Rockhurst junior Brady McCanles was the last player to reach the halftime locker room. On the way through the door, he clutched his left arm, which was wrapped in a makeshift sling. For all intents and purposes, he assumed his night was done.
It was just beginning.
McCanles returned from a first-half elbow injury and caught the only Rockhurst touchdown in the second half, sparking a 27-17 road victory gainst Lee’s Summit West in the Missouri Class 6, District 4 championship game.
Rockhurst, 9-2, will play host to Kirkwood in the state semifinals next week.
“The trainers told me I was done for the half and probably for the game,” McCanles said.
“I just thought I needed to be in there for my team. I wanted to get back in there as soon as possible.
McCanles opened the second half on the bench — without his shoulder pads on — but he begged to re-enter the game Friday after backup tailback Michael Pearl went down with a knee injury.
After Lee’s Summit West cut the deficit to three points midway through the third quarter, McCanles caught a 61-yard touchdown pass from Chance May. His first touch of the second half represented the final score of the game for either team.
McCanles also scored two touchdowns in the first half.
“When he said he was ready, I just said, don’t fumble the football,” Rockhurst coach Tony Severino said.
McCanles was half the story.
Once again, the Rockhurst defense did its share. The Hawklets picked off four passes, including three in the final quarter, and allowed only one offensive touchdown — a 54-yard swing pass from Cole Taylor to Mario Goodrich to open the scoring.
