Bulldogs Kickoff Senior Night with 44 Unanswered Points

Kale Tucking scored three touchdowns on two punt returns and a kickoff return. Photo: Kale Davis, Backroads Designs.

The Kearney Bulldogs (8-0) scored 44 points in the first quarter, in a lopsided 58-8 victory over the Grandview Bulldogs (3-5).

Kearney senior Kale Tucking scored twice early in the first quarter, returning back-to-back 65- and 45-yard punts for touchdowns, tying the Missouri state record for single game punt returns for touchdown.

Tucking’s two punt returns for touchdown tied former Kearney Bulldog and Mizzou safety, Tommy Saunders’ record from 2003.

Kearney’s Cruise Emmons hauled in a Carter Temple pass and ran eight yards to the endzone for six points. Landon Carkeek was a perfect 8-for-8 on point after kicks.

Kearney senior quarterback Carter Temple tucked the ball and easily slipped past the Grandview defense 26 yards for his first touchdown of the night. His second was through the air, dropping a lofted spiral directly into the hands of Luke Denston, with no defenders in sight, for the 34-yard catch and score.

Grandview was backed inside their 1-yard line with 1:12 to play in the first quarter. Kearney’s defense forced a safety, and the resulting kickoff was returned 60 yards by Kale Tucking for his third touchdown in Kearney’s 44-0 opening quarter.

Kearney Head Coach Logan Minnick pulled the starters, giving two second-team seniors opportunities to make big plays on Senior Night.

“I've never coached in a game where the same kid ran three kicks back,” said Minnick. “I’m so proud of the kids’ effort tonight, and so cool for our seniors to be honored.”

“This has been a special senior class here. And to get so many seniors in the end zone, with two punt returns and a kick return was awesome. Atlas Owen with a big pick six, excited for him and then we got Graham Davis in the end zone there as well,” Minnick added.

Senior Graham Davis scored on an 8-yard touchdown run, completing a clock-controlling drive by the second unit offense. “Coach Minnick was looking down the sideline (at practice) and he said, ‘Graham Davis, you want to score a touchdown this week?’ and I was like, oh yeah, you know it,” Davis said.

Atlas Owen heard the home crowd roar as he returned a 72-yard interception for a touchdown. “I saw the quarterback throw, and I’m thinking, I gotta get that,” Owen said. “So I just watched (the ball) into my hands, catch it, start running, and I'm just hoping no one catches me. It was amazing, that's gonna keep playing and playing the rest of my life.”

Grandview’s last-minute touchdown and 2-point conversion will remain a footnote in the minds of Kearney’s junior varsity defense, some of whom are seniors, still contributing, always learning, and stacking up unfinished memories of a Kearney Bulldog football season that is far from over.

Kearney will play their last regular season game next week at Ruskin (2-6) on Thursday, October 22.

KPGZ News – Mike Davis contributed to this story.

Undefeated Bulldogs too Much for Raytown South

Kearney scored early and often in a 63-6 conference thrashing of the Raytown South Cardinals. Bulldog senior quarterback Carter Temple (197 yards passing) led Kearney’s air attack, tying former Bulldog quarterback Anthony Pritzel (2016) for a share of the Kearney High School record of six touchdown passes in one half of play.

Cruise Emmons (6) cuts to the outside. Emmons ran for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Photo: Kale Davis, Backroads, designs.

On Kearney’s first play from scrimmage, Temple tossed a strike to a wide-open Caleb Stevens for a 38-yard touchdown reception. Landen Carkeek drove the extra point between the uprights – effectively planting Kearney’s stake in the ground for their next dominant-in-all-phases victory.

“Great effort again,” Head Coach Logan Minnick said. “Some of these games could be games where they kind of start looking ahead and I didn't feel like we did that all week. We thought we had a good week. There is still plenty to clean up. At the same time you know, you're talking about some little things in a 63 to 6 game.”  

With a minute left in the first quarter, senior wide receiver Ian Sheller caught a 10-yard Temple pass for touchdown. “We've been practicing that one all week, so when he called it, I was prepared for it,” said Sheller. “I knew where to go, which gaps to read – so yeah, I kind of just walked on in.”

Stevens scored again on a Carter Temple 28-yard pass with 45 seconds remaining in the first half, pushing Kearney’s halftime lead to 42-0. Sophomore place kicker Landon Carkeek was a perfect 9 of 9 on extra-point kicks with junior quarterback Caden Webster holding.

The Bulldogs balanced their game plan grinding out 216 yards on the ground including a Luke Denston 70-yard kickoff return for touchdown in the second half. Denston also scored on a 5-yard push pass from Temple in the first quarter and a 36-yard pass in the second quarter.

Cruise Emmons (96 yards rushing) scored midway through the second quarter on a 13-yard screen pass and later in the third quarter on a 34-yard run.

The Kearney defensive front three (Lane Cook, Ryker Bruto, Grant Bogert) and linebackers (Kale Tucking, Aidan Arellano, Luke Tucking) brought the heat, forcing Cardinals quarterback Amir Shelton to choose between throwing into tight windows or into the turf as the Bulldog secondary kept his receivers locked down; ultimately, holding Raytown South to 23 yards passing on 2 receptions.

“Our goal every week is to get a goose egg and make sure they get zero points every time,” said senior defensive back Kyle Pritzel, who came up with a red zone interception inside the 10-yardline. “Part of that is our game plan, making sure that we know what we're doing and going hard in the weight room. Coverage wise, we're doing our team drills and our indie drills every week so it’s all about preparation.”

On special teams, Grant Bogert had a successful onside kick from a short field, resulting from a personal foul against Raytown South on Kearney’s prior touchdown play.

Raytown South got on the board in the third quarter when kick returner Laurence Heath ran back a Kearney kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. The 2-point conversion attempt failed.

Kearney senior running back Brandon Johnson scored the final touchdown of the night, crashing three yards through the Raytown South defense for the 63-6 win.

“The kids played pretty well, but definitely, we've been telling them all week, it doesn't matter who we play over this next month. We’ve got to get better and that's what we’re going to do next week,” said Minnick.

Kearney (7-0) hosts Grandview (3-4) next Friday, October 16.

KPGZ News – Mike Davis, Kelly Gentry and Eric Stevens contributed to this story.

Bulldogs Undefeated after 31-6 Win over St. Pius

Offensive linemen JD Romero (70) and Sawyer Ritter (58) clear the way ahead. Photo: Kale Davis, Backroads Designs.

A three-touchdown fourth quarter by Kearney Bulldog senior quarterback Carter Temple slammed the door on the St. Pius Warriors 31-6 in a highly anticipated matchup between two Missouri powerhouses.

Bulldog senior linebacker and kick returner Kale Tucking ran back the opening kickoff 92 yards for a lead Kearney would never relinquish. A Grant Bogert point after and 33-yard field goal gave Kearney a short-lived 10-0 lead, until St. Pius quarterback Jake Nichols threw a quick pass to his reliable target, Chase Brookings in the endzone for the first and only points the Warriors would score. The second and third quarters remained locked at 10-6.

“That's one of the best teams in the state regardless of class,” said Kearney head coach, Logan Minnick. “So proud of our kids. We told them it was going to be a heavyweight punch –  they were going to land some punches, and we were going to land some punches.”

Both teams had captured early-season wins over class 6 Rockhurst. This matchup was dead-even, and while the rankings coming into the game might have given Kearney a slight edge, the way in which both defenses slugged it out for four quarters left no doubt these were two of the best teams in the state.

A late first half interception in the endzone by Kearney linebacker Luke Tucking halted a lengthy drive and potential score going into halftime by a talented St. Pius offense. Kearney linebacker Jackson Lager made his presence felt in pass coverage with multiple pass breakups, a fumble recovery and a critical fourth quarter redzone interception.

“Proud of the whole overall defensive effort. That team is averaging over 40 points a game. You hold them to the six they scored on their second drive, then nothing from that point on, that's what we do here,” said Minnick.

Kearney Bulldog offense on the move to another score. Photo: Kale Davis, Backroads Designs.

Carter Temple ran through St. Pius linebacker, Thomas Dickerson and flew by two more Warrior defenders to the corner of the endzone on a 31-yard keeper at the top of the fourth quarter. Kearney’s momentum surged as the senior team captain led the Bulldog charge to victory with two final scores, a 27-yard pass to tight end Caleb Stevens, and a goal line carry behind a fired-up Kearney Bulldog offensive line with 1:48 remaining.

The Bulldogs (6-0) remain undefeated and return to conference play at Raytown South (3-3) next Friday, October 9.

KPGZ News – Mike Davis and Kelly Gentry contributed to this story.

Kearney Steamrolls Winnetonka 72-7

The first play from scrimmage revealed a long night ahead for the Winnetonka Griffins. Kearney linebacker, Kale Tucking recovered a Luke Tucking forced fumble by Winnetonka quarterback Khilan Allen.

Kearney’s opening play from offense was a perfectly scripted Carter Temple pitch to Cruise Emmons, a reverse handoff to Luke Denston, and Denston sprinting 32 yards to the endzone. The Grant Bogert point after kick was good.

Carter Temple (15) takes a snap from the shotgun. Photo: Kale Davis, Backroads Designs.

Only 18 seconds had ticked off the game clock. From the opening kickoff, Kearney had forced and recovered a fumble, perfectly executed a halfback reverse for a touchdown, split the uprights on a Grant Bogert point after kick, and taken a 7-0 lead – the first of five Kearney Bulldog touchdowns in the first quarter.

Moments later, Bogert recovered his own onside kick at the Winnetonka 49-yard line where Bulldog running back Matthew Lindsey would arch a deep spiral to a wide-open Caleb Stevens for a catch and run to the endzone.

Kearney’s 14-0 lead following the point after kick was about to boil over and spill on the Winnetonka Griffins. The Kearney defense had Winnetonka pinned deep in their own territory when a high snap from center sailed through the endzone. In slightly over three minutes, the Kearney Bulldogs recorded a safety, secured a 16-0 lead, and maintained possession of the football. It almost felt unfair to the hapless Griffins. Eventually, it would get worse for Winnetonka.

Matthew Lindsey carried the ball 36 yards, slicing arcs through the Griffin defense for Kearney’s third touchdown at the 8:53 mark. Bulldog quarterback Carter Temple helped himself to the endzone with a 9-yard carry and Ian Sheller punched in a one-yard touchdown with 2:51 to go in the first quarter. It was 37-to-nothing and it was all Bulldogs.

By halftime, the Griffins were assured this game had fallen desperately out of hand. On this crisp, glittering homecoming evening, the Kearney Bulldogs cruised close to effortlessly on their own home turf with fresh memories of a hard-fought 22-13 win at class 6, Rockhurst one week prior.

Early in the second quarter, Kearney linebacker Kale Tucking returned a Winnetonka punt 69 yards for a touchdown. Matthew Lindsey added his second touchdown on an 11-yard scramble and the scoreboard points on the home side rolled like a slot machine.

Kearney wasn’t finished. For the Winnetonka Griffins – at every level, from every position – Kearney’s absolute and utter dominance was unstoppable.

With a 51-0 lead, Kearney defensive back Braylon Burnside picked off a Khilan Allen pass and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown.

Just over two minutes remained in the first half as Kearney running back Cruise Emmons tucked the football and raced down the sideline cutting, spinning and slipping tackles. Collared by a defender and breaking what looked to be a sure tackle, Emmons ran free and tight-roped the sideline with skilled footwork and crossed the goal line on a magnificent 20-yard touchdown run.

The Bulldogs rumbled into the locker room with an astonishing 65-0 halftime lead.

“That's the most points I've ever scored in a game as a head coach,” said Kearney head coach Logan Minnick. “You try at times not to let it get that lopsided, but at the same time, you know when you score 65 in the first half, you know what it is. And when you score on special teams, you score on defense, you score on offense – and I think we had three offensive drives that were one play – the score can get a little more out of hand.”

Kearney Running back Braiden Feurer carried a Caden Webster handoff three yards for a touchdown on a nice drive by the second unit offense at 5:34 in the third quarter.

Griffin quarterback Khilan Allen saved himself and his Winnetonka teammates from a 72-0 shutout on a 3-yard keeper to the endzone in the fourth quarter.

The final 72-7 score is reflective of two teams going in completely different directions. Even as conference opponents, the Bulldogs (5-0) and the Griffins (1-4) can’t reasonably be categorized as rivals. Kearney leads the matchup historically 18-2 going back to August of 2010. Rivalries aren’t built on one team completely dominating the other. Ideally, every game would be a nail-biter to the finish, and each team would accept the outcome and shake hands after. Reality is that high school football sometimes teaches hard lessons.

The 5-0 Kearney Bulldogs face the 5-0 St. Pius Warriors next Friday, October 2, at St. Pius X High School.  

KPGZ News – Mike Davis contributed to this story.

Kearney Played Up and Won Out – Takes Down Rockhurst 22-13

A vicious Bulldog defense held the Hawklets to 13 points in a highly anticipated class 4 versus class 6 slugfest between two metro heavyweights.

Kearney (4-0) jumped ahead early on a third-and-goal, Carter Temple to Cruise Emmons screen pass, culminating a 7-minute drive on the Bulldogs’ opening possession. Before the end of the first quarter, Temple delivered an arching spiral to a wide-open Matthew Lindsey for a 52-yard touchdown catch and stayed on target passing to Ian Sheller for the two-point conversion putting the Bulldogs up 15-0.

Carter Temple (15) breaks free for a Bulldog touchdown. Photo by Kale Davis, Backroads Designs.

“We just wanted to get some points up on the board early,” said Temple. “We came out strong the first two drives and punched them in the mouth and that set the tone for the entire game.”

Midway through the second quarter, Rockhurst quarterback Garrett Miller fired a 36-yard touchdown pass to Cash Lewandowski, putting Rockhurst on the board 15-7.

Rockhurst (2-2) entered the contest averaging 34 points per game. Kearney’s defensive ends Grant Bogert and Lane Cook pressured and hit Miller all evening – Bogert with six quarterback pressures and one sack and Cook with four quarterback pressures.

Kearney nose tackle Ryker Bruto recovered a fumble, but perhaps more significantly, he clogged up the interior of one of the biggest offensive lines in the state for four quarters, facing the likes of Rockhurst center Jack Sprague.

Kearney senior linebacker Luke Tucking was a wrecking ball in the Rockhurst backfield with seven solo tackles, one tackle for loss, four quarterback pressures, a sack and a forced fumble.

“We knew that running back (Ben Hayes) was good. We set our game plan around stopping the run and keeping their quarterback contained,” Tucking said. “Those guys are definitely the strongest I've ever played and probably the biggest. It was fun playing them.”

Neither team scored in the third quarter. At 11:52 in the fourth, Carter Temple caught the Rockhurst defense on their heels. Temple faked a handoff to Cruise Emmons and darted 39 yards for the touchdown and a 22-7 lead following the Grant Bogert extra point.

“Their (Rockhurst) running linebackers were filling gaps like crazy,” said Bulldog center Karter Pogue. “Our mindset was as soon as you have that double-team clamped, the guard is going to the linebacker, making sure the running backs are getting those (extra) yards, example: Carter Temple scoring that fourth quarter touchdown.”

“I can't give enough props to the offensive line,” Temple said. “They came into this game wanting to work. We literally can't do it without them.”

With 2:12 to play in the game, Kearney leading 22-7, Rockhurst quarterback Garret Miller hit Tristan Johnson on a 10-yard touchdown reception. A missed extra point wasn’t a factor in the final score. Rockhurst successfully recovered an onside kick with 2:09 to play.

With a first down from the Kearney 34-yard line, Rockhurst snapped the ball in what would be their last scoring opportunity. Miller zipped a pass to the endzone that landed in the hands of Bulldog linebacker Kale Tucking who brought the ball out of the endzone, zigzagging to midfield where the Kearney offense would finish the game in their victory formation.

“It's a full team effort,” said Kearney head coach Logan Minnick. “What an unbelievably cool win. I think this is one of the biggest regular season wins we've had since being here. I’m excited for our community. Offseason, everybody wanted to know why we even agreed to play this game. We play for this kind of situation. Now we are battle tested. We may have another game like this down the road, and we've been in this situation.”

Kearney’s offense adapted to whatever the Rockhurst defense gave them, running the ball 41 times for 191 yards averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Carter Temple was 5 of 9 for 103 yards passing and led the Bulldogs in rushing with 111 yards on 18 carries.

“I think that's why we win big games, because we can do both (run and pass) even better this year. Everybody is doing really well. It's super exciting,” Temple said.

KPGZ News – Mike Davis contributed to this story.