No. 6 Kearney 14, No. 15 Park Hill 7

Kearney drew a scare on the road, but prevailed with a gritty win at Park Hill.

The Bulldogs, No. 6 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, fell behind 7-0 early to the No. 15 Trojans. But Kearney (4-0) eventually came back behind its running game and defense to win, 14-7, on Friday night at Park Hill District Football Stadium.

Park Hill, in its third game with Greg Reynolds serving as interim head coach, took a 7-0 lead with 4:33 left in the first quarter on a 43-yard touchdown strike from senior quarterback Zane Thomas to fellow senior Dante Dixon.

But Kearney came back with its run game, which outrushed the Trojans 184 to 17 in yardage. KHS ended a second period drive on a Temple Carter one-yard rushing touchdown with 8:18 in the half. The senior quarterback finished with 83 carries on 21 totes.

Park Hill couldn't muster another score, despite Dixon's 10 catches for 136 yards, and 190 passing yards by Thomas.

Kearney eventually took the lead just 45 seconds into the fourth quarter when Carter scored again, this time from three yards out, for a 14-7 lead.

Hendrix Dryden added 58 rushing yards for Kearney, while Emmons Corbin notched 46 yards.

Kearney will take on No. 10 North Kansas City next Friday night, while the Trojans face rival Park Hill South.

Staley 21, No. 9 Blue Springs 14

Staley not only gave Blue Springs its first loss of the season, but held the Wildcats to their lowest output of the season.

The Falcons knocked off Blue Springs, ranked No. 9 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, 21-14 on Friday night in Blue Springs.

Late in the first quarter, senior defensive back Kenison Stone intercepted a pass and returned it 75 yards for a 7-0 Staley lead.

The Wildcats came right back with a 70-yard pass from junior quarterback Wyatt Erickson to Zay Hite for a 7-7 tie after one period.

Staley kept the pressure on with another score just 18 seconds into the second stanza. A 33-yard touchdown pass to running back Nick Ballew boosted the lead to 14-7.

The Falcon defense came up with another takeaway with 7:11 left in the half. Less than two minutes later, Draivyn Colvin called his own number and the visitors led at the break, 21-7.

Blue Springs scoring opportunities were thwarted by the Staley defense, which came up with an interception in the final minute of the third quarter and two more in the final 6:30 of the game.

The Wildcats finally found the end zone with less than two minutes to play. But the onsides kick was recovered by Staley, who kneeled out the clock.

Staley (2-2) faces Blue Springs South (4-0) next week, while Blue Springs (3-1) hosts Lee's Summit North (3-1).

Rockhurst 42, Lee's Summit West 28

Rockhurst held off a feisty Lee's Summit West effort for a 42-28 win at Lee's Summit West.

The Titans were tied 28-28 with the Hawklets, No. 5 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, after a three-yard Chris Harris touchdown with 8:10 left in the game.

Rockhurst started its next possession at its own 38 after a 15-yard penalty. Four plays later, junior Garret Miller lobbed a pass off his back foot to junior Cash Lewandowski, who caught the heave at the West 40, then dragged two tacklers five yards, shelled Harris as well, and ran uncontested to the end zone for a 35-28 with 5:16 left.

West had a chance with 4:00 left with a fourth-and-2 at the Titan 28, but an incomplete pass over the middle stalled the drive.

Rockhurst took over at the West 28, and six plays later, Lewandowski dashed into the end zone from seven yards out for his fourth score of the night, and a 42-28 lead.

The Hawklets will entertain Bishop Miege next Friday, while Lee's Summit West will take on district rival Lee's Summit.