Junior Quarterback Brad Doll connected with Corbin Emmons on a 50-yard touchdown pass early in the first quarter. Williams quickly added two rushing scores, and it was 22-0 before the start of the second quarter. Kicker Jacob Dillon added his dependable point after kicks on the first and third touchdowns, and a Brad Doll to Theo Grace pass completed the 2-point conversion on the second score.
Early in the second quarter, Doll ran 20 yards on a quarterback keeper for a touchdown. Jacob Dillon’s point after kick gave Kearney a 29-0 lead.
Grandview – pinned deep against their own goal line – gave up a safety under heavy pressure from the Kearney defense adding another two points.
Before halftime, Tristan Williams would score on two 4-yard touchdowns followed by Jacob Dillon’s point after kicks. With a 45-0 lead, Kearney’s first-team offense and defense were finished for the night.
“I think that Grandview team is a little better than what the score indicated,” said Minnick. “You know when games get to that kind of situation, I thought our kids handled it really well. Get in, get that running clock going, get the young kids in and get ready for week three.”
Kearney’s second unit offense took over at the start of the third quarter. The second- and third-unit defense would give up the only Grandview score on a fourth quarter touchdown pass from Grandview quarterback Mehkl Fields to wide receiver Mikelis Johnson followed by a two-point conversion.
“You know when we talked during the off-season, I told you, we would build this team around our defense,” Minnick added. “We take so much pride in the weight room and the things we do here we think we can always play well (on defense) regardless of what the offense is doing. It was just a good overall team win, the kind of win we needed to have today.”
The Bulldogs play on the road against conference rival Smithville Friday, September 13. 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.
