Bryce Lisaka ended his final game at Park Hill with 109 yards from scrimmage in the Trojans’ 17-14 district championship loss to Oak Park on Nov. 10.
KANSAS CITY – Trailing by 10 points with two minutes left against one of the two undefeated football teams left in Class 6, Park Hill (5-6) had a chance to take the lead in the final moments to bring home a district championship on Nov. 10.
Oak Park (11-0) never trailed in the Class 6 District 8 Championship and led 17-7 late in the game. Facing elimination and having the opportunity to win its first district title since 2019, Park Hill went down swinging.
On 1st and goal with 1:59 on the clock, Bryce Lisaka crossed the plane on a 7-yard rush to the left. Teegan Turner knocked the extra point through the uprights to make the score 17-14 then Anna Anderson followed that up with an onside kick that the Trojans recovered.
Park Hill junior Anna Anderson had a successful onside kick attempt late in the Class 6 District 8 Championship to give Park Hill another offensive possession against Oak Park.
Park Hill’s offense went back on the field with a chance to knock out the No. 1 seed and move to the Class 6 State Quarterfinals. The Trojans were driving on their side of the field and were in scoring position with right under one minute on the clock.
Gavin Schaag took the snap and rolled out to the right and targeted Gage Dorell in the end zone. The junior wide receiver was a couple yards into the end zone when he turned towards the ball, and it was picked off at the goal line by Oak Park junior Donovan Ross.
The Northmen were able to run out the clock, clinching their first district title since 1999. The Trojans made it to their first district championship under Andy Sims who has now posted a 3-3 postseason record at Park Hill since arriving in 2021.
Park Hill senior quarterback Gavin Schaag ran in for a 7-yard touchdown in the third quarter for the Trojans’ first score on Nov. 10.
Oak Park and Park Hill haven’t matched up often with the district championship being the first meeting since 2015 and fourth overall since 2009. The Northmen put a field goal and touchdown on the board in the second quarter to head into the locker room up 10-0.
Oak Park started the second half with the ball, but Dante Dixon intercepted a pass and returned it to the 20-yard line. Not long after, Schaag ran into the end zone from seven yards out to cut the deficit to 10-7 2:18 into the third quarter.
The rest of the third quarter went scoreless before Northmen quarterback Aiden Hinkle rushed in for a 10-yard touchdown with 8:16 left in the fourth quarter to push the score to 17-7. The Trojans’ secondary only allowed Hinkle to complete six passes for 42 yards and Dixon picked him off twice to end his sophomore campaign with nine interceptions.
Park Hill sophomore Dante Dixon had two interceptions in the Class 6 District 8 Championship, giving him nine on the season.
Schaag completed 67 percent of his passes in his final game, tossing for 210 yards and two interceptions. The quarterback added 50 yards and a score on the ground.
Lisaka ended his senior campaign on a high note, finishing with a game-high 12 catches for 86 yards. Dorell caught three passes for 56 yards and Cam Jones had three receptions for 34 yards.
For the first time since 2019, Park Hill scored more points than it allowed as it averaged 25.5 points per game while allowing 24.7 points per game. The Trojans say farewell to some senior stars but have some talented underclassmen who will return next fall.