Kearney Shuts Out Raytown South 50-0

The 7-0 Bulldogs racked up 337 yards of offense on 45 plays in a conference game against the Raytown South Cardinals. The Cardinal offense was smothered by a dominant Bulldog defense that pressured Ray South’s senior quarter back, Troy Jefferson all night – totaling 2 sacks and 4 tackles for loss.

Senior all-purpose football player, Grant Noland opened the first-quarter scoring with a 48-yard punt return. Jacob Dillon added the extra point giving Kearney a one touchdown lead. Minutes later junior wide receiver Hudson Best scampered to the endzone on a 22-yard carry followed by a 2-point conversion. The Bulldogs led 15-0.

Tristan Williams added his second touchdown on a 17-yard carry late in the third quarter.

The second quarter began with a Tyrus Smith, 2-yard carry from the heavy formation (also known as the Ham Package), giving the senior all-state center his first score as a ball carrier. “We practiced it yesterday and got it done,” said Smith. “It felt like I was back in the day, playing running back in little league. It felt natural,” Smith said.

“Tyrus looked like Jerome Bettis right there, said head coach Logan Minnick. “We got the big fella in there. I was excited for him, and I know the kids were excited for him too,” Minnick added.

Senior running back Tristan Williams led the Bulldogs with 63 yards on 12 carries, scoring the first of his two touchdowns with 4:27 to go in the second quarter. Dillon’s PAT gave Kearney a 29-0 lead.

With less than a minute on the clock, Bulldog senior wide receiver Trent Dostal caught a 50-yard pass from quarterback Carter Temple to set up a 2-yard follow-up touchdown throw – again to Dostal – on the next play. Kearney went to halftime with a commanding 36-0 lead after the Dillon PAT.

Coach Minnick talked about Trent Dostal’s skill sets: “Yeah, Trent plays both ways and he's really good at both, and on special teams. We’re very fortunate to have him. I’m very excited for him to finally get his time out here under the Friday night lights because he's earned it.”

Tristan Williams added his second touchdown on a 17-yard carry late in the third quarter and Jacob Dillon was accurate on the PAT.

At 43-0, the running clock gave the Bulldogs just enough time for the second unit and JV teams to score as sophomore Kale Tucking dashed 51 yards for the final score of the game and the shutout. Bulldogs 50, Raytown South 0.

“There's a lot of leadership in the locker room,” said Senior Trent Dostal. “I see a lot of the seniors telling the younger kids what they see out there, and that way, the younger kids know what to do. Those younger kids are also paying attention in the film room. They're also there on Sundays, always looking to get better,” said Dostal.

The 7-0 Kearney Bulldogs host Winnetonka on Friday, October 18. 102.7FM will broadcast the game. Pregame begins at 6:40. Kickoff is at 7:00 PM.

Mike Davis contributed to this story.

Unbeaten Kearney Defeats Grain Valley 29-6

Senior Grant Noland was just getting started with a 65-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Carter Temple on the Bulldogs’ first offensive play. “I didn’t know Coach (Minnick) was going to call that play,” said Noland. “Carter put it on the money again and I just ran it in. It’s always big to score early like that,” added Noland.

“Grant is an unbelievable player, played both ways tonight, made several catches and the big ball right out the gate,” said Kearney head coach Logan Minnick. “I knew when the defense got the 3-and-out, we were going to take a shot. “Carter Temple puts an absolute dime (on the throw), and we go up six points,” said Minnick.

Noland scored again in the third quarter on an 89-yard kickoff return, side-stepping a defender in front of the Kearney bench and sprinting free to the end zone. “I don’t know why teams keep kicking to Grant Noland, but it’s not very smart at times,” said Minnick.

Kearney defense converges on Grain Valley running back Robert Palmer (6).

Kearney’s defense went into the game challenged by Class-5 Grain Valley’s 40-points-per-game scoring average and senior tailback, Robert Palmer, who is ranked second in the metro averaging 192 yards per game.

Senior linebackers Theo Grace and Jacob Dillon along with junior defensive lineman Mason Beaver combined for three sacks and eight tackles for loss and a Jacob Dillon fumble recovery. The Bulldogs held the Grain Valley offense to 5 of 13 on third down efficiency and 1 of 8 on fourth down.

Carter Temple was 4 of 8 for 133 yards and 2 passing touchdowns; the long ball to Grant Noland and a fourth quarter, 24-yard shot to junior tight end Drew Nelson. Temple had 40 rushing yards on 10 carries including a 3-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Jacob Dillon kicked a 24-yard field goal in the first quarter. With no scoring by either team in the second quarter, Kearney took a 16-0 lead to the half.

Carter Temple (15) hands the ball to Tristan Williams (24).

Tristan Williams led the team in rushing with 62 yards, Cameron Emmons, Hudson Best, and Trent Dostal added 25, 17, and 13 yards respectively, giving the Bulldogs a solid 160 yards on the ground.

Grain Valley running back Robert Palmer broke free of the Bulldog defense early in the third quarter on 60-yard touchdown run. With the Eagle’s missed extra point, that touchdown remained Grain Valley’s only score of the night.

Kearney junior tight end Drew Nelson finished out the scoring with a 24-yard reception from Carter Temple, capping off the 29-6 Bulldog victory against one of the most physically demanding teams on Kearney’s schedule.

“This was one of the toughest games I've seen as far as the the physical nature of the game,” said Minnick. “We told our kids all week when a team wants to play a Kearney style of football, we're going to come out on top and I think you saw that tonight. Now, hats off to them. That's a really good football team.”

“For three weeks in a row, we played (two) Class-6 and a big-time Class-5 program, and we found a way to get through it. Unbelievable job for the kids being so physical these last three weeks,” Minnick added.

The 6-0 Kearney Bulldogs are on the road next week. They’ll play at Raytown South on Friday, October 11. Kickoff is at 7:00 PM.

Mike Davis contributed to this story.

Bulldogs Dominant in 38-14 Win over Smithville

Two Missouri Class 4 rivals fought it out in a game that had multiple late-season implications. Second-ranked Kearney’s victory over third-ranked Smithville gives the Bulldogs a head-to-head advantage in both the Suburban Blue Conference and the Missouri Class 4, District 8 standings.

Kearney sophomore quarterback Carter Temple was 8 of 14 for 98 yards passing. Temple showcased his running ability with 4 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown.

“I couldn’t do it without my guys upfront who block for me,” said Temple. “I'm so thankful for everybody up there. I mean, they gave me so much time and you know my wide receivers, those fast guys, they go up there and get it. I trust them and I know they can get open.”

Kearney sophomore defensive back, Aidan Arellano picked off a pass from Smithville quarterback Peyton Steffen and ran it back for a touchdown midway through the first quarter.

“I was doing my drop back and I see the ball coming,” said Arellano. “Once I had it in my hands, I knew it was (going to) the end zone.” It was Arellano’s second pick-6 and Kearney’s third defensive score this season.

Grant Noland takes the snap for the Bulldogs - Photo by Eric Stevens

Senior running back Grant Noland ran two yards for the Bulldogs’ second, first quarter touchdown. Kicker Jacob Dillon added the respective point-after kicks giving Kearney an early two-touchdown lead. Dillon would manufacture an impressive score of his own early in the second quarter. After an earlier missed field goal attempt, Dillon punched a 45-yard field goal between the uprights, giving Kearney a 17-0 lead.

Kearney special teams continue to dazzle as senior wide receiver Tre Smith returned 2 punts averaging 42 yards and two kickoff returns for a 33-yard average.

Smithville scored once in the second quarter on a 5-yard run. Carter Temple responded with a 44-yard touchdown run on a fake handoff to Tristan Williams that fooled everyone in the stadium, giving the Bulldogs a 24-7 halftime lead.

Grant Noland scored his second and third touchdowns of the evening on 1- and 5-yard blasts from the heavy formation in the second half, giving Kearney a 38-7 lead. Smithville scored a late touchdown against the Kearney second-unit defense for the final 38-14 Bulldog win.

“That’s a great program over here,” said Bulldog head coach, Logan Minnick. “It’s been a long, long time since Kearney’s come over here and put a complete game together like that against these guys.”

“I’m fired up. Anytime you can come over here and get a win, like I said, it’s a statement win for our program tonight,” Minnick added.

The Kearney Bulldogs are 3-0 on the season and their schedule doesn’t get any easier over the next 3 weeks. Kearney hosts Class 6, Park Hill on Friday, September 20. KPGZ 102.7FM will broadcast the game. The pregame show begins at 6:40 PM. Kickoff is at 7:00 PM.

Mike Davis contributed to this story.