Rockhurst seemingly had undefeated Lee’s Summit North where it planned – needing a game-winning score and then a stop. 

Sure enough, the Hawklets followed through on a game-winning drive and the Broncos fell short on its attempt for a 24-21 win by Rockhurst. The Hawklets, No. 3 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, notch the Missouri Class 6, District 6 title and will play host to Nixa next Saturday in the quarterfinals. 

“This has been a great group of kids and so many seniors that have fought and been ready for this moment, and they came up big on both sides of the ball,” Rockhurst head coach Kelly Donohoe said. 

In a hyped battle of two of the city’s – and state’s – top teams, the matchup lived up to the hype with No. 1 Lee’s Summit North entering the game at 10-0. The Broncos led throughout most the first half before a Rockhurst field goal as the end of half led to a 17-14 margin. 

North took a 21-17 lead after a 14-play, 97-yard drive in which the Broncos converted on two fourth downs, including a fourth-and-goal at the 4, capped by a Tanner Howes run off the right side with 22.5 left in the third quarter. 

But Rockhurst one-upped that drive with a game-winning drive that started at :15.7 left in the third, from its 25.  

On the 10th play of the drive facing fourth-and-four at the LSN 35, quarterback Ethan Hansen rolled out right and scooped a pass to Mitch Forbes in the right flat, for a 20-yard gain to the 15. On 3rd-and-14 at the 20, Hansen hit Jack Bickelmeyer for 10 yards to set up fourth-and-4 at the 8. Aidan Ryan took a pitch to the right, down to the 1. Then on the drive’s 15th play, Ryan rushed through the left side for a touchdown. 

End result: a 24-21 lead and a drive that ate up 7:51, and left the Broncos with just 4:25 left.  

Lee’s Summit North started at its 13, drove to midfield in part of two Rockhurst pass interference calls, but on fourth-and-5 at the Rockhurst 44 with 1:17 left, an Elijah Leonard pass fell short on a crossing pattern, and the Hawklets celebrated.