SMITHVILLE, Mo. — Park Hill’s players have started charting new territory.
The Trojans moved to 2-0 on the season with a 35-3 win at Smithville on Saturday afternoon after weather moved in and forced postponement of the game Friday night. They hadn’t opened with back-to-back wins since 2004. The fast start only ups the expectations for a roster chock full of returners. Park Hill moved up to No. 10 in this week’s Class 5 Missouri state media poll after receiving one vote in the preseason and 10 after Week 1. “It means a lot for the program, and it looks good on stats,” Park Hill senior quarterback Tyler Holmes said. “But we have greater goals in mind than just being 2-0. We have a lot longer for the season to go. It’s a good start, but we’ve got to keep grinding.” Kenyatte Harris continued his electric start to the season with four scores against Class 4 Smithville (1-1). Holmes found Harris three different times through the air, and the senior running back pounded another into the end zone on the ground, bringing his season total to eight touchdowns. “That’s the thing about him; (he’s versatile),” Park Hill coach Josh Hood said. “We can put him out wide. We can put him in the slot. We can put him in the backfield. He’s a weapon wherever he lines up. “The good thing about him is he catches the football. He runs good routes. He can run it inside. He can run it outside. He has the speed to finish plays.” Park Hill wide receiver set up the game’s first score with long punt return, collecting a Warriors kick and sprinting deep into their territory. Harris snagged a quick swing pass from Holmes at the 15-yard line on the ensuing possession before scampering past the Smithville defense and into the end zone. Smithville hung around for much of the first half, but a late interception from Carter Anchors set Park Hill up again with the ball in Warriors’ territory. With less than a minute before halftime, Holmes found Harris for his third touchdown of the half on the drive’s only play — a 30-yarder on a seam route to increase the Trojans’ lead to 21-3. Park Hill faces Belton this Friday. The Pirates enter 1-1 on the season after defeating North Kansas City last week. The Trojans did not reach 3-0 in 2004 and entered this season after a disappointing injury-riddled 2013 season. “We pay attention to tradition at Park Hill,” said Hood, now in his second season at the helm. “At the same time, we’re trying to move forward with the 2014 season. We feel like this is an outstanding group of kids.”