray-Pec got two giant kickoff returns from Truss to set up TDs for himself. Blue Springs (4-3, 2-1) also was stopped on downs to start the third quarter and lost two interceptions as it tried to rally in the second half.
“That just hasn’t happened very much this year,” Blue Springs coach Kelly Donohoe said of the breaks going his team’s way. “But you’ve got to give Ray-Pec credit; they made big plays. We thought we had the right kids there (on special teams), but they did a better job than us there.”
The fumbled snap, which came on Blue Springs’ sixth snap of the game from its 33, gave Ray-Pec the ball at the 4, and Truss (16 carries, 107 yards) scored on the next play.
The Wildcats responded emphatically, an 18-play, 80-yard drive that picked up six first downs and took more than nine minutes. Cobi Bissell provided the points with an 11-yard jaunt 10 seconds into the second quarter. But Truss took the ensuing kickoff and zig-zagged his way 83 yards to the Blue Springs 16, then scored five plays later from 2 yards out. After a Wildcat punt, Truss broke off a 38-yard to set up a 32-yard Dallas Hille field goal that produced a 17-7 halftime lead.
“We were hoping eventually, if I stayed long enough, that we could beat Blue Springs,” veteran Ray-Pec coach Tom Kruse said. “We played so good in every phase.
“I can’t say enough good things about the defense, our special teams gave us great field position, and offensively we made plays when we had to.”
Truss returned the second half kickoff 52 yards and later scored from 20 yards out on third-and-four. Ray-Pec made it 31-7 with 1:29 left in the third when Reed Davis lofted an 11-yard TD pass to James Sappington, the last of Davis’ three completions for 52 yards.
Ian Brown’s 4-yard scoring toss to Marqus Andrews early in the fourth quarter gave Blue Springs some life, that came in between two interceptions by the Panthers – lineman C.J. Donaldson on a screen pass and Andrew Houston on a fluttering deep ball.
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When it didn’t overwhelm opponents the past two seasons, Blue Springs’ football team still could quell an opponents’ momentum and create a majority of breaks in its favor.
This season has been a bit different for the Wildcats, and visiting Raymore-Peculiar provided a prime example Friday night at Peve Stadium, as the Panthers seized the momentum for good in the second quarter and never gave it up to record a 31-13 Suburban Big Six victory, their first win over the Wildcats in the program’s history.
A wayward shotgun snap all but handed the Panthers (5-2, 2-1 Suburban Big Six) their first touchdown by Isaiah Truss, and Ray-Pec got two giant kickoff returns from Truss to set up TDs for himself. Blue Springs (4-3, 2-1) also was stopped on downs to start the third quarter and lost two interceptions as it tried to rally in the second half.
“That just hasn’t happened very much this year,” Blue Springs coach Kelly Donohoe said of the breaks going his team’s way. “But you’ve got to give Ray-Pec credit; they made big plays. We thought we had the right kids there (on special teams), but they did a better job than us there.”
The fumbled snap, which came on Blue Springs’ sixth snap of the game from its 33, gave Ray-Pec the ball at the 4, and Truss (16 carries, 107 yards) scored on the next play.
The Wildcats responded emphatically, an 18-play, 80-yard drive that picked up six first downs and took more than nine minutes. Cobi Bissell provided the points with an 11-yard jaunt 10 seconds into the second quarter. But Truss took the ensuing kickoff and zig-zagged his way 83 yards to the Blue Springs 16, then scored five plays later from 2 yards out. After a Wildcat punt, Truss broke off a 38-yard to set up a 32-yard Dallas Hille field goal that produced a 17-7 halftime lead.
“We were hoping eventually, if I stayed long enough, that we could beat Blue Springs,” veteran Ray-Pec coach Tom Kruse said. “We played so good in every phase.
“I can’t say enough good things about the defense, our special teams gave us great field position, and offensively we made plays when we had to.”
Truss returned the second half kickoff 52 yards and later scored from 20 yards out on third-and-four. Ray-Pec made it 31-7 with 1:29 left in the third when Reed Davis lofted an 11-yard TD pass to James Sappington, the last of Davis’ three completions for 52 yards.
Ian Brown’s 4-yard scoring toss to Marqus Andrews early in the fourth quarter gave Blue Springs some life, that came in between two interceptions by the Panthers – lineman C.J. Donaldson on a screen pass and Andrew Houston on a fluttering deep ball.
Mistakes Costly as wildcats fall to rockhurst
By Bill Althaus
[email protected]
One by one, the members of the Blue Springs High School football team left the visiting locker room at Rockhurst High School, knowing that mistakes and blunders cost them the chance to go 5-1 on the season.
Instead, they had to comprehend a 14-13 loss in a game they dominated during a 13-0 first quarter. Then, 6-foot-2, 260-pound defensive tackle Khalil Davis left, sporting a smile – a sad smile – but a smile, nonetheless.
“We're going to be fine,” said Davis, who was in on three sacks, led the team with 10 tackles and harassed Rockhurst quarterback T.J. Green throughout the game.
“We're a strong team, and we have great coaches. This loss is tough, real tough, because we all feel like we should have won the game. But they found a way to win. Now, we can use that as motivation if we play them again, and we all hope we see them in the playoffs.”
For one quarter Friday night, the Wildcats looked unbeatable. Ian Brown, who transferred to Blue Springs from Rockhurst after his sophomore year when his parents moved to Blue Springs, hit running back Cobi Bissell on a 39-yard touchdown play and speedy Terrance Sanders on a 49-yard strike that was highlighted by a spectacular over-the-shoulder grab.
The score should have read 14-0, but Benjamin Hellon's extra point was wide on the first score. Following the second score, Brown and Bissell hooked up on a 2-point conversion, but a penalty nullified it. Hellon then kicked the extra point from 27 yards out and it was 13-0 – the Wildcats were on the prowl.
Then, their offense went south and Green and the Hawklets began to heat up.
Green, the son of former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Trent Green, directed a 12-play, 67-yard march that culminated with a 3-yard touchdown run by A.J. Taylor. Jackson Terry's extra point made it 13-7 and that score stood at halftime.
The third period began with a botched pooch kick as Rockhurst recovered the ball on its own 49-yard line.
“We wanted to pooch the kick, but we hit it wrong and it looked like an onsides kick that didn't go far enough,” lamented Wildcats coach Kelly Donohoe after his team fell to 4-2.
“Our special teams just didn't get it done tonight. And that's so disappointing. We had points taken off the board (on the 2-point pass play) and had punts blocked and missed field goals. It looked like we'd never worked on special teams, and they are a priority with this team.
“I know right now the kids are sick, and so am I. It's one thing to have a team just flat out beat you, but we were right there and had so many chances to win this game and we just kept making mistake after mistake.
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One by one, the members of the Blue Springs High School football team left the visiting locker room at Rockhurst High School, knowing that mistakes and blunders cost them the chance to go 5-1 on the season.
Instead, they had to comprehend a 14-13 loss in a game they dominated during a 13-0 first quarter. Then, 6-foot-2, 260-pound defensive tackle Khalil Davis left, sporting a smile – a sad smile – but a smile, nonetheless.
“We're going to be fine,” said Davis, who was in on three sacks, led the team with 10 tackles and harassed Rockhurst quarterback T.J. Green throughout the game.
“We're a strong team, and we have great coaches. This loss is tough, real tough, because we all feel like we should have won the game. But they found a way to win. Now, we can use that as motivation if we play them again, and we all hope we see them in the playoffs.”
For one quarter Friday night, the Wildcats looked unbeatable. Ian Brown, who transferred to Blue Springs from Rockhurst after his sophomore year when his parents moved to Blue Springs, hit running back Cobi Bissell on a 39-yard touchdown play and speedy Terrance Sanders on a 49-yard strike that was highlighted by a spectacular over-the-shoulder grab.
The score should have read 14-0, but Benjamin Hellon's extra point was wide on the first score. Following the second score, Brown and Bissell hooked up on a 2-point conversion, but a penalty nullified it. Hellon then kicked the extra point from 27 yards out and it was 13-0 – the Wildcats were on the prowl.
Then, their offense went south and Green and the Hawklets began to heat up.
Green, the son of former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Trent Green, directed a 12-play, 67-yard march that culminated with a 3-yard touchdown run by A.J. Taylor. Jackson Terry's extra point made it 13-7 and that score stood at halftime.
The third period began with a botched pooch kick as Rockhurst recovered the ball on its own 49-yard line.
“We wanted to pooch the kick, but we hit it wrong and it looked like an onsides kick that didn't go far enough,” lamented Wildcats coach Kelly Donohoe after his team fell to 4-2.
“Our special teams just didn't get it done tonight. And that's so disappointing. We had points taken off the board (on the 2-point pass play) and had punts blocked and missed field goals. It looked like we'd never worked on special teams, and they are a priority with this team.
“I know right now the kids are sick, and so am I. It's one thing to have a team just flat out beat you, but we were right there and had so many chances to win this game and we just kept making mistake after mistake.
Blue Springs Down Tigers on Homecoming
BY SAM MCDOWELL/THE KANSAS CITY STAR
Lee’s Summit quarterback Drew Lock scrambled to his left, turned downfield and heaved an off-balance throw toward his top receiver. Eighty yards later, Hunter Allee sprinted into the end zone, giving the Tigers a seven-point lead on their first play from scrimmage at Blue Springs.
It took Blue Springs only two plays to answer on a 26-yard touchdown passfrom Ian Brown to Tamarick Quinney.
In 37 seconds, the shootout was on.
Blue Springs had more bullets in its arsenal.
The Wildcats pulled away in the second half for a 47-28 victory in a Suburban Gold Conference matchup. Blue Springs, 4-1, held Lee’s Summit to seven points in the second half after the two offenses dominated the opening two quarters.
“It took us a little bit of time to get going — we had kind of arough start — but that’s how we play defense right there,” senior defensive tackle Carlos Davis said. “We were really executing everything really well in the second half.”
Lock threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns in the first half — despite being sacked six times — but he managed only 60 after halftime.
Davis and his fellow linemen played their part in that. Lock was forced to scramble most of the night against a Blue Springs defensive line that overmatched Lee’s Summit up front.
The Wildcats finished with eight sacks. Davis had 4 1/2, including 3 1/2 before halftime.
“They definitely made it tough,” said Lock, a Missouri commit who is ranked as the top quarterback in the state.
“We knew they were going to bring some pressure. We prepped for that. It was tough. But we made plays. Wide receivers got open. I just wish we could’ve done that the whole game.”
As assertive as the Wildcats’ defensive line was after halftime, its offensive line was equally dominant for the entire four quarters.
It paved the way for 213 yards and three touchdowns from tailback Cobi Bissell, who has admirably replaced two-time Simone Award winner Dalvin Warmack in the opening five weeks.
Terrance Sanders turned only 4 carries into 80 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
Quarterback Ian Brown scored on a 1-yard run, giving Blue Springs a 33-21 lead at halftime. But Bissell was the key cog in the rushing attack for most of the night. He had 169 yards in the first two quarters, with 68 of them coming on one touchdown run.
“We always knew he was a good back,” Blue Springs coach Kelly Donohoe said. “He’s that tough, old-school guy. We knew he would have a really good year, but I’m really excited about what those guys are doing up front. I think their confidence is growing, and that’s important for us.”
Blue Springs has scored 127 points in three weeks since its loss at Fort Osage — the team’s first defeat in nearly two seasons.
“We needed that loss,” Davis said. “We were very complacent. That just got us out of our complacency. We changed everything around after that.”
Lee’s Summit quarterback Drew Lock scrambled to his left, turned downfield and heaved an off-balance throw toward his top receiver. Eighty yards later, Hunter Allee sprinted into the end zone, giving the Tigers a seven-point lead on their first play from scrimmage at Blue Springs.
It took Blue Springs only two plays to answer on a 26-yard touchdown passfrom Ian Brown to Tamarick Quinney.
In 37 seconds, the shootout was on.
Blue Springs had more bullets in its arsenal.
The Wildcats pulled away in the second half for a 47-28 victory in a Suburban Gold Conference matchup. Blue Springs, 4-1, held Lee’s Summit to seven points in the second half after the two offenses dominated the opening two quarters.
“It took us a little bit of time to get going — we had kind of arough start — but that’s how we play defense right there,” senior defensive tackle Carlos Davis said. “We were really executing everything really well in the second half.”
Lock threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns in the first half — despite being sacked six times — but he managed only 60 after halftime.
Davis and his fellow linemen played their part in that. Lock was forced to scramble most of the night against a Blue Springs defensive line that overmatched Lee’s Summit up front.
The Wildcats finished with eight sacks. Davis had 4 1/2, including 3 1/2 before halftime.
“They definitely made it tough,” said Lock, a Missouri commit who is ranked as the top quarterback in the state.
“We knew they were going to bring some pressure. We prepped for that. It was tough. But we made plays. Wide receivers got open. I just wish we could’ve done that the whole game.”
As assertive as the Wildcats’ defensive line was after halftime, its offensive line was equally dominant for the entire four quarters.
It paved the way for 213 yards and three touchdowns from tailback Cobi Bissell, who has admirably replaced two-time Simone Award winner Dalvin Warmack in the opening five weeks.
Terrance Sanders turned only 4 carries into 80 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
Quarterback Ian Brown scored on a 1-yard run, giving Blue Springs a 33-21 lead at halftime. But Bissell was the key cog in the rushing attack for most of the night. He had 169 yards in the first two quarters, with 68 of them coming on one touchdown run.
“We always knew he was a good back,” Blue Springs coach Kelly Donohoe said. “He’s that tough, old-school guy. We knew he would have a really good year, but I’m really excited about what those guys are doing up front. I think their confidence is growing, and that’s important for us.”
Blue Springs has scored 127 points in three weeks since its loss at Fort Osage — the team’s first defeat in nearly two seasons.
“We needed that loss,” Davis said. “We were very complacent. That just got us out of our complacency. We changed everything around after that.”
Rush of Confidence
By Bill Althaus
[email protected]
When Lee's Summit quarterback Drew Lock opened Friday night's marquee matchup at Peve Stadium with an 80-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Allee, the host Blue Springs Wildcats didn't blink.
“We know we are a good team,” said senior tackle Khalil Davis, who anchored a defense that recorded 8.5 sacks, “and we knew we'd come back. We didn't like the way the game started, but we loved how it ended.”
It ended with senior running back Cobi Bissell carrying the ball 29 times for 219 yards and four touchdowns and the Wildcats claiming a 47-28 homecoming win that featured 586 yards of total offense.
“All the credit for my performance tonight goes to the guys on the line,” said Bissell, who had the unenviable task of replacing two-time Simone Award winner Dalvin Warmack in the Wildcat backfield this season.
“We knew that if we had a successful running game it would keep Drew and their offense on the sidelines. Our goal was 200 yards – and I know we got a lot more than that (386 rushing yards). They scored on that first pass play, then we scored three in a row and pretty much made sure they didn't get back in the game because of our great defense.”
Blue Springs quarterback Ian Brown, who was 10 of 19 for 200 yards and a score, hit Tamarick Quinney on a 26-yard pass play to knot the score at 7-all.
Terrance Sanders then turned in a breath-taking effort, zig-zagging from the far sideline to midfield to score on a 42-yard run (the extra point was wide). Bissell then got into the offensive flow with a 68-yard run where he burst up the middle and eluded several would-be tacklers.
“We're so proud of Cobi and our running game,” senior offensive lineman Nathan Weddle said. “We knew if we could get some scores on the ground and keep the ball away from the Tigers we had a great chance to win the game. So, that's what we did.”
Blue Springs led 19-7 after one period but Lock and the Tigers weren't about to let the Wildcats run all over them all night.
Lock had TD passes of 17 and 70 yards in the second period, while Bissell scored on a 39-yard run and Brown scored from the 1 to make it a 33-21 game at halftime.
“I know we gave up 28 points tonight,” first-year defensive coordinator Matt Marble said, “but we made some adjustments and we knew we were facing maybe the best quarterback we would ever face – along with the young man from Fort Osage (Skylar Thompson, who led the Indians to a stunning victory over the Wildcats).
[email protected]
When Lee's Summit quarterback Drew Lock opened Friday night's marquee matchup at Peve Stadium with an 80-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Allee, the host Blue Springs Wildcats didn't blink.
“We know we are a good team,” said senior tackle Khalil Davis, who anchored a defense that recorded 8.5 sacks, “and we knew we'd come back. We didn't like the way the game started, but we loved how it ended.”
It ended with senior running back Cobi Bissell carrying the ball 29 times for 219 yards and four touchdowns and the Wildcats claiming a 47-28 homecoming win that featured 586 yards of total offense.
“All the credit for my performance tonight goes to the guys on the line,” said Bissell, who had the unenviable task of replacing two-time Simone Award winner Dalvin Warmack in the Wildcat backfield this season.
“We knew that if we had a successful running game it would keep Drew and their offense on the sidelines. Our goal was 200 yards – and I know we got a lot more than that (386 rushing yards). They scored on that first pass play, then we scored three in a row and pretty much made sure they didn't get back in the game because of our great defense.”
Blue Springs quarterback Ian Brown, who was 10 of 19 for 200 yards and a score, hit Tamarick Quinney on a 26-yard pass play to knot the score at 7-all.
Terrance Sanders then turned in a breath-taking effort, zig-zagging from the far sideline to midfield to score on a 42-yard run (the extra point was wide). Bissell then got into the offensive flow with a 68-yard run where he burst up the middle and eluded several would-be tacklers.
“We're so proud of Cobi and our running game,” senior offensive lineman Nathan Weddle said. “We knew if we could get some scores on the ground and keep the ball away from the Tigers we had a great chance to win the game. So, that's what we did.”
Blue Springs led 19-7 after one period but Lock and the Tigers weren't about to let the Wildcats run all over them all night.
Lock had TD passes of 17 and 70 yards in the second period, while Bissell scored on a 39-yard run and Brown scored from the 1 to make it a 33-21 game at halftime.
“I know we gave up 28 points tonight,” first-year defensive coordinator Matt Marble said, “but we made some adjustments and we knew we were facing maybe the best quarterback we would ever face – along with the young man from Fort Osage (Skylar Thompson, who led the Indians to a stunning victory over the Wildcats).
Wildcats complete checklist in route
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By Mike Genet
[email protected] Donohoe had a relatively short checklist for his Blue Springs football team Friday against a visiting St. Joseph Central squad that clearly was overmatched. The Wildcats didn’t leave their coach disappointed before they walked off the turf at Peve Stadium, scoring on seven of their first eight possessions to get plenty of non-starting seniors some playing time in the second half of what became a 49-7 non-conference win over the Indians on Senior Night. Ian Brown completed 7 of 10 passes for 188 yards and five touchdowns – all in the first half – Cobi Bissell rushed for 156 yards on 13 carries and a defense that played without injured lineman Khalil Davis and Trevon Warmack only bent after the Wildcats had built a healthy lead. Blue Springs also avoided many penalties (just three) and committed its lone turnover when the backups played in the second half. “We wanted to get a little bit better tonight,” Donohoe said after his team improved to 3-1 with games against Lee’s Summit and at Rockhurst on tap. “We’re ready to move on to Lee’s Summit and get Khalil back and get Trevon back. “We wanted to be clean up front tonight with the run game, and I think we were. We wanted our receivers to step up, and they did.” Junior receiver/return man Terrance Sanders had a particularly electrifying performance. All three of his catches went for touchdowns, his 57-yard punt return in the first quarter set up the second score for Blue Springs, and a 71-yard kick return after the Indians’ lone score set up another touchdown in the second quarter. Four plays into the game Sanders turned a short catch into a 36-yard touchdown. Central (0-4) then punted, and Sanders let the ball bounce a couple times before picking it up next to the sideline, and a couple moves later the speedster was up the sideline to the Indians' 23. Bissell then took a Brown swing pass 11 yards for the game’s second score just 4:28 in. “I was just trying to see where the defense was at ... making sure I had enough room,” Sanders said of his punt return. Blue Springs’ only scoreless possession came after Sanders dropped a would-be touchdown from the 29, but Brown went right back up top for Sanders on the next possession, and he hauled in the bomb for a 60-yard score. “If there’s a time for him to drop a touchdown, it was tonight,” Donohoe said. “That doesn’t happen much; he’s got great hands.” Bissell added a 19-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, as Blue Springs capitalized on three straight St. Joseph punts of less than 20 yards. After the Indians drove 81 yards in 12 plays for a score – Israel Smith provided the TD with a 1-yard plunge – Brown added two scoring tosses before halftime. A 22-yarder to Tamarick Quinney came after Sanders’ big kick return, and a 42-yard heave to Sanders came with a minute before halftime |
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Special Victory
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By Bill Althaus
[email protected] In a game that had all the makings of mismatched blowout, coach Greg Oder’s underdog Blue Springs South football team threw a scare into back-to-back Class 6 state champion Blue Springs. But Terrance Sanders and Benjamin Hellon teamed up to give the Wildcats a special 31-21 victory over the Jaguars. The 0-3 Jaguars used two second-half touchdowns on Adam Cofield runs to cut the deficit to 28-21 with 6:02 left at Larry Stewart Memorial Stadium Friday night when Sanders returned a kickoff 50 yards – spending much of the return fighting to keep inbounds on the far sidelines. That gave the Wildcats a first down on the South 30 and zapped the Jaguars’ momentum. When the Wildcat offense stalled, Hellon kicked the biggest field goal of his high school career, a 37-yarder that essentially proved to be a game winner as it soared over the goalpost with just 2:28 left in the game to put Blue Springs (2-1) back ahead by 10 points. “Our special teams were pretty special tonight. We look at that as a game-winning field goal, because it was going to be real tough for Greg’s kids to come back and score 10 in the final two minutes,” Wildcats coach Kelly Donohoe said. “We knew coming over here this was going to be a real game. Heck, we got our butt kicked in ’06 and ’08, and found ways to win in ’10 and ’12 (at South) and I’m proud of our guys. “Greg is missing so many starters I don’t even want to mention it, but we were missing a couple of big players on our defensive line (Khalil Davis, leg injury; and Trevon Warmack, shoulder injury) and we lost Terrance and Cobi (Bissell) for about a quarter to cramps. “We’re coming off that (35-21) loss at Fort Osage and our guys were as focused this week as they have been in a long time, and it’s a good thing they were because Greg’s kids were just outstanding tonight, and so were out special teams.” |
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Taking to the sky
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By Bill Althaus
[email protected] The two-time defending Class 6 state champions and Mother Nature were no match for Ryan Schartz’s Class 5 No. 1-ranked Fort Osage football team Friday night. Junior quarterback Skylar Thompson threw two touchdowns, ran for a pair of TDs and defensive back Jacob Jacobs picked off an Ian Brown pass and returned it 42 yards as the Indians overcame a 21-14 third-period deficit and a 2-hour, 22-minute lightning delay to down No. 1 ranked Blue Springs 35-21. What started out as a jam-packed home crowd dwindled to half its original size because of the lightning that streaked across the sky for much of the night. Thompson overcame an early interception that led to the Wildcats’ first touchdown, a 79-yard pass from Brown to Terrance Sanders. Thompson hit Kevin Rush for an 8-yard score to give the Indians a 7-6 lead after Blue Springs had missed the extra point. “That first touchdown pass, coming back from throwing that pick and watching them score, that shows me how much Skylar Thompson has improved this season,” Schartz said as he savored one of the biggest wins in school history with his staff. “He’s matured so much, and the season is so young. He helped us win this game with his arm, with his legs and with his desire. But Sky had some help out there, too. What about the job our offensive line did against those big Davis twins (defensive linemen Khalil and Carlos) and those other monsters on their line? “Jesse McBee and Willie Penamon made some big catches and that interception by Jacob was huge. Skylar’s going to get a lot of attention, and deservedly so, but this was a team win - a great team win.” After the 7-6 first period, Brown marched the Wildcats down the field and scored on a 1-yard plunge into the end zone that was made even more impressive by the fact that he was able to recover his own fumble before he scored. Brown then hit Lane Williamson to make the score 14-7. With 1:04 left in the half and lightning lighting up the horizon to the east of the stadium, Thompson his Bailey Williamson for a 53-yard pass play that gave the Indians first and 10 on the 25. Two plays later, a scrambling Thompson dove to the near pylon and struck it as he dove out of bounds. His 9-yard score tied the game up at 14-all and gave the Wildcats plenty to think about during the lengthy weather-induced halftime. |
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Wildcats answer questions, pull away
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By Bill Althaus
[email protected] The Blue Springs High School football team, a squad that had won 24 games in a row and back-to-back Class 6 state championships heading into Friday night's season opener against Class 5 power Staley, faced two glaring questions – and answered both emphatically in a 39-13 victory over the Falcons. Would their receiving corps and secondary – both decimated by graduation – be able to live up the standards of past units? Yes, and yes. Junior Terrance Sanders, who caught three touchdown passes in last Friday's jamboree, had a 47-yard touchdown reception and two interceptions to anchor a rock-solid secondary while Wildcats quarterback Ian Brown completed 12 of 17 passes for 279 yards and three scores. "I think we answered some questions today and I am so proud of my teammates," said Brown, who added a dramatic 12-yard score on a vaulting leap into the end zone. "How about Ian tonight?" asked Blue Springs coach Kelly Dohonoe, whose team used a 15-point third quarter to blow open a tight 17-7 game at halftime score. "How about that touchdown run? He got so high – they weren't going to keep him out of the end zone. And is Terrance Sanders an athlete, or what? He has the chance to be a very special player." Added Brown of Sanders: "A player like Terrance only comes around once in a long period of time, and we are all so thankful that he came around while we are here to share it. This was a tough night because of the heat and humidity and he went both ways and never left the field. "He played a great game. We got off to a slow start, but really picked things up and kind of blew the game open in the third period." That's because Donohoe and staff made some adjustments heading into the third period. "We switched a few things up, took care of some early mistakes and really played well the third period," Donohoe said. "That Staley team is good and they are going to beat a lot of Class 5 teams. "At the half, I knew we had our hands full, but the guys came out and took care of business in the third quarter to make it look like a blowout – which it wasn't." Another two-way performer for the Wildcats was Cobi Bissell, who took over for two-time Simone Award winner Dalvin Warmack in the backfield while starting in the defensive secondary. "I was in on about one half of the plays and right now, the gas tank is on empty," said Bissell, who carried the ball 19 times for 122 yards with one score. "I left it all on the field, we all left it all on the field. We have to do that every game to reach the ultimate goal. And that is winning a third consecutive state championship." |
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Blue Springs twins Carlos and Khalil Davis are double trouble for opponents
Twins Khalil (left above) and Carlos Davis of Blue Springs will not be a welcome sight for teams that play the Wildcats this fall. The two senior defensive linemen (also pictured below) have verbally committed to play football at Nebraska.DAVID PULLIAM/THE KANSAS CITY STAR
BY SAM MCDOWELL THE KANSAS CITY STAR
Carlos Davis leaned back on a portable bench inside the Excelsior SpringsHigh School track, a pose symbolic of his satisfaction after he launched a discus throw that put him in line to win the Missouri Class 4, Sectional 4 championship.
With the heat of a May afternoon sun beating down on him, Davis wiped the sweat from his face, smiled and turned toward his stiffest competition. Twin brother Khalil.
With one throw remaining, Khalil picked up his discus and walked toward the ring.
“You just lost the meet, man,” Khalil said. “I’m sorry. That’s not going to be good enough.”
True to his word, Khalil hurled his final throw 196 feet, 8 inches, besting Carlos by 2 feet.
The Blue Springs duo — better known as the twin beasts on the football team’s defensive line — competed again one week later at the Missouri Class 4 state championship meet.
In the finals, Carlos registered a toss of 212 feet, 5 inches — the longest high school toss in the nation all season.
Khalil stayed silent this time.
“He didn’t have nothing to say about that one,” Carlos said. “When I win, that’s when he’s quiet.”
The roots of a sibling rivalry have sprouted beyond the discus course. They’re present on the football field, in the weight room and even at the kitchen table, where their parents say they fight over who can devour more chicken wings.
Carlos and Khalil, who have committed to play football at Nebraska next season, are quick to note the rivalry is a friendly one. It’s even a beneficial one.
Because when they’re paired together — as they are for two-time defending state champion Blue Springs — it produces a menacing combination.
“They’re always trying to one-up each other — whether it’s a squat, a bench press, a tackling drill, whatever. That’s what continues to elevate these guys,” Blue Springs football coach Kelly Donohoe said. “But there’s a tremendous twin bond with those guys.
“You don’t want to be on the other side of that.”
That bond developed early. Well, really early. Carlos and Khalil slept in side-by-side cradles when they were babies. Except their parents, Tracy and Carl, could rarely get them both to sleep.
“Even as babies, if one of them was asleep, the other one would fidget and rock his own cradle to wake the other one up,” Tracy said. “They didn’t like being awake without the other one awake, too.”
Tracy and Carl also have two daughters, both of whom are older than the twins. They wanted to raise a boy, too. Carl was a huge sports fan, and he hoped his son would play football.
They contacted a foster care agency in Kansas City and shared their interest in adopting a boy. The agency returned the call, but there was a catch.
There were two boys.
A family of six was too large for the Davis’ income, but Tracy asked to meet the 9-month-old twins before they declined.
“I could see their bond the moment I saw them,” Tracy said. “I just fell in love with them. We had to have them both.”
Carlos Davis leaned back on a portable bench inside the Excelsior SpringsHigh School track, a pose symbolic of his satisfaction after he launched a discus throw that put him in line to win the Missouri Class 4, Sectional 4 championship.
With the heat of a May afternoon sun beating down on him, Davis wiped the sweat from his face, smiled and turned toward his stiffest competition. Twin brother Khalil.
With one throw remaining, Khalil picked up his discus and walked toward the ring.
“You just lost the meet, man,” Khalil said. “I’m sorry. That’s not going to be good enough.”
True to his word, Khalil hurled his final throw 196 feet, 8 inches, besting Carlos by 2 feet.
The Blue Springs duo — better known as the twin beasts on the football team’s defensive line — competed again one week later at the Missouri Class 4 state championship meet.
In the finals, Carlos registered a toss of 212 feet, 5 inches — the longest high school toss in the nation all season.
Khalil stayed silent this time.
“He didn’t have nothing to say about that one,” Carlos said. “When I win, that’s when he’s quiet.”
The roots of a sibling rivalry have sprouted beyond the discus course. They’re present on the football field, in the weight room and even at the kitchen table, where their parents say they fight over who can devour more chicken wings.
Carlos and Khalil, who have committed to play football at Nebraska next season, are quick to note the rivalry is a friendly one. It’s even a beneficial one.
Because when they’re paired together — as they are for two-time defending state champion Blue Springs — it produces a menacing combination.
“They’re always trying to one-up each other — whether it’s a squat, a bench press, a tackling drill, whatever. That’s what continues to elevate these guys,” Blue Springs football coach Kelly Donohoe said. “But there’s a tremendous twin bond with those guys.
“You don’t want to be on the other side of that.”
That bond developed early. Well, really early. Carlos and Khalil slept in side-by-side cradles when they were babies. Except their parents, Tracy and Carl, could rarely get them both to sleep.
“Even as babies, if one of them was asleep, the other one would fidget and rock his own cradle to wake the other one up,” Tracy said. “They didn’t like being awake without the other one awake, too.”
Tracy and Carl also have two daughters, both of whom are older than the twins. They wanted to raise a boy, too. Carl was a huge sports fan, and he hoped his son would play football.
They contacted a foster care agency in Kansas City and shared their interest in adopting a boy. The agency returned the call, but there was a catch.
There were two boys.
A family of six was too large for the Davis’ income, but Tracy asked to meet the 9-month-old twins before they declined.
“I could see their bond the moment I saw them,” Tracy said. “I just fell in love with them. We had to have them both.”
New-look Blue Springs still features talent
Quarterback Ian Brown launched a pass during the a Wildcats’ workout last week at Blue Springs High School. DAVID PULLIAM/THE KANSAS CITY STAR
BY SAM MCDOWELL THE KANSAS CITY STAR
Blue Springs’ big-name offensive weapon — namely two-time Simone Award winner Dalvin Warmack — has graduated. Let’s start there.
That means the Wildcats’ quest for a third straight Missouri Class 6 state title will roll on without a player who accounted for 80 touchdowns in two seasons on his way becoming the first ever two-time winner of the Simone Award, handed to the top player in the Kansas City area.
It will also continue without top wide receivers Darrius Shepherd and Kaleb Prewett and left tackle Jordan Benson. And those are just the losses on the offensive side of the football.
While their replacements in 2014 are inexperienced, they aren’t lacking talent.
“I’ve told these guys, listen, nobody knows about them and nobody is saying much, but we think a lot of them,” Wildcats coach Kelly Donohoe said. “We think people are going to find out pretty quickly how good they area.”
The Wildcats will turn to senior Cobi Bissell to take over the backfield duties after serving as Warmack’s top backup the past two seasons. Senior Lane Williamson will also earn some carries.
A pair of seniors — Ross Baker and Tamarick Quinney — are set to provide the top receiving options for quarterback Ian Brown, who threw for 2,458 yards last season.
The defense also has a lot to replace — notably its entire secondary and outside linebacker Elijah Lee, who joined Warmack and Prewett at Kansas State.
But the Wildcats welcome back twin defensive tackles Carlos and Khalil Davis, who have committed to Nebraska.
“Winning one was tough. Winning two was even harder,” Donohoe said. “That means this group is going to have to be even better, because it’s going to be even harder to get back there now.”
Blue Springs’ big-name offensive weapon — namely two-time Simone Award winner Dalvin Warmack — has graduated. Let’s start there.
That means the Wildcats’ quest for a third straight Missouri Class 6 state title will roll on without a player who accounted for 80 touchdowns in two seasons on his way becoming the first ever two-time winner of the Simone Award, handed to the top player in the Kansas City area.
It will also continue without top wide receivers Darrius Shepherd and Kaleb Prewett and left tackle Jordan Benson. And those are just the losses on the offensive side of the football.
While their replacements in 2014 are inexperienced, they aren’t lacking talent.
“I’ve told these guys, listen, nobody knows about them and nobody is saying much, but we think a lot of them,” Wildcats coach Kelly Donohoe said. “We think people are going to find out pretty quickly how good they area.”
The Wildcats will turn to senior Cobi Bissell to take over the backfield duties after serving as Warmack’s top backup the past two seasons. Senior Lane Williamson will also earn some carries.
A pair of seniors — Ross Baker and Tamarick Quinney — are set to provide the top receiving options for quarterback Ian Brown, who threw for 2,458 yards last season.
The defense also has a lot to replace — notably its entire secondary and outside linebacker Elijah Lee, who joined Warmack and Prewett at Kansas State.
But the Wildcats welcome back twin defensive tackles Carlos and Khalil Davis, who have committed to Nebraska.
“Winning one was tough. Winning two was even harder,” Donohoe said. “That means this group is going to have to be even better, because it’s going to be even harder to get back there now.”
Area teams ready for hot opening day
By Mike Genet
[email protected]
High school football players across Missouri have been itching for weeks, even months, in anticipation of today’s season-opening games.
For many in the metro area, what’s another hour of waiting?
With temperatures expected to climb well into the 90s through the afternoon Friday, many schools have pushed back the start times of their football season openers by an hour to 8 p.m.
Among the games pushed back are: Blue Springs South at Park Hill; Fort Osage at Raytown South (at Raytown High’s Chittwood Stadium); Lathrop at Van Horn (at Truman High School); Lee’s Summit at Truman (at Independence All-School Stadium); Park Hill South at Lee’s Summit North; and Staley at Blue Springs.
Grain Valley will make a decision by noon Friday whether or not to push back its home game against Savannah, and as of Thursday night Oak Grove at Holden is still scheduled for 7 p.m. William Chrisman at Platte County won’t be pushed back, as Platte County’s football field is tree-lined beyond the track down the whole west sideline, providing some shady relief from the heat.
Blue Springs coach Kelly Donohoe said he didn’t have to alter his team’s practices this week other than a couple conditioning exercises. If the heat index had pushed to 100 degrees and above, practice would have been later in the day.
“The kids have handled the heat just fine,” he said. “Tuesday they did just fine, and Wednesday wasn’t bad, either.”
Donohoe’s is beginning its quest for a third straight Class 6 state championship, led by twin all-state defensive linemen Carlos and Khalil Davis, all-state quarterback Ian Brown and first-year starting running back Cobi Bissell. The Wildcats have gone 27-1 the last two seasons.
They face a Staley team that went 6-5 last season and is led by running backs Faizol and Kahluna Bouchard and quarterback Jordan Robben.
“We just need to stay away from a lot of first-game mistakes like penalties, fumbles, lining up wrong,” Donohoe said. “Just minimize mistakes and play to our strengths.”
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High school football players across Missouri have been itching for weeks, even months, in anticipation of today’s season-opening games.
For many in the metro area, what’s another hour of waiting?
With temperatures expected to climb well into the 90s through the afternoon Friday, many schools have pushed back the start times of their football season openers by an hour to 8 p.m.
Among the games pushed back are: Blue Springs South at Park Hill; Fort Osage at Raytown South (at Raytown High’s Chittwood Stadium); Lathrop at Van Horn (at Truman High School); Lee’s Summit at Truman (at Independence All-School Stadium); Park Hill South at Lee’s Summit North; and Staley at Blue Springs.
Grain Valley will make a decision by noon Friday whether or not to push back its home game against Savannah, and as of Thursday night Oak Grove at Holden is still scheduled for 7 p.m. William Chrisman at Platte County won’t be pushed back, as Platte County’s football field is tree-lined beyond the track down the whole west sideline, providing some shady relief from the heat.
Blue Springs coach Kelly Donohoe said he didn’t have to alter his team’s practices this week other than a couple conditioning exercises. If the heat index had pushed to 100 degrees and above, practice would have been later in the day.
“The kids have handled the heat just fine,” he said. “Tuesday they did just fine, and Wednesday wasn’t bad, either.”
Donohoe’s is beginning its quest for a third straight Class 6 state championship, led by twin all-state defensive linemen Carlos and Khalil Davis, all-state quarterback Ian Brown and first-year starting running back Cobi Bissell. The Wildcats have gone 27-1 the last two seasons.
They face a Staley team that went 6-5 last season and is led by running backs Faizol and Kahluna Bouchard and quarterback Jordan Robben.
“We just need to stay away from a lot of first-game mistakes like penalties, fumbles, lining up wrong,” Donohoe said. “Just minimize mistakes and play to our strengths.”
wildcat offense doesn't miss a beat
Blue Springs quarterback Ian Brown picks up yardage in Friday's jamboree at Peve Stadium. Brown did more damage with his arm, throwing five touchdowns, including three to Terrance Sanders. Debbie Squires | PrepsKC.com
By Bill Althaus
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Blue Springs High School football coach Kelly Donohoe liked what he saw on the field at Friday night’s jamboree at Peve Stadium – even when his defense was getting a bit roughed up by an upstart Liberty North squad.
North scored three touchdowns – on runs of 40 and 20 yards and a 40-yard touchdown pass. But after those scoring strikes, the Wildcats buckled down and Raytown South and Lee’s Summit West didn’t come close to the end zone.
That’s what Donohoe hoped to see from a team that has won back-to-back Class 6 state championships.
“That’s good, that shows our guys what they need to work on,” Donohoe said, when asked about his team's defense. “I wanted to see how the guys would respond after that, and they didn’t give up another big play.
“That's going to help us in the long run.”
So is a five-touchdown night by quarterback Ian Brown, who ran the offense during last year's second-consecutive state championship run.
“I told you, I told anyone who would listen, we’re going to be fine at wide receiver,” Donohoe said after newcomers Terrance Sanders (3) and Tamarick Quinney (1) combined for four scores and running back Cobi Bissell, who was a backup last season to two-time Simone Award winner Dalvin Warmack, hauled in the fifth.
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Blue Springs High School football coach Kelly Donohoe liked what he saw on the field at Friday night’s jamboree at Peve Stadium – even when his defense was getting a bit roughed up by an upstart Liberty North squad.
North scored three touchdowns – on runs of 40 and 20 yards and a 40-yard touchdown pass. But after those scoring strikes, the Wildcats buckled down and Raytown South and Lee’s Summit West didn’t come close to the end zone.
That’s what Donohoe hoped to see from a team that has won back-to-back Class 6 state championships.
“That’s good, that shows our guys what they need to work on,” Donohoe said, when asked about his team's defense. “I wanted to see how the guys would respond after that, and they didn’t give up another big play.
“That's going to help us in the long run.”
So is a five-touchdown night by quarterback Ian Brown, who ran the offense during last year's second-consecutive state championship run.
“I told you, I told anyone who would listen, we’re going to be fine at wide receiver,” Donohoe said after newcomers Terrance Sanders (3) and Tamarick Quinney (1) combined for four scores and running back Cobi Bissell, who was a backup last season to two-time Simone Award winner Dalvin Warmack, hauled in the fifth.
Lets get it started
By Mike Genet
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Hundreds of area high school athletes undoubtedly had been looking forward to Monday and their first official practices for the fall season.
One could count Marqus Andrews as among the most eager Blue Springs football players to lace up his cleats at Peve Stadium as the Wildcats began their trek to attempt a state championship three-peat. The senior tight end broke his ankle in the third game – a freak occurrence, as a teammate on the line happened to roll into it.
“It feels great to be back; the ankle was feeling great,” Andrews said following the late-morning workout.
Practices started at 6 a.m. for Blue Springs and several other teams in the area – the first early alarm in a while for many students.
“I had to go to bed earlier,” Andrews said, “but it gets us ready for school.”
At the end of practice, Andrews and his teammates listened to head coach Kelly Donohoe provide a couple examples of strangers coming up to him and expressing their admiration for the Wildcat football program. They desire to keep that tradition going, but to do so they can’t rest on prior laurels, Andrews said.
“We’ve got to block out some of that out, though,” he said. “We can’t get too complacent.”
Donohoe isn’t too concerned about that. After back-to-back Class 6 state championships, his program graduated a class that included five Division I players – including two-time Simone Award-winning running back Dalvin Warmack – but Andrews is part of a giant 41-player class that includes Nebraska-bound defensive linemen Carlos and Khalil Davis and Holy Cross recruit Ian Brown at quarterback.
“Our guys always work hard, and they do a great job of not being complacent,” Donohoe said. “We’re always challenging them to work a little harder than the year before.
“I felt great about our January to May, and this summer we had high numbers. We’ve got a great group back. We’ve known all along a lot of our juniors (from last year) were a major part of our success. They’re great kids, and they’ve done the things we want
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Hundreds of area high school athletes undoubtedly had been looking forward to Monday and their first official practices for the fall season.
One could count Marqus Andrews as among the most eager Blue Springs football players to lace up his cleats at Peve Stadium as the Wildcats began their trek to attempt a state championship three-peat. The senior tight end broke his ankle in the third game – a freak occurrence, as a teammate on the line happened to roll into it.
“It feels great to be back; the ankle was feeling great,” Andrews said following the late-morning workout.
Practices started at 6 a.m. for Blue Springs and several other teams in the area – the first early alarm in a while for many students.
“I had to go to bed earlier,” Andrews said, “but it gets us ready for school.”
At the end of practice, Andrews and his teammates listened to head coach Kelly Donohoe provide a couple examples of strangers coming up to him and expressing their admiration for the Wildcat football program. They desire to keep that tradition going, but to do so they can’t rest on prior laurels, Andrews said.
“We’ve got to block out some of that out, though,” he said. “We can’t get too complacent.”
Donohoe isn’t too concerned about that. After back-to-back Class 6 state championships, his program graduated a class that included five Division I players – including two-time Simone Award-winning running back Dalvin Warmack – but Andrews is part of a giant 41-player class that includes Nebraska-bound defensive linemen Carlos and Khalil Davis and Holy Cross recruit Ian Brown at quarterback.
“Our guys always work hard, and they do a great job of not being complacent,” Donohoe said. “We’re always challenging them to work a little harder than the year before.
“I felt great about our January to May, and this summer we had high numbers. We’ve got a great group back. We’ve known all along a lot of our juniors (from last year) were a major part of our success. They’re great kids, and they’ve done the things we want
blue springs twins seeing red
By Bill Althaus
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They aren’t signed, sealed and delivered, but all-state defensive tackles Carlos and Khalil Davis say they might as well be, as they made a verbal commitment to play football at the University of Nebraska.
The Blue Springs High School junior standouts had been on Missouri coach Gary Pinkel’s radar for quite some time, but family ties and the appeal of playing in Lincoln were too much for the Tigers to overcome.
“We've been going to Nebraska camps and games for a long time,” said Carlos, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound defensive tackle. “Our uncle, Lorenzo Hicks (a Kansas City Southeast High School graduate), played at Nebraska (in 1987 and 1988) so we went up there quite a bit.
“It’s been our No. 1 choice since we started playing football. We listened to all the coaches who called, because we hadn’t heard from Coach Pelini.”
But two weeks ago, Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini visited the twins while they were working out at the high school.
“That was amazing,” added Khalil, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 260. “He came into the gym and we knew he was serious about signing us by making the trip to Blue Springs. We can’t sign because we’re just juniors, but we aren’t going anywhere but Nebraska.”
The commitment pleased Blue Springs coach Kelly Donohoe, whose 2014 team will be attempting a three-peat after winning back-to-back Class 6 state championships.
[email protected]
They aren’t signed, sealed and delivered, but all-state defensive tackles Carlos and Khalil Davis say they might as well be, as they made a verbal commitment to play football at the University of Nebraska.
The Blue Springs High School junior standouts had been on Missouri coach Gary Pinkel’s radar for quite some time, but family ties and the appeal of playing in Lincoln were too much for the Tigers to overcome.
“We've been going to Nebraska camps and games for a long time,” said Carlos, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound defensive tackle. “Our uncle, Lorenzo Hicks (a Kansas City Southeast High School graduate), played at Nebraska (in 1987 and 1988) so we went up there quite a bit.
“It’s been our No. 1 choice since we started playing football. We listened to all the coaches who called, because we hadn’t heard from Coach Pelini.”
But two weeks ago, Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini visited the twins while they were working out at the high school.
“That was amazing,” added Khalil, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 260. “He came into the gym and we knew he was serious about signing us by making the trip to Blue Springs. We can’t sign because we’re just juniors, but we aren’t going anywhere but Nebraska.”
The commitment pleased Blue Springs coach Kelly Donohoe, whose 2014 team will be attempting a three-peat after winning back-to-back Class 6 state championships.
