COLUMBIA - There was plenty of credit spread across the Blue Springs offense, with coaches and players listing a handful of tailbacks and a stout offensive line. Whatever the reasoning, the Wildcats were rolling, totaling nearly seven touchdowns per game over a four-week postseason run.

On Friday, they finally met their match.

Kirkwood struck early, and the defense made it stick, combining to stun Blue Springs 31-14 in the Missouri Class 6 state championship game Friday.

In the first football state title game played at Memorial Stadium on the Missouri campus since 1994, Kirkwood prevented Blue Springs from claiming its third championship in five seasons.

Instead, the Pioneers are the kings of Class 6 for the first time in program history.

“We usually are able to make a lot of big plays. They just weren’t there tonight,” Blue Springs senior Tyree King said. “And when we made a big play, it got called back. It killed us.”

An omen arrived early. On Kirkwood’s first offensive play, actually.

Operating out of the spread offense, Kirkwood quarterback Reece Goddard dropped back and completed a deep ball down the sideline. Over the next two drives, Goddard used the same fade route for a pair of touchdown passes to give Kirkwood a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

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