PLEASANT HILL — After a wild first half that included each team scoring three-straight touchdowns, the Roosters knocked off Harrisonville in the playoffs for the third year in a row. Ultimately, it was the kicking game that doomed the Wildcats in the 28-27 Pleasant Hill victory. After scoring the potential game-tying touchdown on a run by junior QB Stryker Gilmore with 9:03 left in the game, the Wildcats’ PAT was blocked by Pleasant Hill’s Jack Ralston. “Right after they sco

PECULIAR — With just one game left before the postseason begins, Liberty North is continuing to head in the right direction after Friday’s road victory. The Eagles slowed down a high-octane Ray-Pec offense in the 24-17 win, extending their win streak to four since dropping back-to-back games to North Kansas City and Blue Springs. Ray-Pec came in averaging 39.5 points in all six of its victories. However, the Panthers have averaged 15.5 points in each of their two losses. On

For the first time in his seven years as the Archie football coach, Drew Smith watched his squad suffer two-straight losses. On Friday, the Whirlwinds found themselves back in the win column – a place they’ve often been during Smith’s tenure – despite being a bit banged up on both sides of the ball. Archie defeated Rich Hill, 46-6, on the road, picking up another WEMO Conference victory. Archie is 9-0 against Rich Hill since Smith was named head coach. “I was really proud of

PLEASANT HILL — As they’ve done in all four of their wins this fall, the Roosters took down their Cass County rival Friday night with a powerful rushing attack and a stingy defense. Pleasant Hill beat Harrisonville, 29-13, at Eklund Field on senior night. It was the Roosters’ seventh victory in the past eight matchups with Harrisonville. The Roosters’ win came one week after they fell at Warrensburg, 36-30, in overtime. That loss ended a two-game win streak, and it was the R

Kearney senior quarterback Carter Temple runs free for a 30-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. Temple scored three touchdowns in Kearney's 31-6 victory. (photo by Jimmy Gillispie) By Jimmy Gillispie KANSAS CITY — In a clash between undefeated teams in front of a large crowd filling the entire stadium, it was Kearney’s ability to make plays in all phases of the game that ultimately led to victory tonight. Kearney shut down St. Pius X’s rushing attack and k

By Jimmy Gillispie Archie coach Drew Smith said his team has moved on from last week’s four-point road loss and is focused on its homecoming contest against Appleton City tonight. Archie (3-2) welcomes Appleton City (4-1) to town for a critical WEMO Conference outing. Both teams lost to Lockwood earlier this fall, but Appleton City has won four-straight since the opening week home defeat. Although the Bulldogs enter the game with a better record, the Whirlwinds have owned the

By Jimmy Gillispie PLEASANT HILL — In a game where possessions came at a premium, the Roosters took advantage of their of opportunities and kept Clinton scoreless in the second half of Friday’s home victory. The Roosters rallied from a halftime deficit to win their homecoming contest. They won 21-10, avenging last year’s 21-14 loss. It was the Roosters’ third-straight win. “I told people this all week after watching film, I think (Clinton) is good, but they lack a lot of dept

Lee’s Summit junior tight end Max Trillo runs downs the Tigers' sideline en route to scoring the go-ahead touchdown in Friday's 21-14 win over previously unbeaten Ray-Pec. (photod by Jimmy Gillispie) By Jimmy Gillispie LEE’S SUMMIT — Todd Miller jokingly said his team is going to switch to a passing offense after watching the Tigers throw two touchdowns in Friday night’s 21-14 victory over previously undefeated Ray-Pec. “Maybe a little run-and-shoot offense next week,” the Le

By Jimmy Gillispie PLEASANT HILL — The Roosters did something Friday night they hadn’t done in nearly three years. They shut out their opponent. The Roosters beat Oak Grove, 20-0, earning their second-straight victory. Their last shut out win was Oct. 13 when they defeated Center, 42-0, on the road. “The keys were complimentary football and special teams,” Pleasant Hill coach Justin Hamilton said. “Obviously, our defense played really, really well and we shut them out. Offe

By Jimmy Gillispie DREXEL — For the seventh-straight time, Archie dominated its Cass County rival, located just 14 miles to the west. Archie has owned the rivalry since Drexel won the 8-man state championship in 2021. The Whirlwinds have won the past seven matchups, with no game closer than 25 points. Since that Drexel state title, Archie has won two championships of its own and advanced to the 8-man state semifinals last year. Although much of the talent from those squads ha

The Harrisonville Wildcats won their homecoming game Friday, beating Center for 62-48. (photo by Stephen Slaughter (https://skslaughter.smugmug.com/) Wildcats win wild shootout HARRISONVILLE — It’s been a couple of wacky weeks of football for the Wildcats, but they’ve won a pair of contests after losing their first two games of the season. Harrisonville and Center lit up the scoreboard Friday night, combining for 110 points. In the end, the Wildcats defended their home turf,

By Jimmy Gillispie BLUE SPRINGS — The Wildcats have now won back-to-back games in a series that was lopsided for years. The Wildcats defeated Liberty North, 31-24, on their home field Friday night. Their 27-14 victory last year ended a nine-game losing streak to Liberty North. “Obviously, winning is a big deal. We just continue to have way too many penalties,” Blue Springs coach Jed Paulsen said. “That’s putting us in bad situations, and we have to clean those up.” Blue Sprin

Blue Springs senior quarterback Wyatt Erickson threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns in the Wildcats' 38-17 win at Blue Springs South on Friday night. (photo by Jimmy Gillispie) By Jimmy Gillispie BLUE SPRINGS — Wyatt Erickson made sure his last guaranteed rival game for city bragging rights ended in a win for the Wildcats. On Friday night, the Blue Springs senior quarterback threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 38-17 victory at the Blue Spring

By Jimmy Gillispie ARCHIE — A week after a rough second half that resulted in a lopsided loss at Lockwood, the Archie Whirlwinds bounced back in dominating fashion Friday night. The Whirlwinds crushed Osceola, 72-0, in front of their home crowd. It was their first shutout since Nov. 8, 2024. It was also their eighth-straight win over Osceola. “I told our boys we did exactly what we needed to do,” Archie coach Drew Smith said. “We came in from the get-go and played with the ph

By Jimmy Gillispie PLEASANT HILL — Following a pair of lopsided losses, the Roosters earned their first 2026 victory Friday night. They defeated Benton, 47-21, at Eklund Field after a pair of losses by a combined 59 points. Needless to say, the mood was a lot more positive in the locker room following the game. “I don’t know, other than Class 6A schools, if there is a school that starts off with a tougher scheduled than we do,” Pleasant Hill coach Justin Hamilton said. “That

Blue Springs senior quarterback Wyatt Erickson dives across the goal line, scoring the first touchdown of the game Friday night. Erickson also threw four touchdown passes in the Wildcats' 38-17 win over rival Blue Springs South. (photo by Jimmy Gillispie) By Jimmy Gillispie BLUE SPRINGS — For the first time since 2021, Blue Springs defeated its cross-town rival in the regular season. The Wildcats did beat Blue Springs South, 29-10, last year in the Class 6 playoffs. Tonight,

By Jimmy Gillispie Before Friday night, it had been nearly four years since Archie was on the receiving end of a lopsided loss. But, coach Drew Smith said his squad wasn’t too far from possibly pulling off the upset at Lockwood. Archie led early in the second half, but turned the ball over on four-straight possessions. Lockwood capitalized and won 79-40 on its home field. Lockwood has won the past two regular season games over Archie, but lost the past two playoff games to t

By Jimmy Gillispie Although it was another loss on the season, Pleasant Hill coach Justin Hamilton was a lot happier about his team’s performance than he was following the season-opening shutout loss. His Roosters fell 41-20 at Maryville, falling to 0-2 on the season. Yet, Hamilton felt much better about the loss. He knew his team would have a tough opening two weeks, playing top-five teams in Class 3 and 4. “I felt completely different as the coach of this team after this ga

By Jimmy Gillispie BLUE SPRINGS — Greg Jones, the second-year Ray-Pec coach, was overcome with emotions following Friday night’s overtime victory. To say it was a tough week for Jones and the Panthers is likely an understatement. A day after the Panthers’ season opening win, William Jewell College running back MicahJo Barnett – a former player of Jones and Liberty North graduate – passed away following a medical emergency during the Cardinals’ game. Additionally, three Ray-Pe

Ray-Pec senior quarterback Daccota Stamback scores the game-winning touchdown on the first play of the Panthers' offensive possession in overtime Friday night. Ray-Pec beat Blue Springs, 35-32, improving to 2-0 on the season. (photo by Jimmy Gillispie) BLUE SPRINGS — Daccota Stamback caught the snap, hesitated and sprinted through the heart of the defense before ripping off his helmet and celebrating with teammates late Friday night. He helped the Panthers take down Blue Spri