Bulldogs Overpower Van Horn 49-7

Kearney scored three touchdowns in the first half and four touchdowns in the second half in the Missouri Class 4 District 8 semifinal game. For the seventh time this season, the Bulldog defense held their opponent to one score or less.

Despite their 21-0 lead, the first half of play was uninspiring for the 10-0, defending state champion, Kearney Bulldogs.

Uncharacteristic mistakes, penalties and missed opportunities prompted Head Coach Logan Minnick to call an early timeout and refocus his team on the sideline. “At least offensively, it felt like we extended the bye week into the second quarter,” said Minnick.

“I don’t think we were mentally locked in,” said junior quarterback Brad Doll. “I don’t think everyone was taking (Van Horn) seriously and that’s a great football team over there.”

Emmons had 98 yards rushing for 3 touchdowns on Friday against Van Horn. Photo by Eric Stevens.

Within minutes from the start of the contest, Corbin Emmons scored on a 1-yard touchdown carry. Grant Noland darted 28 yards at the 5:07 mark giving the Bulldogs a 14-point lead. Jacob Dillon was 2-for-2 on the point-after kicks.

With less than a minute to go in the second quarter, Brad Doll tossed a 40-yard touchdown pass to Trent Dostal on a third-and-12 play. Jacob Dillon’s PAT gave the Bulldogs a 21-0 halftime advantage.

“We told our kids – loudly – at times, we didn’t feel like we played our best half,” said Minnick. “We (the first team varsity) hadn’t played into a second half in almost a month. We knocked off a little rust there. We have several things we can clean up. There’s plenty to fix. At this point of the season, you can’t have a bad half. But we’ll take all the bad ‘21-to zero’ halves we can get,” Minnick added.

Sophomore cornerback Aiden Arellano intercepted a pass in the end zone, derailing a sustained Van Horn offensive drive in the opening minutes of the third quarter. The Bulldogs’ offensive line and running game went into high gear on a 21-yard touchdown run by sophomore Kale Tucking. Three minutes later, Corbin Emmons scored on a 1-yard carry, giving Kearney a 42-0 third quarter lead. Dillon and Angelo Donze were on target with the point-after kicks.

Early in the fourth quarter, Van Horn sophomore running back Edarrius Scruggs sliced through the Kearney second-team defense 60 yards for the Falcons’ only score. Kearney Bulldog senior all-purpose player, Grant Noland topped off the victory with a 48-yard rushing touchdown. Donze’s point after kick was good for the 49-7 win.

“Van Horn has beaten seven other teams. They’ve got some really good players over there; they’re well coached,” said Minnick. “Give them some credit too for their game plan. We made some really good second-half adjustments. We came out and said, ‘we’re going to be the most physical football team out here,’ and I think that showed in the second half.”

The Bulldogs host Savannah for the district title next Friday, November 15. KPGZ 102.7FM will provide the live, play-by-play broadcast. Pregame starts at 6:40.

Mike Davis contributed to this story.

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 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 a yet-to-be-determined opponent 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.

Bulldogs Dominant in 38-14 Win over Smithville

Two Missouri Class 4 rivals fought it out in a game that had multiple late-season implications. Second-ranked Kearney’s victory over third-ranked Smithville gives the Bulldogs a head-to-head advantage in both the Suburban Blue Conference and the Missouri Class 4, District 8 standings.

Kearney sophomore quarterback Carter Temple was 8 of 14 for 98 yards passing. Temple showcased his running ability with 4 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown.

“I couldn’t do it without my guys upfront who block for me,” said Temple. “I'm so thankful for everybody up there. I mean, they gave me so much time and you know my wide receivers, those fast guys, they go up there and get it. I trust them and I know they can get open.”

Kearney sophomore defensive back, Aidan Arellano picked off a pass from Smithville quarterback Peyton Steffen and ran it back for a touchdown midway through the first quarter.

“I was doing my drop back and I see the ball coming,” said Arellano. “Once I had it in my hands, I knew it was (going to) the end zone.” It was Arellano’s second pick-6 and Kearney’s third defensive score this season.

Grant Noland takes the snap for the Bulldogs - Photo By Eric Stevens

Senior running back Grant Noland ran two yards for the Bulldogs’ second, first quarter touchdown. Kicker Jacob Dillon added the respective point-after kicks giving Kearney an early two-touchdown lead. Dillon would manufacture an impressive score of his own early in the second quarter. After an earlier missed field goal attempt, Dillon punched a 45-yard field goal between the uprights, giving Kearney a 17-0 lead.

Kearney special teams continue to dazzle as senior wide receiver Tre Smith returned 2 punts averaging 42 yards and two kickoff returns for a 33-yard average.

Smithville scored once in the second quarter on a 5-yard run. Carter Temple responded with a 44-yard touchdown run on a fake handoff to Tristan Williams that fooled everyone in the stadium, giving the Bulldogs a 24-7 halftime lead.

Grant Noland scored his second and third touchdowns of the evening on 1- and 5-yard blasts from the heavy formation in the second half, giving Kearney a 38-7 lead. Smithville scored a late touchdown against the Kearney second-unit defense for the final 38-14 Bulldog win.

“That’s a great program over here,” said Bulldog head coach, Logan Minnick. “It’s been a long, long time since Kearney’s come over here and put a complete game together like that against these guys.”

“I’m fired up. Anytime you can come over here and get a win, like I said, it’s a statement win for our program tonight,” Minnick added.

The Kearney Bulldogs are 3-0 on the season and their schedule doesn’t get any easier over the next 3 weeks. Kearney hosts Class 6, Park Hill on Friday, September 20. 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.