Park Hill South never led, but most of the Suburban Conference Red Division matchup Friday, Sept. 22 was closer than the final score indicated.
Liberty North scored the final 35 points in the second half of a 52-14 win in Liberty, Mo. The Eagles ran for more than 300 yards, while Park Hill South committed 12 penalties and ultimately sputtered on offense.
Ta’Von Tusa (91 yards on 25 carries) and Matt Suchanick (99 yards passing, 51 yards rushing) were solid for Park Hill South but unable to provide enough answers late.
A junior running back, Tusa scored on 1-yard touchdown runs in the second quarter and third quarter. His first tied the score 7-7, but Liberty North went into halftime up 17-7.
Tusa scored again early in the third quarter to cut the lead to 17-14, but big plays started to add up.
All seven of Liberty North’s touchdowns covered 19 yards or more, including an interception return early in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 45-14. Suchanick — making his third start at quarterback as a sophomore due to broken collarbone injuries to seniors Billy Eggers and Taylor Tobin — turned in his best statistical performance with 10-for-18 accuracy.
Tusa caught one pass for 29 yards, while senior wide receiver Drake Chandler-Gilliland hauled in two receptions for 21 yards to top Park Hill South’s receivers.
Park Hill South saw a two-game winning streak end, dropping back to .500 at 3-3. The Panthers sit at 2-1 in Red Division play entering Friday, Sept. 29’s matchup with Liberty — unbeaten in league play but coming off the first loss of the season against Platte County last week.
The defending Red Division champs, Park Hill South needs a win to have a shot at sharing the crown. Liberty is 5-1 and dropped to No. 6 in the most recent Missouri media Class 5 rankings.