Wildcats and Schultze Twins Crash Bulldog Senior Night

The Bulldogs kept it close, exchanging touchdowns with the DeSoto Wildcats until the fourth quarter as DeSoto Quarterback Tyler Schultze connected with his identical twin brother, Ethan Schultze for 3 touchdown passes in a 45-28 victory over the Bulldogs.

DeSoto took an early 7-point lead midway through the first quarter on a Tyler Schultze to Ethan Schultze 40-yard touchdown pass. With 2:30 remaining in the quarter, Tyler Schultz broke loose on a 37-yard quarterback keeper for a touchdown. The missed extra point left the score 13-0.

Bulldog Quarterback, Casey Rooney responded with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Ian Acosta at the 6:13 mark in the second quarter. The Braxton Breedlove kick was good, putting Kearney on the scoreboard 13-7.

With 1:28 to go in the first half, Kearney took its first lead of the game as KJ Smith blasted into the endzone for a 4-yard touchdown run. The Bulldogs went to the locker room with a 14-13 halftime lead and a palpable momentum shift.

92 Kale Conway and the Kearney Bulldogs pushing upfield against the DeSoto Wildcats. - Kaylee Baggerly Photo

The Casey Rooney to Ian Acosta passing combination was electrifying. Early in the third quarter, the Bulldogs took a 21-13 lead on a spectacular 23-yard Rooney to Acosta fade pass at the back pylon of the end zone.

Kearney looked large and in charge until the Shultze brothers combined for 15 consecutive points: A Tyler Schultze 30-yard touchdown run followed by a 2-point Amarion Green conversion; and a Schultze to Schultze 28-yard touchdown pass capped by a Luke VanBooven point after kick.

With the Wildcats leading 28-21 on the ensuing kickoff, KJ Smith and Luke Noland lined up as kick returners. KJ Smith snagged the end-over-end kick and darted 86 yards for the touchdown return, tying the score 28-28.

With 5:29 to go in the third quarter, Bulldog fans engaged mega-decibel cowbell and bleacher stomping. Casey Rooney was on pace for 225 yards passing, connecting with Ian Acosta on 8 receptions for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns. This was still anybody’s game – for the moment.

DeSoto and the Schultze twins took control of the fourth quarter, doubling down on 25 and 34-yard passing touchdowns along with a 25-yard Luke VanBooven field goal. The 45-28 final score was even more crushing as 2 Bulldog Seniors, Keanon McNally and Ian Acosta, left the game with injuries.

The Bulldogs finish the regular season 4 and 4. District play begins next Friday. Stay tuned to 102.7FM and follow 1027.kearneymo.com for playoff information and schedules.

KPGZ Sports – Mike Davis Contributed to this story.