Bulldogs Clinch Conference Title

The Kearney Bulldogs crushed Excelsior Springs in a 56-0 shutout, finishing the regular season with a 9-0 record and a Suburban Blue Conference championship.

“Our goal to start the year is always to win the conference championship,” said Head Coach Logan Minnick. “I'm excited for the boys to be able to add that date to the banner in the gym. That’ll be there forever.”

Senior running back Tristan Williams began the Bulldog scoring-fest in the first quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run. Photo by Eric Stevens.

This game was never close. Kearney racked up 456 yards of offense and held Excelsior Springs to 51 total yards on a night in which it appeared the entire team saw some playing time.

Kearney’s second team offensive and defensive players were filtering into the game during the first half of play. “I bet we played 80 kids,” said Minnick. “We told (the second unit) at halftime, ‘the expectation is you put more points on the board, and you hold the shutout,’ they did that, and I’m really excited for our young kids.”

Senior running back Tristan Williams began the Bulldog scoring-fest in the first quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run. First quarter scoring continued with a Carter Temple pass to senior wideout Trent Dostal for a 20-yard touchdown; senior running back Grant Noland scoring on a 2-yard run; and Dostal scoring on a 10-yard pass reception. Jacob Dillon was a perfect 4-of-4 on point-after kicks in the opening quarter.

Kearney’s second quarter started with junior quarterback Brad Doll passing to junior tight end Drew Nelson for a 20-yard touchdown. Senior Corbin Emmons scored on a 3-yard carry and Brad Doll scored on a 3-yard quarterback keeper. Dillon was 2-of-2 on point-after kicks following the Nelson and Emmons scores and Angelo Donze split the uprights following Doll’s touchdown.

With a basketball-like scoring pace, Kearney headed to the halftime locker room with a 7-touchdown, 49-0 advantage.

“We told our kids before the game, this is week nine and we should be playing our best football game of the year tonight,” said Minnick. “We just need to continue to stack our best game after best game on top of each other as we go through this playoff run,” he added.

The Bulldog second unit finished the game’s scoring with a 65-yard push pass from freshman quarterback Cade Holder to junior wide receiver Graham Parker, for the 56-0 victory.

Kearney earned a first-round bye next week as district playoffs begin on November 1. The Bulldogs will host either Excelsior Springs or Van Horn at Bulldog Stadium November 8.

Junior tight end Drew Nelson and his teammates are looking forward to the bye week. “Right now, going into this bye week, we just need to get in the weight room and get locked in for these next few weeks. Whoever (we play) doesn't matter. We're just going to bring it to them.”

Mike Davis contributed to this story.

Hungry Bulldogs Feast on Winnetonka

The Kearney Bulldogs are another step closer to their ultimate goal with a 56-12 conference win over the Winnetonka Griffins. The victory on Friday, October 18, secures at least a share of the Suburban Blue Conference title. With a win over Excelsior Springs this week, Kearney would earn sole possession of the conference title.

The Bulldogs scored six touchdowns in the first half, beginning with an Ace Biddix 2-yard carry from the ham package. That was the senior offensive lineman’s first carry and first touchdown of the season.

Kearney moves to 8-0 on the season with the 56-12 victory. Photo by Ray Weikal.

“I was so excited for Ace,” said head coach Logan Minnick. “We practiced it during the week and told him he was going to get an opportunity. I’m happy for him to get that score on Senior Night,” Minnick added.

Senior running back Tristan Williams scored just minutes later on a 1-yard carry that would be the first of his 3-touchdown evening. Jacob Dillon was 6 of 6 on point-after kicks, Angelo Donze was 2 for 2.

It was a busy Senior Night as Trent Dostal scored two touchdowns, the first on a 6-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Carter Temple, giving the Bulldogs a comfortable first quarter, 21-0 lead.

Junior running back Corbin Emmons darted through the Griffin defense for a 20-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. Emmons led the Kearney rushing attack with 96 yards on 11 carries and the touchdown.

Tristan Williams scored twice in the second quarter, once on a 5-yard run, and later on an 11-yard pass from Carter Temple, giving the Bulldogs a commanding 42-0 halftime lead.

Winnetonka opened the second half with a 95-yard kickoff return for touchdown by sophomore Derrick Coleman but missed the extra point kick.

With 3:55 to go in the third quarter, senior all-state linebacker Theo Grace intercepted an attempted Winnetonka screen pass and returned it, sprinting 90 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.

“I was running like I took some candy,” said Grace. “I saw Grant (Noland) next to me and I knew it was going to be a touchdown.”

Winnetonka junior Dominic Vallenti caught an 8-yard pass in the endzone, against the Bulldog second unit defense early in the fourth quarter. The extra point was blocked by Kearney.

With the score 49-12, and Winnetonka still playing their starters against Kearney’s second team, the momentum began to take a turn.

“I thought the second unit gave a great effort. When you bring them in you want to keep that goose egg on the board and not give up two scores,” said Minnick. “When it gets to the point where they score again and the turbo clock is about to go away, we had to put the ones back in, which you never feel real comfortable doing. But at that point you’ve got to keep the game in hand.”

Trent Dostal finished the scoring, and effectively, the game with a 30-yard jet sweep for the final touchdown. Kearney moves to 8-0 on the season with the 56-12 victory.

The Bulldogs are on the road at Excelsior Springs for the final regular season game, Friday, October 25. KPGZ 102.7FM will broadcast the game beginning with the pregame show at 6:40. Kickoff is at 7 pm.

Mike Davis contributed to this story.

Kearney Shuts Out Raytown South 50-0

The 7-0 Bulldogs racked up 337 yards of offense on 45 plays in a conference game against the Raytown South Cardinals. The Cardinal offense was smothered by a dominant Bulldog defense that pressured Ray South’s senior quarter back, Troy Jefferson all night – totaling 2 sacks and 4 tackles for loss.

Senior all-purpose football player, Grant Noland opened the first-quarter scoring with a 48-yard punt return. Jacob Dillon added the extra point giving Kearney a one touchdown lead. Minutes later junior wide receiver Hudson Best scampered to the endzone on a 22-yard carry followed by a 2-point conversion. The Bulldogs led 15-0.

Tristan Williams added his second touchdown on a 17-yard carry late in the third quarter.

The second quarter began with a Tyrus Smith, 2-yard carry from the heavy formation (also known as the Ham Package), giving the senior all-state center his first score as a ball carrier. “We practiced it yesterday and got it done,” said Smith. “It felt like I was back in the day, playing running back in little league. It felt natural,” Smith said.

“Tyrus looked like Jerome Bettis right there, said head coach Logan Minnick. “We got the big fella in there. I was excited for him, and I know the kids were excited for him too,” Minnick added.

Senior running back Tristan Williams led the Bulldogs with 63 yards on 12 carries, scoring the first of his two touchdowns with 4:27 to go in the second quarter. Dillon’s PAT gave Kearney a 29-0 lead.

With less than a minute on the clock, Bulldog senior wide receiver Trent Dostal caught a pass from quarterback Carter Temple on the 19-yard line to set up a follow-up touchdown throw – again to Dostal – on the next play. Kearney went to halftime with a commanding 36-0 lead after the Dillon PAT.

Coach Minnick talked about Trent Dostal’s skill sets: “Yeah, Trent plays both ways and he's really good at both, and on special teams. We’re very fortunate to have him. I’m very excited for him to finally get his time out here under the Friday night lights because he's earned it.”

Tristan Williams added his second touchdown on a 17-yard carry late in the third quarter and Jacob Dillon was accurate on the PAT.

At 43-0, the running clock gave the Bulldogs just enough time for the second unit and JV teams to score as sophomore Kale Tucking dashed 51 yards for the final score of the game and the shutout. Bulldogs 50, Raytown South 0.

“There's a lot of leadership in the locker room,” said Senior Trent Dostal. “I see a lot of the seniors telling the younger kids what they see out there, and that way, the younger kids know what to do. Those younger kids are also paying attention in the film room. They're also there on Sundays, always looking to get better,” said Dostal.

The 7-0 Kearney Bulldogs host Winnetonka on Friday, October 18. 102.7FM will broadcast the game. Pregame begins at 6:40. Kickoff is at 7:00 PM.

Mike Davis contributed to this story.

Unbeaten Kearney Defeats Grain Valley 29-6

Senior Grant Noland was just getting started with a 65-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Carter Temple on the Bulldogs’ first offensive play. “I didn’t know Coach (Minnick) was going to call that play,” said Noland. “Carter put it on the money again and I just ran it in. It’s always big to score early like that,” added Noland.

“Grant is an unbelievable player, played both ways tonight, made several catches and the big ball right out the gate,” said Kearney head coach Logan Minnick. “I knew when the defense got the 3-and-out, we were going to take a shot. “Carter Temple puts an absolute dime (on the throw), and we go up six points,” said Minnick.

Noland scored again in the third quarter on an 89-yard kickoff return, side-stepping a defender in front of the Kearney bench and sprinting free to the end zone. “I don’t know why teams keep kicking to Grant Noland, but it’s not very smart at times,” said Minnick.

Kearney defense converges on Grain Valley running back Robert Palmer (6).

Kearney’s defense went into the game challenged by Class-5 Grain Valley’s 40-points-per-game scoring average and senior tailback, Robert Palmer, who is ranked second in the metro averaging 192 yards per game.

Senior linebackers Theo Grace and Jacob Dillon along with junior defensive lineman Mason Beaver combined for three sacks and eight tackles for loss and a Jacob Dillon fumble recovery. The Bulldogs held the Grain Valley offense to 5 of 13 on third down efficiency and 1 of 8 on fourth down.

Carter Temple was 4 of 8 for 133 yards and 2 passing touchdowns; the long ball to Grant Noland and a fourth quarter, 24-yard shot to junior tight end Drew Nelson. Temple had 40 rushing yards on 10 carries including a 3-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Jacob Dillon kicked a 24-yard field goal in the first quarter. With no scoring by either team in the second quarter, Kearney took a 16-0 lead to the half.

Carter Temple (15) hands the ball to Tristan Williams (24).

Tristan Williams led the team in rushing with 62 yards, Corbin Emmons, Hudson Best, and Trent Dostal added 25, 17, and 13 yards respectively, giving the Bulldogs a solid 160 yards on the ground.

Grain Valley running back Robert Palmer broke free of the Bulldog defense early in the third quarter on 60-yard touchdown run. With the Eagles’ missed extra point, that touchdown remained Grain Valley’s only score of the night.

Kearney junior tight end Drew Nelson finished out the scoring with a 24-yard reception from Carter Temple, capping off the 29-6 Bulldog victory against one of the most physically demanding teams on Kearney’s schedule.

“This was one of the toughest games I've seen as far as the the physical nature of the game,” said Minnick. “We told our kids all week when a team wants to play a Kearney style of football, we're going to come out on top and I think you saw that tonight. Now, hats off to them. That's a really good football team.”

“For three weeks in a row, we played (two) Class-6 and a big-time Class-5 program, and we found a way to get through it. Unbelievable job for the kids being so physical these last three weeks,” Minnick added.

The 6-0 Kearney Bulldogs are on the road next week. They’ll play at Raytown South on Friday, October 11. Kickoff is at 7:00 PM.

Mike Davis contributed to this story.

Bulldogs Hold Ft. Osage Scoreless on the Road

The Class 4 defending state champs reloaded their 2024 roster with speed, power, and defense. In a nail-biter against one of the top-ranked teams in Missouri, the Kearney Bulldog defense locked down an explosive Ft. Osage offense for the better part of four quarters.

Bulldog Senior Tre Smith darted through the Ft. Osage defense on a 15-yard reverse in the second quarter for the opening score. Jacob Dillon’s point after gave Kearney a 7-point lead that the defense protected until the Bulldogs scored two touchdowns in the final two minutes – one of which was a pick six – shutting out Ft. Osage 21-0.

“I’m just glad we got the shutout,” said senior linebacker Theo Grace. “Last year, we were a great defense, but we couldn’t get the shutout, so that’s just awesome to see on the scoreboard.”

If indeed, great defenses win championships, the Ft. Osage Indians, and the Kearney Bulldogs have promising futures this season.

Grant Noland - Photo by Chrystan Ferrell

“That’ll be one of the best defenses we’ll play against all year and I’m sure their coach will tell you the same thing about ours,” said Kearney head coach Logan Minnick. “That’s one of the best defenses you’re going to see. They’re physical, they run well. That number-seven, Anthony Thompson is one of the best linebackers I’ve coached against in my career. He is an absolute monster. We were throwing two and three guys at him at the same time, and he was still making plays.”

The Bulldogs held tightly to a 7-point lead for nearly three straight quarters as both defenses slugged it out. Ft. Osage threatened to score in the fourth quarter after a sustained drive and a deep pass from Jonathan Ross to Nicholas Penamon. The Bulldog defense prevailed.

Just as Kearney’s offense appeared to have the game salted away on safe running plays up the middle, Grant Noland took the shotgun snap and sprinted outside and down the sideline 35 yards for what appeared to be the final touchdown of the game. Jacob Dillon’s point after gave Kearney a late 14-0 lead.

“During the time-out huddle, Coach Minnick said: ‘Grant, jab-step outside,’ Theo (Grace) got the edge sealed and it worked,” Noland said.

Aidan Arellano Captures the interception and takes it to the house to clinch the win. - Photo by CHrystan Ferrell

In their final possession, under heavy pressure, Ft. Osage quarterback Jonathan Ross threw a late interception as Kearney defensive back Aidan Arellano jumped the pass and ran untouched to the endzone for the pick-6.

“I’m unbelievably proud of our kids, I think we were in a little bit better shape than they were as it came down the stretch, and we take a lot of pride in that,” Minnick said.

“I love starting off the season with hard games,” said Grace. “Our first four games are hard and that’ll get us ready to play against tougher teams.”

The Bulldogs host Grandview Friday, September 6. KPGZ 102.7 will broadcast the game beginning with the pregame show at 6:40. Kickoff is at 7:00.

Mike Davis contributed to this story.