COLUMBIA – Park Hill South senior Mason Love wasted no time showing why he’s one of the best high school kickers in the state, knocking down a program record 50-yard field goal to give the Panthers a season opening win to kick off the Justin Poncy era.
The Park Hill South football team (1-0) was in a grudge match against Rock Bridge (0-1) on August 25. The Bruins went up 10-0 early and the Panthers tied the game before halftime and the game was scoreless until Love came to the rescue in the final two minutes.
The second half was full of tough defense and with 4:04 left in the game, Park Hill South forced the second Rock Bridge turnover of the night with an interception. The Panthers’ offense took the field at the Bruins’ 40-yard line with a chance to take the lead.
After milking right over two minutes off the clock, the offense failed to find the end zone and Love took the field. The 2022 all-state kicker wasn’t fazed at the distance that some NFL kickers struggle at, drilling a 50-yarder with 1:55 left to put Park Hill South ahead 13-10.
That long range kick set a new career long for Love, along with setting the program record. The longest field goal before that was 49 yards by Kyle Sebus in 1999, a record that’s been around longer than Love’s been alive.
Rock Bridge quarterback Sam Kaiser fumbled two snaps on the final possession, with the second one being recovered by the Panthers and ending the game. The Bruins had two different quarterbacks throw at least 12 passes with the Park Hill South secondary keeping the duo under 50 percent completion and only 265 yards.
The Rock Bridge offense played turnover free football in the first half, resulting in Park Hill South being in a 10-0 hole. The Bruins scored on an 80-yard pass in the opening minute and added a field goal with right under five minutes left in the first quarter.
Park Hill South got going late in the first quarter, putting points on the board with 2:13 left. Senior quarterback Drew Paulakovich drove the Panthers down the field and defensive star Kadin Sabree subbed in to take a direct snap and bully his way into the end zone.
Rock Bridge went three-and-out on the ensuing possession and Park Hill South tied the game at the end of its next drive. Love came out and knocked down a field goal as the senior made all three of his attempts on the night, counting the extra point.
Paulakovich led the Panthers to their second consecutive season opening win over the Bruins – this time with a new coach and different offensive weapons – as the senior completed 12 of his 25 passes for 90 yards and one touchdown. Chance Taylor was his favorite weapon, coming away with five receptions on nine targets and 45 receiving yards.
The visiting team only ended with 43 yards on the ground, led by Tommy Lisenby who ran for 32 yards on 15 carries. Park Hill South will look to build off the third straight season opening win when it hosts one of the top teams in the state, Lee’s Summit North (1-0), on September 1.