Kearney Finishes with a State Championship

It’s difficult to limit one’s focus to just the score of a football game that impacts an entire community, the entire state for that matter.

The real story in Kearney’s 68-28 hammering of the Hillsboro Hawks is in the individual efforts of every coach, player and parent who dedicated themselves to an aspiration that ultimately, touched the lives of a much larger population in big-time fashion.

Senior running back Cameron Emmons muscled his way to 93 yards and 4 touchdowns - Photo Courtesy MSHSAA

In Kearney, Missouri, football matters.

The Bulldogs racked up 508 total offensive yards to Hillsboro’s 488. Senior quarterback, Casey Rooney was 11 of 13 in passing for 229 yards and 4 touchdowns. He made the most of outstanding pass protection from the Kearney offensive line giving him enough time to connect with Manny Linthacum for 5 receptions, 96 yards and 2 touchdowns; Bryce Page – 2 receptions, 45 yards and a touchdown; Cohen Jacobs – one reception of 47 yards for a touchdown; and Corbin Emmons – one reception for 20 yards.

Senior running back Cameron Emmons muscled his way to 93 yards and 4 touchdowns behind a clearly dominant, Kearney Bulldog offensive line.

“We thought we had a little bit of an advantage on the line of scrimmage, and I think that shows. Obviously, they (Hillsboro) were unbelievably talented at the skill positions and made a lot of plays that way, but we ran the ball pretty much at will all day,” said Bulldog Head Coach Logan Minnick. “It never felt like at any point if they continued to score that we wouldn’t be able to score as well.”

Senior quarterback, Casey Rooney was 11 of 13 in passing for 229 yards and 4 touchdowns - Photo Courtesy MSHsAA

On the second play of the game, Hawks senior running back Payton Brown sprinted wide-open downfield on an 82-yard pass reception only to be caught from behind and tackled at the one-yard line by Kearney junior safety Grant Noland. The Bulldog defense stuffed Hillsboro in statement-making style holding them to 4-and-out at the goal line. The defense would go on to frustrate Hillsboro in another goal line stand late in the second half, and force three fumbles for turnover.

“Shout-out to our defense, they didn’t quite hold to 13 or less (points) this week, but at the same time they played really good defense when they needed to,” said Minnick. “Two goal-line stands and a couple big turnovers as well; so, they played just as good as they needed to.”

Kearney’s 10 touchdowns were one point shy of the state record. The Bulldog win over Hillsboro is their fifth state football championship in six trips to the title game. Coach Minnick was on the staff of the Bulldogs’ 2015 state title and the 2016 second place teams.

“Hillsboro is an unbelievably good football team,” said Minnick. “I’m just proud of the way the kids came out and executed. We told our offense all week we may have to score every time we get it.”

In championship style, the 2023 Bulldogs achieved their goal and finished. As for Logan Minnick in his second year as Kearney’s head coach, he’s just getting started.

KPGZ Sports - Mike Davis contributed to this story