Unbeaten Kearney Defeats Grain Valley 29-6

Senior Grant Noland was just getting started with a 65-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Carter Temple on the Bulldogs’ first offensive play. “I didn’t know Coach (Minnick) was going to call that play,” said Noland. “Carter put it on the money again and I just ran it in. It’s always big to score early like that,” added Noland.

“Grant is an unbelievable player, played both ways tonight, made several catches and the big ball right out the gate,” said Kearney head coach Logan Minnick. “I knew when the defense got the 3-and-out, we were going to take a shot. “Carter Temple puts an absolute dime (on the throw), and we go up six points,” said Minnick.

Noland scored again in the third quarter on an 89-yard kickoff return, side-stepping a defender in front of the Kearney bench and sprinting free to the end zone. “I don’t know why teams keep kicking to Grant Noland, but it’s not very smart at times,” said Minnick.

Kearney defense converges on Grain Valley running back Robert Palmer (6).

Kearney’s defense went into the game challenged by Class-5 Grain Valley’s 40-points-per-game scoring average and senior tailback, Robert Palmer, who is ranked second in the metro averaging 192 yards per game.

Senior linebackers Theo Grace and Jacob Dillon along with junior defensive lineman Mason Beaver combined for three sacks and eight tackles for loss and a Jacob Dillon fumble recovery. The Bulldogs held the Grain Valley offense to 5 of 13 on third down efficiency and 1 of 8 on fourth down.

Carter Temple was 4 of 8 for 133 yards and 2 passing touchdowns; the long ball to Grant Noland and a fourth quarter, 24-yard shot to junior tight end Drew Nelson. Temple had 40 rushing yards on 10 carries including a 3-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Jacob Dillon kicked a 24-yard field goal in the first quarter. With no scoring by either team in the second quarter, Kearney took a 16-0 lead to the half.

Carter Temple (15) hands the ball to Tristan Williams (24).

Tristan Williams led the team in rushing with 62 yards, Cameron Emmons, Hudson Best, and Trent Dostal added 25, 17, and 13 yards respectively, giving the Bulldogs a solid 160 yards on the ground.

Grain Valley running back Robert Palmer broke free of the Bulldog defense early in the third quarter on 60-yard touchdown run. With the Eagle’s missed extra point, that touchdown remained Grain Valley’s only score of the night.

Kearney junior tight end Drew Nelson finished out the scoring with a 24-yard reception from Carter Temple, capping off the 29-6 Bulldog victory against one of the most physically demanding teams on Kearney’s schedule.

“This was one of the toughest games I've seen as far as the the physical nature of the game,” said Minnick. “We told our kids all week when a team wants to play a Kearney style of football, we're going to come out on top and I think you saw that tonight. Now, hats off to them. That's a really good football team.”

“For three weeks in a row, we played (two) Class-6 and a big-time Class-5 program, and we found a way to get through it. Unbelievable job for the kids being so physical these last three weeks,” Minnick added.

The 6-0 Kearney Bulldogs are on the road next week. They’ll play at Raytown South on Friday, October 11. Kickoff is at 7:00 PM.

Mike Davis contributed to this story.

Bulldogs Shutout Tigers in Conference Game

The Kearney Bulldog Varsity softball team put another notch in their win column against the Excelsior Springs Tigers on Monday, September 30. The Kearney shutout the Tigers in a Suburban Blue Conference game, 5-0.

Brooke Paalhar broke the tie in the third inning with a home run to left field in the third inning, scoring three runs.

Brooke Paalhar broke the tie in the third inning with a home run to left field in the third inning, scoring three runs. Then and singled in the fourth inning, scoring one run.

Macy Morrow led the Bulldogs with three hits in four at bats and Kennedi Casey collected two hits in three at bats.

Alyssa Quick pitched all seven innings in a gem of a game. She struck out 12 batters and allowed four hits and zero runs over seven innings while walking none.

Other highlights include:

Alyssa Quick went 1-3

Morgan Pennington went 1-3

Jocelyn Lincoln 1-3

Ryleigh Van Emmerik went 1-3

Kearney is now 22-4 on the season and 6-0 in conference.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Bulldogs 5-0 in Homecoming Win over NKC

For the second consecutive week, the Kearney Bulldogs roughed up a Class 6 opponent with unmistakably dominant play at the line of scrimmage – offensive and defensive.

Kearney senior running back Tristan Williams and junior running back Corbin Emmons both scored two rushing touchdowns before halftime. Kicker Jacob Dillon connected on the point-after kicks follow three of those touchdowns and ran for a 2-point conversion on the other, taking the Bulldogs to halftime with a 29-0 lead. 

Kearney’s opening possession in the second half was an 84-yard kickoff return for touchdown by senior Grant Noland.

Kearney’s opening possession in the second half was an 84-yard kickoff return for touchdown by senior Grant Noland. North Kansas City hadn’t touched the football, and the third quarter score loomed large for the Hornets at 36-0.

Junior quarterback Brad Doll stepped in for the starter, Carter Temple in the fourth quarter and scored on a 3-yard keeper to effectively ice the game at 43-0 following the Jacob Dillon PAT.

Late in the fourth quarter, North Kansas City junior quarterback Stephen Thomas broke a tackle on a sweep to the left and ran 80 yards untouched to the end zone for the Hornets’ only score. A missed 2-point conversion left the final score at 43-6.

“We’re getting better every week I think that's pretty evident,” said Bulldog head coach Logan Minnick. “We thought we could win the line of scrimmage this week which was going to be huge in this game with (North Kansas City) wanting to run the ball and us being able to keep it away from them at times.”

Kearney’s defense continues to play fast and physical, pressuring opposing quarterbacks, stopping the run, and neutralizing the passing game in the secondary. Senior Linebacker Theo Grace had 12 tackles, Grant Noland had six and sophomore defensive back Aidan Arellano finished with 4.

Kearney had 56 total plays to the Hornets’ 29, and Kearney had 23 first downs to North Kansas City’s 4.

“I'm so proud of how our kids came out and executed a game plan almost to perfection on a week which I call distraction week and others call homecoming week,” added Minnick. “I’m so excited for our fans, our community; what an awesome day today. It’s the biggest parade I think I've seen here in a long time.”

The 5-0 Kearney Bulldogs are on the road next week. They’ll play at Grain Valley on Friday, October 5. Kickoff is at 7:00 PM.

Mike Davis contributed to this story.