Wildcats and Schultze Twins Crash Bulldog Senior Night
/The Bulldogs kept it close, exchanging touchdowns with the DeSoto Wildcats until the fourth quarter as DeSoto Quarterback Tyler Schultze connected with his identical twin brother, Ethan Schultze for 3 touchdown passes in a 45-28 victory over the Bulldogs.
DeSoto took an early 7-point lead midway through the first quarter on a Tyler Schultze to Ethan Schultze 40-yard touchdown pass. With 2:30 remaining in the quarter, Tyler Schultz broke loose on a 37-yard quarterback keeper for a touchdown. The missed extra point left the score 13-0.
Bulldog Quarterback, Casey Rooney responded with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Ian Acosta at the 6:13 mark in the second quarter. The Braxton Breedlove kick was good, putting Kearney on the scoreboard 13-7.
With 1:28 to go in the first half, Kearney took its first lead of the game as KJ Smith blasted into the endzone for a 4-yard touchdown run. The Bulldogs went to the locker room with a 14-13 halftime lead and a palpable momentum shift.
92 Kale Conway and the Kearney Bulldogs pushing upfield against the DeSoto Wildcats. - Kaylee Baggerly Photo
The Casey Rooney to Ian Acosta passing combination was electrifying. Early in the third quarter, the Bulldogs took a 21-13 lead on a spectacular 23-yard Rooney to Acosta fade pass at the back pylon of the end zone.
Kearney looked large and in charge until the Shultze brothers combined for 15 consecutive points: A Tyler Schultze 30-yard touchdown run followed by a 2-point Amarion Green conversion; and a Schultze to Schultze 28-yard touchdown pass capped by a Luke VanBooven point after kick.
With the Wildcats leading 28-21 on the ensuing kickoff, KJ Smith and Luke Noland lined up as kick returners. KJ Smith snagged the end-over-end kick and darted 86 yards for the touchdown return, tying the score 28-28.
With 5:29 to go in the third quarter, Bulldog fans engaged mega-decibel cowbell and bleacher stomping. Casey Rooney was on pace for 225 yards passing, connecting with Ian Acosta on 8 receptions for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns. This was still anybody’s game – for the moment.
DeSoto and the Schultze twins took control of the fourth quarter, doubling down on 25 and 34-yard passing touchdowns along with a 25-yard Luke VanBooven field goal. The 45-28 final score was even more crushing as 2 Bulldog Seniors, Keanon McNally and Ian Acosta, left the game with injuries.
The Bulldogs finish the regular season 4 and 4. District play begins next Friday. Stay tuned to 102.7FM and follow 1027.kearneymo.com for playoff information and schedules.
KPGZ Sports – Mike Davis Contributed to this story.
