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.

Kearney Softball Smashes Home Opener Over Staley

Once again Kearney Varsity Softball bats were on fire on Tuesday, September 10, when the Bulldogs hosted the Staley Falcons. The first home game of the season saw fireworks with an impressive display of hitting and pitching as Kearney took the win 10-1.

Kate Landewee closed out the game and pitched 4 and two-thirds innings and had six strikeouts.

The Bulldogs followed one of Coach Birchfield’s keys to the game: score early and often. In the first inning, Brooke Paalhar singled and scored one run. In the bottom of the second inning Alyssa Quick homered to center field, and Macy Morrow doubled, each scoring one run to add to the Bulldog lead.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the third inning, Kate Landewee hit a grand slam to left field, driving in four more runs.

Alyssa Quick pitched two and one-third innings. She gave up two hits and zero runs, struck out four and walked one. Kate Landewee closed out the game and pitched 4 and two-thirds innings and had six strikeouts.

Here are more highlights from the game:

- Macy Morrow went 2-4 with 1 RBI.

- Kennedi Casey went 1-3.

- Brooke Paalhar went 3-4 with 1 RBI.

- Jocelyn Lincoln went 1-4 with 1 RBI.

- Morgan Pennington went 1-3 1 RBI.

- Alyssa Quick went 1-1 with her first home run of the season. She had 1 RBI.

- Kate Landewee went 2-3 with her first home run of the season. It was a grand slam. She had 4 RBIs.

- Caroline Jury went 1-2.

The Varsity's record is now 6-2. Next game is Thursday at Park Hill South at 4:00pm.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Bulldogs Shine in GKC Softball Tournament

The Kearney Bulldogs softball team traveled to Adair Field in Independence, MO, to play in the Greater Kansas City Suburban Softball Invitational on Friday and Saturday, August 30 and 31. The players’ bats were hungry as the Bulldogs took four of five games in the tournament.

Game one was against the Grain Valley Eagles and was the Bulldogs’ only loss of the tournament. Alyssa Quick pitched at the start of the game, giving up two runs on two hits. Kate Landewee relieved Quick in the third inning and gave up an additional run but struck out five and walked one. Ryleigh Van Emmerik and Kennedi Casey each collected one hit for Kearney, but the Eagles shut out the Bulldogs, 3-0.

Photo by Vanessa Lincoln

Game two was played against the Odessa Bulldogs. Kearney started strong in the first inning after Kennedi Casey singled, scoring one run. They added to their early lead in the top of the third inning with Jocelyn Lincoln scoring a run. Odessa took the lead, 4-3, in the bottom of the third, but Ryleigh Van Emmerik singled, which helped Kearney Varsity Bulldogs tie the game in the fourth, and Casey singled, and Brooke Paalhar doubled, each scoring one run. Reghan Lueken earned the 6-4 win for Kearney.

Van Emmerik, Macy Morrow, and Casey each racked up two hits for Kearney Varsity Bulldogs. Casey went 2-for-2 at the plate and led the team with two runs batted in.

Photo by Vanessa Lincoln

The Bulldogs came away victorious in Game 3 against the Pleasant Hill Chicks 8-4. Brooke Paalhar singled, scoring one run, Kate Stumpenhaus singled, scoring one run, Jocelyn Lincoln homered to right field, scoring three runs, and Reese Narron grounded out, scoring one run, all in the first inning. In the second inning Brooke homered to center field, scoring two runs.

The Bulldogs accumulated 11 hits in the game. Ryleigh Van Emmerik, Lincoln, Paalhar, and Kennedi Casey each collected two hits for Kearney Varsity Bulldogs. Lincoln and Paalhar each drove in three runs.

Kearney earns a walk-off victory over the Platte County Pirates in Game 4 by a score of 7-5. The Bulldogs were down 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Jocelyn Lincoln homered to center field, scoring three runs. Lincoln drove in six runners in the win.

Kearney piled up 10 hits in the game. Lincoln and Paalhar each collected three hits for Kearney and Landewee collected two hits in two at bats.

The Bulldogs came away with another walk off win in Game 5 against the Lee’s Summit West Titans, 5-4. Kearney tied the game at three in the bottom of the fifth when Brooke Paalhar doubled. A walk in the top of the seventh gave the Titans the lead but Kennedi Casey singled, and Stumpenhaus hit into a fielder's choice, each scoring one run in the bottom of the seventh to win the game.

Kearney will travel to Blue Springs for their next game on Wednesday.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.