The Kearney Bulldogs drew one of the toughest schedules imaginable; opening their season against Fort Osage and later facing in order: Smithville, Park Hill, North Kansas City and Grain Valley. Kearney remains 6-0 and sits at the top of Missouri Class-4.

*Kearney Prevails 28-14 over Grain Valley. Photo by Ray Weikal.*

“We know we're battle tested. When we go at this thing and try to make a run at (a title) you know it's going to be that way,” said Head Coach Logan Minnick. “We've got two teams in our district ranked in the top five in class-4, so it's not long before we're playing huge games again.”

Grain Valley mobilized every strength they could muster right up to the final minutes with 6-man defensive fronts, and a vicious ground attack behind sophomore running back, Dawson Head who ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries.

Despite a brilliant effort by the visiting eagles, they couldn’t contain an overwhelming Kearney offensive attack. Bulldog quarterback Carter Temple scored twice in the first half on 1-yard and 4-yard runs. With 23 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Temple hit Dryden Hendrix on a 24-yard screen pass. Hendrix shed five, would-be tacklers on his way to the end zone as Kearney took a 21-7 halftime lead.

“Those last two wins against class-6 teams were definitely tough, but tonight was honestly a little tougher,” said Kearney senior linebacker Konner Dampier. “They were some big dudes and were technically sound, but we came out with the win tonight.”

Temple ran the football 21 times for 74 yards and 3 touchdowns. His final score, with 59 seconds remaining in the game, was on a reverse-field cutback move that left Grain Valley defenseless.

Kearney running back Matthew Lindsey rushed for 78 yards on 8 carries, Hendrix had 37 yards and a touchdown. Overall, the Bulldog offense had 198 yards rushing and threw for 143 to the Eagles’ 157 rushing and 32 passing yards.

Kearney hosts Raytown South next week for Homecoming.

KPGZ News – Mike Davis contributed to this story.