Kearney Quiets the Tigers 49-7

The Kearney Bulldog faithful rolled into the Warrensburg Activities Complex parking lot Saturday morning and gathered for a tailgate party. Intent on another Bulldog victory, they crowded into the stadium together, filling every available seat on the visitor-side bleachers – and they were loud.

Before the end of the first quarter, disappointment silenced the Warrensburg side of the stadium. The Warrensburg Tigers were on a roll, winning five straight behind a promising sophomore quarterback, a 2,000-yard rusher, and an exceptional wide receiver. For the second time in 12 months, the Tigers would face the Kearney Bulldogs – at home – for the right to move ahead in the state playoffs.

Kearney linebacker Kale Tucking stole a soft lob from Tigers sophomore quarterback Camden Mannering and ran it back 54 yards for the pick-six.  Photo by Eric Stevens.

The Bulldogs broke Warrensburg’s bracket. Dryden Hendrix ran 15 yards to the endzone to cap a 96-yard drive in the opening salvo. Kearney’s offensive line pushed the Tiger defense all over the field, clearing the way for four more touchdowns in the first half, but not before Kearney linebacker Kale Tucking stole a soft lob from Tigers sophomore quarterback Camden Mannering and ran it back 54 yards for the pick-six.  

With a 14-0 lead, Bulldog quarterback Carter Temple sprinted 29 yards behind the downfield blocking of Kearney’s running backs for the touchdown at 8:44 in the second quarter. Drew Nelson was a perfect 7-of-7 on PAT kicks.

With 3:48 to go in the first half, Bulldog senior running back Corbin Emmons scored on a 5-yard push pass from Temple. The Bulldogs got busy in the waning minutes of the first half as Temple threw a perfect strike to Emmons who took it 53 yards for the touchdown.

Emmons recovered a Warrensburg fumble on the ensuing kick-off return, and with 1:35 left, Kale Tucking scored on a reverse handoff that went 22 yards, closing the half with the Bulldogs overwhelmingly in charge at 42-zip. 

“What an unbelievable effort from our kids,” said head coach Logan Minnick. “We came out hot which was huge you know, but anytime you score on defense and you have a turnover on a kickoff return, the score could get a little bit lopsided.”

Kearney scored midway in the third quarter on a Carter Temple 45-yard run on fourth down with a yard to go. Coach Minnick turned the reins over to the second unit for the remainder of the game.

Warrensburg’s only score was on a fourth-quarter 40-yard carry by AJ Smith and successful point-after kick by Anton Wiederhoeft for the final 49-7 Kearney win.

“At the end of the day we played the game like Kearney football,” said Minnick. “The defense was absolutely lights out against a team that's averaging 40-plus points a game and likes to spread us out and throw it all over the field at times, but I think our kids have learned to play that kind of defense.”

The 12-0 Bulldogs travel to Festus, Missouri to face the 10-2 Festus Tigers next Saturday November 29, for the semifinal round of the playoffs.

KPGZ News – Mike Davis contributed to this story.

Clay County Delays Some Tax Bills Amid Senior Relief Program

Clay County officials announced that most 2025 property tax bills are now available online, with the release beginning November 21, 2025. While the majority of residents can access their bills as usual, the process is taking longer this year due to the introduction of the Senior Property Tax Relief Program.

This new initiative, designed to provide financial relief for senior homeowners, has added complexity to the county’s annual tax billing. The Collector’s Office is currently working through the challenge of calculating and processing more than 100,000 bills, ensuring every detail is accurate before posting them online. According to county officials, tax parcels not enrolled in the new program have been made available on schedule.

However, the 17,141 parcels participating in the Senior Real Estate Property Tax Relief Program are not yet posted. The county says these bills require extra review to ensure all program adjustments and eligibility criteria are correctly applied. The Collector’s Office emphasized its commitment to accuracy as it finalizes the remaining bills.

Residents whose properties are part of the Senior Relief Program should expect updates directly from the county as processing continues. In the meantime, officials encourage the public to visit the county’s official website, claycountymo.gov, or follow Clay County’s social media accounts for ongoing information and announcements.

The rollout of the Senior Property Tax Relief Program marks a significant change in how the county approaches property tax for older residents. County leaders say they are working diligently to ensure that all eligible seniors receive the benefits intended by the program, even as the additional workload has caused temporary delays in processing.

As the county completes its work, residents are urged to monitor official channels for the latest updates on their property tax bills and relief eligibility. The Collector’s Office plans to notify affected property owners as soon as their bills are available online.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Seven Kearney Athletes Make it Official on Signing Day

Seven Kearney High School Student Athletes were celebrated on Signing Day, November 20, 2025, at Kearney High School. Athletes met with visitors and showed off their memories and accomplishments in the Bulldog Arena lobby. Coaches and teachers introduced the athletes before they put pen to paper signing their letters of intent to compete in various sports at the college level.

Addison Fischer

Addison committed to Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville to play soccer.

Chloe Garrett

Chloe has signed to play softball at Stephens College in Columbia, MO. She helped the Kearney Softball team finish in 2nd Place in the Class 4 State Final game this year.

Kate Landewee

Kate committed to play softball at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO. Kate set several records at Kearney High School. She holds the single season record for strikeouts at 268. She also has a career record of pitching wins with 51 wins. She also sits in 2nd place for career strikeouts with 541.

Brooke Paalhar

Brooke has signed to play softball at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Brooke has set several records in her high school softball career including First Team All-District, First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Region, First Team All-State, 2025 State 2nd Place, Class 4 MSHSAA career hits, single season doubles, single season hits, single season batting average, career hits, career RBIs, career doubles, and career batting average.

Alyssa Quick

Alyssa committed to play softball at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. Alyssa also set records at Kearney. She holds the Kearney High School softball record for single season RBI’s 60, beating the old record of 50 RBIs. She also holds the single season records for home runs. Last year she held the record with 12 and she broke her own record, making 18 home runs this year.

Brock Scott

Brock has signed to play baseball at Newman University in Wichita, KS.

Whitaker Steward

Whitaker committed to compete in swimming at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He holds five of the eight school records in individual swim events at Kearney High School and has won seven State Championships and is the 2nd male to win a State Championship all four years of his high school career at Kearney. Whitaker also owns the overall state record in the 500 Freestyle, he has the Class 1 state record in the 200 Freestyle, and he qualified for the Olympic trials at 16 years old and made the Junior National Team this year.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Keep Safety in Mind This Thanksgiving

Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reminds everyone there will be an increase in traffic over the Thanksgiving holiday. The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with Wednesday and Sunday afternoon/evenings being the most heavily traveled times. Drivers should expect more traffic and the possibility of delays throughout the weekend. Regardless of traffic patterns, safety should remain a priority.

The counting period for the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday weekend is from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 26, 2025, to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 30, 2025. Troopers will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort), enforcing all traffic laws, and available to assist the public. Over the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday counting period, 11 people were killed and 571 injured in 1,664 traffic crashes.

If you plan to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend be aware of work zones, obey all traffic laws, and make sure everyone in your vehicle is wearing a seat belt or secured in the appropriate child safety seat for their size and age. Remember: Missouri is a hands-free state, so put the phone down and buckle up. There is never a reason to speed, drive aggressively, or drive impaired.

Due to ongoing road construction throughout the state, the Patrol suggests that travelers use the MoDOT Traveler Information Map to plan their travel days. The map provides up-to-date information such as road closures, delays, construction zones, and alternative routes. You can download the app for free to your smart device or access it here.

If being on or near the water is part of your Thanksgiving holiday weekend plans, remember that the water is becoming colder, and hypothermia is a concern. The body loses heat 25 times faster in water than in the air of the same temperature. The proper use of life jackets is imperative.

The public is encouraged to call the Patrol's Emergency Report Line 800-525-5555 or *55 on your cellular phone if they witness criminal activity, observe driving behavior that could cause a crash, or experience an emergency. These phone numbers are operational for both highway and water emergencies. If your celebration includes intoxicants, designate someone else to drive whether you are in a boat or vehicle. Don't become a statistic.

KPGZ News - MSHP

Swim Team Makes History at Championship Meet

Last week, the state boys swim and dive team journeyed across I-70 to St. Louis, competing in their State Championship Meet and turning in a performance that will be remembered for years to come. The boys were unstoppable from the first event to the last, rewriting school history, shattering state records, and capturing two more state championship titles. Their efforts culminated in an eighth-place finish out of 60 teams—marking the program’s highest placement in five years.

Back Row: Bennett Freeman, Isaac Jensen, Braeden Mallonee, Whitaker Steward, & Patrick McNellis. Front Row: Isaac Clayton, Milo Sumpter, & Landon Morrill.

Individual Standouts Steal the Spotlight

Whitaker Steward: A Legendary High School Career

Senior swimmer Whitaker Steward capped his high school career by tying the all-time record for the most individual state championship titles in Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) history, boasting seven titles over four years. Known for dominating races with performances reminiscent of Olympic legend Katie Ledecky, Steward continually distanced himself from the competition. This year, he added to his legacy with exceptional swims in both the 200 and 500 Freestyle events.

In the 200 Freestyle, Steward entered finals as the top seed after swimming a 1:40.03 in preliminaries. On championship day, he broke his own Class 1 State Record, lowering his time to a blazing 1:38.36—winning by a margin of at least three body lengths. With this victory, he claimed his third consecutive state title in the event and received All-American honors for the fifth time.

Steward’s dominance continued in the 500 Freestyle, where he not only secured the top seed with a 4:23.98 during prelims but nearly lapped his competitors in finals, finishing in 4:24.39—over 20 seconds ahead of second place. He became only the second male swimmer in MSHSAA history to win a state championship all four years of high school and earned his sixth All-American distinction.

Isaac Clayton: Diving to New Heights

Senior diver Isaac Clayton competed in his final high school meet, saving his best for last. Throughout much of the 11-dive competition, Clayton hovered between sixth and ninth place, but he nailed his final three dives and surged to a fifth-place finish. Clayton became the first male diver in program history to earn First Team All-State honors and stand on the podium at the state level—a remarkable achievement for someone who only began diving as a sophomore.

Braeden Mallonee: Making Waves Early

In just his second year swimming, sophomore Braeden Mallonee earned spots in two events—a feat few achieve. His rapid progression speaks volumes about his work ethic and determination. In the 100 Butterfly, he dropped his seed from 18th to 11th in preliminaries with a personal best of 54.94, ultimately finishing 14th in finals and earning All-State Honorable Mention honors. In the 100 Backstroke, Mallonee dropped a full second for a new PR in prelims, entered finals as the 12th seed, and finished 12th overall, once again receiving Honorable Mention recognition.

Relay Teams Showcase Depth and Determination

200 Medley Relay

The medley relay team faced disappointment after missing the top eight by just 0.05 seconds in preliminaries, finishing ninth. Refusing to settle, they returned in finals to shave off 1.5 seconds, with all four swimmers posting personal bests—demonstrating their grit even though the final result kept them in ninth place.

200 Freestyle Relay

The freestyle relay team delivered a remarkable four-second drop during preliminaries, finishing 25th. Every swimmer contributed a personal best split, reflecting the squad’s commitment to improvement and teamwork.

400 Freestyle Relay

In the 400 Freestyle Relay, the boys excelled, dropping two seconds for a new PR and securing the eighth seed for finals. They held strong and finished eighth, earning First Team All-State honors for the second consecutive year—a testament to the program’s consistency and growth.

A Season to Remember

From record-breaking individual performances to hard-fought relay races, the boys capped their season on a historic high. Their dedication, perseverance, and passion have set a new standard for the program.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.