Bulldogs Overwhelm Class-6 Park Hill 38-17

Kearney scored first with a 1-yard, Grant Nolan touchdown run in the second quarter and never looked back. A mauling Bulldog defensive front and adept coverage from the secondary frustrated Park Hill’s high-power offense from start to finish.

 “The biggest thing I keep thinking about this game is how much pride we take in that weight room. I think it showed if we're class 4 or class 6, it doesn't matter, the way our kids get after it in that weight room,” said Kearney Head Coach Logan Minnick. “They had some athletes over there. We won this game on the line of scrimmage, and we were pretty dominant.”

The Class-4 Bulldogs Dominated over Class-6 Park Hill - Photo by Kelly Gentry.

Park Hill got on the board with an Anna Anderson field goal at 4:49 in the second quarter. Kearney’s Jacob Dillon returned the favor with a 39-yard kick through the uprights with 1:21 to go in the half.

With less than ten seconds to go, it seemed Kearney would head to the halftime locker room with a 10-3 advantage until Bulldog quarterback Carter Temple threw a perfect 35-yard strike to the back of the end zone and into the outstretched hands of Grant Nolan.

Jacob Dillon’s point after kick gave the Bulldogs a 17-3 lead and they had the first possession of the second half. By 8:21 in the third quarter, Kearney was on the board again on a Corbin Emmons 45-yard dash to the end zone. Dillon followed up with the PAT as the Bulldogs took over the game at 24-3.

Kearney took advantage of the lead with a heavy running attack through the second half. The Bulldogs amassed 452 offensive yards: 114 passing and a devastating 338 on the ground. Junior Corbin Emmons (168 yards), and Senior Tristan Williams (106 yards) carried the rushing load.

“We were getting five or six yards before we would even get touched, both me and Corbin, so, (our O-line) was pretty good,” said senior running back Tristan Williams.

“We trust those guys back there with the rock,” said senior left tackle, Joe Schranz. “They run hard. I love to see it every single time.”

Park Hill quarterback Zane Thomas connected twice with wide receiver, Dante Dixon for two touchdown scores in the fourth quarter. The first for 30 yards and the second for 80 yards when Dixon broke free over the Bulldog secondary.

Bulldog quarterback Carter Temple ran 18 yards for a touchdown on a designed keeper play in the fourth quarter. Kearney led 31-17 with 4:38 remaining in the game when Temple handed the ball to Tristan Williams for a 1-yard touchdown and the 38-17 win over Park Hill.

“I’m just so proud of the way our kids came out,” said Minnick. “We said all week, to match them or to win this game, we're going to have to be the most physical team and I thought that showed up time and time again.”  

The 4-0 Kearney Bulldogs host Class 6, North Kansas City on Friday, September 27. KPGZ 102.7FM will broadcast the game. The pregame show begins at 6:40 PM. Kickoff is at 7:00 PM.

Mike Davis contributed to this story.

Bulldog Softball Holds Back Smithville

For the first Suburban Blue Conference game of the Bulldog softball team’s season, Kearney faced off against the Smithville Warriors on Tuesday, September 17. Both teams were there to win the rivalry, but Kearney was able to take the win with a score of 5-2.

Alyssa Quick pitched a complete game against the Smithville Warriors, only allowing 6 hits and 2 earned runs.

The Warriors put up the first run of the game in the top of the second inning after Avery Davis hit a solo home run to right field. The Bulldogs kept cool in the rest of the 2nd inning and top of the 3rd with a solid defense and pitching.

In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Kearney put up 4 runs as Macy Morrow singled and scored, Brooke Paalhar doubled and scored, Morgan Pennington singled and scored. Alyssa Quick singled and Reese Narron came in to pinch run. Kate Stumpenhaus doubled and drove in Pennington and Narron for the 4th run.

Kearney scored once more in the bottom of the 4th as Morrow went home on a Pennington sacrifice fly. The Warriors scored one more run in the top of the 7th but a solid Bulldog defense prevented any more batters from making it home.

Alyssa Quick pitched a complete game against the Smithville Warriors, only allowing 6 hits and 2 earned runs.

Other highlights of the game:

Macy Morrow went 3-3

Kennedi Casey went 1-2

Brooke Paalhar went 2-3 with 1 RBI

Morgan Pennington went 1-3 with 1 RBI

Alyssa Quick went 2-3 with 1 RBI

Kate Stumpenhaus went 1-3 with 2 RBIs

Jocelyn Lincoln went 1-3

The Kearney Bulldogs softball record is now 14-2 and 1-0 in conference play.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Platte-Clay Hosts Annual Blood Donation Event

The Community Blood Center has declared a blood emergency in our area. The Community Blood Center says our region is experiencing a blood shortage with dangerously low levels of O+, O-, B- blood types and platelets. Low levels are due to an increase in transfusion needs at local hospitals. The Community Blood Center is asking for donors’ help.

Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative in Kearney will be hosting a Community Blood Center donation event on Wednesday, October 2, from noon to 6 pm. The event will be held in their meeting room at 1000 W Highway 92 in Kearney.

Presenting donors will receive a free paring knife when they donate. Donors can book their appointment at SaveALifeNow.org/group and enter a group code EF2R.

For additional details contact Amanda McQuerrey at 816-903-7355 or amandam@pcec.coop.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story.

New KC Roadway Safety Coalition Launches

The Kansas City Region of the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety recently kicked off its new partnership of safety advocates who come together for a common purpose: to end traffic fatalities and serious injuries on Missouri public roadways.

More than 60 partners from various organizations in the nine counties of Cass, Clay, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, Platte, Ray, and Saline gathered on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at the Missouri Department of Transportation Kansas City District office in Lees Summit for the first meeting of the regional coalition.

“We were so encouraged and excited to see the support from across the region for improving highway safety,” said MoDOT District Engineer Chris Redline. “Focusing on reducing highway injuries and fatalities is something we can all play a role in and make a personal difference.”

Topics covered at the meeting included local traffic issues, the Missouri Hands-Free Law, working together as partners, and the state’s Buckle-Up Phone-Down campaign. Speakers included representatives from agencies like MoDOT, MSHP, MCRS-KC board members, and a testimony from Jo Higgins-Hines whose son, Jomari Hines, passed away tragically in a car crash just 10 days after graduating from high school this past summer.

“I have a deep-seated passion for improving safety standards and achieving measurable goals for safety enhancements, with a commitment to safeguarding lives and futures,” said Ashley Stark, Director of Safety & Security at the Sedalia School District and one of the KC MCRS board members. “I am driven to serve on our coalition to promote a culture of safety in our district, ensuring every journey is a step toward a safer, more secure environment.”

The focus of the coalition is education, community outreach, enforcement, leadership, and partnerships that advance Missouri’s strategic highway safety plan. Safety campaign focuses include occupant protection, distracted driving, speed and aggressive driving, impaired driving, teen driving, older driving, pedestrians, and other road users.

Membership in the coalition is open to any person or organization in the nine counties of the Kansas City Region wishing to participate in developing and implementing traffic safety strategies. Meetings are held quarterly across the district with both in-person and virtual options. The next meeting is in January.

Get more info on the website at www.savemolives.com/mcrs/Kansas-City-Region.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Bulldog Softball Smashes Lee’s Summit West

The varsity softball team took on the Lee's Summit West Titans on Monday, September 17. The Bulldogs smashed through the Titan defense in the bottom of the sixth inning to finish the game, 17-7.

Morgan Pennington went 3-5 with 4 RBIs for the Kearney Bulldogs.

The Kearney girls were able to score in the bottom of the first on a wild pitch, but the Titans struck back in the top of the 2nd with 3 runs. The score was going back and forth with both teams hitting the ball well. The Bulldogs found themselves winning in the bottom of the 6th inning with a score of 9-7.

The Bulldogs decided they didn't want to play defense again and scored 8 runs to win the game.

Macy Morrow went 1-2 with 1 RBI and Kennedi Casey went 1-4 with 1 RBI. Brooke Paalhar and Morgan Pennington each went 3-5. Paalhar had 3 RBIs and Pennington knocked in 4 RBIs.

Alyssa Quick went 3-5 with 2 RBIs, Kate Stumpenhaus went 1-4 with 2 RBIs, Caroline Jury went 1-3 with 1 RBI, and Ryleigh Van Emmerik went 2-4

Kate Landewee was on the mound for 5 innings and pitched six strikeouts. Reghan Lueken came in and pitched the last inning. She made two strikeouts.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.