Park Hill remained at No. 5 in the Class 5 Missouri media poll after a 20-10 win against Liberty on Friday, Sept. 11 at Park Hill District Stadium — the Trojans’ third straight victory since a season-opening loss to Class 6-ranked Blue Springs South. In a Suburban Conference Red Division opener, Park Hill trailed 3-0 after the first quarter but recovered with 20 straight points between early in the second quarter and early in the fourth quarter. Trojans junior wide receiver Quentin Harris hauled in a 39-yard touchdown from sophomore quarterback Billy Maples to provide a 6-3 lead.
Maples sat out last week’s win at Belton with an injury.
Harris caught the pass over the middle, broke a tackle and scampered the remaining 20 yards into the end zone, but junior Parker Sampson missed the extra point. That left the lead at three entering halftime.
Park Hill senior running back Zach Neal continued his strong season filling in for injured all-state running back Matt Harris, who suffered a season-ending knee injury during the preseason jamboree. Neal has amassed 382 yards on the ground, including 99 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries against the Blue Jays.
Park Hill outgained Liberty 333 to 195, including a season-best effort from Harris (109 yards on five catches) and 82 yards receiving on eight catches for senior Kentrez Bell. Maples finished with 208 yards through the air, one touchdown and one interception on 11-for-24 accuracy.
Devin Haney gave Park Hill its final score, returning an interception 44 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to push the advantage to 20-3.
Liberty answered with an 84-yard drive capped by a 3-yard touchdown catch from running back Robert Rawrie. The sophomore finished with 151 yards of Liberty’s offense, also gaining 148 yards on the ground to go with the 3-yard swing pass touchdown.
A late goal-line stand from the Blue Jays prevented Park Hill from taking the maximum district seeding points.