Bulldogs 49-14 over Warrensburg - On to Semifinals

Thunder rolled and lightning flashed in the Missouri Class 4, state quarterfinal playoff round in Warrensburg. The Kearney Bulldog senior running back combination of Tristan Williams and Corbin Emmons combined for 263 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a decisive 49-14 win over the 11-2 Warrensburg Tigers.

Kearney set the tone early, scoring first on a 2-yard Grant Noland run behind a dominating Bulldog offensive line. Jacob Dillon’s point-after kick was perfect for a 7-0 lead.

Corbin Emmons had 96 yards rushing and made two touchdowns for the Bulldogs Friday night.

Warrensburg entered the contest with a 7-game win streak, three of which were playoff wins. Their high-flying offense behind senior quarterback Kobe Westphal struck quickly on a 78-yard pass and run to sophomore ZJ Graham. The point-after kick evened the game at 7-7.

Kearney quarterback Carter Temple ran 11 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter which was set up by a Tre Smith 12-yard, end-around carry. Temple came back immediately with a 2-yard carry for touchdown early in the second quarter giving Kearney a 21-7 lead. Temple would go on to run the ball 12 times for 62 rushing yards.

Warrensburg answered with a Westphal to AJ Smith 22-yard catch and run for touchdown. The Bulldogs came right back with a Tristan Williams 3-yard dash to the endzone to take a 28-14 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs scored on a Grant Noland 1-yard dive with their opening possession in the third quarter. Corbin Emmons tacked on another 1-yard touchdown. The score was 42-14 and Kearney’s defense took to the field with a mission: Hold Warrensburg scoreless in the second half.

“Boys, this is a weight-room game,” said Head Coach Logan Minnick. “I told our kids at halftime, we may not put a receiver on the field the rest of this game,” he continued. “I told our defense, ‘they (Warrensburg) do not score again,’ the defense bought into that, and we got the result we wanted.”

Senior middle linebacker Theo Grace had three tackles, one assist, and three sacks. Grant Noland ran downhill from the safety position recording one tackle, eight assists, a sack, and one tackle for loss.

And so, it continues. Kearney defensive coordinator Marcus Brinkley schemed it perfectly. Kearney’s defense stalled the Warrensburg air show. The Tigers dropped like bricks when they were pressured up the middle or chased down from the edges by the likes of Mason Beaver, Isaac Beaver, Clayton Cowan, Aiden Arellano, Kale Tucking, Tyler Maynard, Theo Grace, Grant Noland, or linebacker/kicker Jacob Dillon, who picked off a pass from a zone coverage that completely frustrated the high-flying Tigers on a potential scoring drive.

Eight sacks, two tackles for loss, and two interceptions; not a bad day at the office by any measure. Corbin Emmons ran 6 yards for the final 49-14 win. Jacob Dillon was perfect on point-after kicks and the Kearney Bulldogs boarded the “yellow dogs” – Coach Minnick’s version of the standard issue school bus – and headed back to Kearney.

By the time any of the players on those buses reads this, they will have moved on to prepare for their next mission; one that requires the utmost urgency. The Lutheran North Crusaders are coming to Kearney for the Missouri Class 4 state semifinal. The winner moves on to the Missouri Class 4 state high school championship game.

Coach Minnick expects his team to play their best football every game; to be stronger, faster, smarter, and tougher with each consecutive contest. This game might perhaps require a mightier effort than the final championship game. We won’t know. Not until we get there. And it won’t be on the “yellow dogs”. It’ll be on a luxury coach.

The Bulldog Radio Network will carry the live broadcast of the semifinal game beginning at 12:40pm on Saturday, November 30, at 1:00pm. Pregame starts at 12:40.

KPGZ News – Mike Davis contributed to this story.

Hungry Bulldogs Feast on Winnetonka

The Kearney Bulldogs are another step closer to their ultimate goal with a 56-12 conference win over the Winnetonka Griffins. The victory on Friday, October 18, secures at least a share of the Suburban Blue Conference title. With a win over Excelsior Springs this week, Kearney would earn sole possession of the conference title.

The Bulldogs scored six touchdowns in the first half, beginning with an Ace Biddix 2-yard carry from the ham package. That was the senior offensive lineman’s first carry and first touchdown of the season.

Kearney moves to 8-0 on the season with the 56-12 victory. Photo by Ray Weikal.

“I was so excited for Ace,” said head coach Logan Minnick. “We practiced it during the week and told him he was going to get an opportunity. I’m happy for him to get that score on Senior Night,” Minnick added.

Senior running back Tristan Williams scored just minutes later on a 1-yard carry that would be the first of his 3-touchdown evening. Jacob Dillon was 6 of 6 on point-after kicks, Angelo Donze was 2 for 2.

It was a busy Senior Night as Trent Dostal scored two touchdowns, the first on a 6-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Carter Temple, giving the Bulldogs a comfortable first quarter, 21-0 lead.

Junior running back Corbin Emmons darted through the Griffin defense for a 20-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. Emmons led the Kearney rushing attack with 96 yards on 11 carries and the touchdown.

Tristan Williams scored twice in the second quarter, once on a 5-yard run, and later on an 11-yard pass from Carter Temple, giving the Bulldogs a commanding 42-0 halftime lead.

Winnetonka opened the second half with a 95-yard kickoff return for touchdown by sophomore Derrick Coleman but missed the extra point kick.

With 3:55 to go in the third quarter, senior all-state linebacker Theo Grace intercepted an attempted Winnetonka screen pass and returned it, sprinting 90 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.

“I was running like I took some candy,” said Grace. “I saw Grant (Noland) next to me and I knew it was going to be a touchdown.”

Winnetonka junior Dominic Vallenti caught an 8-yard pass in the endzone, against the Bulldog second unit defense early in the fourth quarter. The extra point was blocked by Kearney.

With the score 49-12, and Winnetonka still playing their starters against Kearney’s second team, the momentum began to take a turn.

“I thought the second unit gave a great effort. When you bring them in you want to keep that goose egg on the board and not give up two scores,” said Minnick. “When it gets to the point where they score again and the turbo clock is about to go away, we had to put the ones back in, which you never feel real comfortable doing. But at that point you’ve got to keep the game in hand.”

Trent Dostal finished the scoring, and effectively, the game with a 30-yard jet sweep for the final touchdown. Kearney moves to 8-0 on the season with the 56-12 victory.

The Bulldogs are on the road at Excelsior Springs for the final regular season game, Friday, October 25. KPGZ 102.7FM will broadcast the game beginning with the pregame show at 6:40. Kickoff is at 7 pm.

Mike Davis contributed to this story.

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.