It’s Kearney vs. Hillsboro for the 4A State Title

The Kearney Bulldogs will face the Hillsboro Hawks at Faurot Field in Columbia for the Missouri Class 4 State Championship on the heels of an overpowering 42-7 victory over the Jefferson City Jays.

With the score tied 7-7 in the first quarter, senior quarterback Casey Rooney threw a 69-yard strike to Manny Linthacum for the lead. Jefferson City would not score again.

Casey Rooney (10) on the keeper as Ace Biddix (51) seals the edge

Rooney was 7 of 10 for 241 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ quick-strike air attack. Speedster, Manny Linthacum led the team with 2 receptions for 160 yards and 2 touchdowns. Junior running back Corbin Emmons had 2 catches for 69 yards and a touchdown.

The upfront pressure of the Kearney Bulldog defense forced Jays senior quarterback, Jacob Wilson into 3 interceptions by seniors Carson Shear, Brycen Morrison, and junior Theo Grace. Wilson was held to 3 completions on 13 attempts for 44 yards.

“With (Defensive) Coach Brinkley and Danneman always game planning week-in and week-out, and all the communication, we just play as one team,” said senior linebacker Carson Shear.

While Jefferson City’s prolific running attack tallied 279 yards, the Bulldog defense allowed only one rushing touchdown and forced a second-half fumble on a quarterback keeper by Jacob Wilson.

Cohen Jacobs (5) and Danny Stansbury (2) in short coverage of Bradarious Lewis of Jefferson City

“We had to be patient in the back end, make sure they didn’t try anything fancy, a double pass or anything. After we got our reads, we knew we could fit downhill fast and everything the linebackers did bounced it right to me and “G” (Grant Noland) and we made a lot of tackles today,” said Senior safety, Gavin Warren.

With 28 seconds remaining in the first half, Casey Rooney pitched back to Cohen Jacobs, who connected on a 26-yard pass to senior tight end, Bryce Page on the 1-foot line. Senior running back Cameron Emmons crashed in for the score on a Rooney handoff as the Bulldogs controlled the lead 28-7 at halftime.

It was all Kearney in the second half. With 4:53 to go in the third quarter, Kearney ran a Rooney, to Linthacum, to Corbin Emmons hook-and-ladder pass play that resulted in Emmons outrunning the defender for the 58-yard touchdown, giving Kearney a 35-7 lead.

Late in the third quarter, from deep in their own territory, Casey Rooney launched a 91-yard bomb to a single-covered Manny Linthacum, who engaged the afterburners into the end zone. Kearney took a 42-7 lead following the Jacob Dillon point-after kick and that would be the final score of the contest.

“We knew there were some things in there we could take advantage of,” said Kearney Head Coach Logan Minnick. “That’s a very physical, fast, and sometimes overly aggressive defense. So, we knew there were some shot plays open if we could protect the quarterback. Hats off to our guys up front, keeping Casey (Rooney) clean the whole time, because those plays take a little bit of time to develop.”

“Unbelievable execution by our kids. We got a couple of our fun trick plays in there that were executed to perfection today. I’m just so proud of our kids and we’re going baby,” said Minnick.

The Bulldogs are moving on to Faurot Field in Columbia for the State Championship Saturday, December 2, at 11:00 AM. The Bulldog Radio Network will bring you the live, play-by-play action along with post-game interviews on 102.7FM, KPGZ, through the KPGZ app, and online at 1027kearneymo.com.

 KPGZ Sports – Mike Davis contributed to this story.