The Park Hill South football team was in a dogfight when it had multiple players not playing in its matchup against Staley, but the Panthers were able to pull out the victory as they defeated the Falcons 22-7 on Oct. 1.
Two of the Panthers’ top rushers, Briggs Bartosh and Darrien Jones, were two of the players who were unhealthy and unable to suit up when Staley came to town. The Park Hill South offense looked a lot different without the dynamic duo, but other players stepped up when it mattered the most.
“We had five or six starters out, but our mentality is to have the next guy step up,” Park Hill South head coach Alan Wilmes said. “Our guys gutted it out and I am really proud of them.”
The Panthers only needed four offensive plays to find the end zone when Nathan Ricco connected with Mudia Reuben for a 74-yard bomb that resulted in an early 6-0 lead. Following a few punts by both teams, the Falcons responded with a score of their own to take a 7-6 lead with 8:48 remaining in the second quarter.
After another Park Hill South offensive possession ended in a punt, Elano Alvarez intercepted a pass from Staley to help the Panthers regain momentum. Two plays later, Ricco once again found Reuben for a long touchdown pass – this time for 67 yards – and Park Hill South retook a 12-7 lead with 2:23 left in the opening half.
“They have a special bond and it really showed tonight. Nathan (Ricco) threw some great balls and Mudia (Reuben) made the plays, so we are hoping to see a lot more of that as we continue throughout the season,” Wilmes said.
The Park Hill South defense made big stops in the second half when it mattered, starting with Staley’s first possession in the third quarter. The Falcons came out of the locker room with a huge kick return when they brought the ball to the Panthers’ 19-yard line, but Staley failed to get a first down and turned it over on downs.
On the Falcons’ next drive, they had another impressive drive that resulted in zero points. Staley made it all the way down to the Park Hill South 10-yard line, but once again, the Panthers’ defense forced a turnover on downs.
“Our guys don’t like to give up points and they buckled down, made adjustments and gritted it out. There were a lot of fourth down stops and they played well all night long,” Wilmes said.
Park Hill South finally got back on the scoreboard on the ensuing offensive possession with a 37-yard field goal by Reuben to extend its lead to 15-7 with 9:36 to go in the fourth quarter. The Panthers’ defense forced a Falcon punt and Lucas Oitker took over as the senior rushed for a large chunk of yardage and milked the clock in the drive, which was capped off with a 9-yard rushing touchdown.
“Oitker came in and ran the ball and was a warrior all night, but that was a defining moment to finish the game. It is a testament to all the hard work in the off-season they do,” Wilmes said
The Panthers led 22-7 with 2:33 remaining in the contest and the Falcons drove down the field with one last desperation for a comeback. As the clock expired, the Panthers knocked down a pass attempt from the 7-yard line to secure the victory.
Ricco ended with 187 passing yards and 2 passing touchdowns, while Reuben finished with 4 receptions for 164 yards and 2 receiving touchdowns. Oitker stepped up for the Panthers when he rushed for 188 yards on 34 carries and one score.
James Williams sacked the Falcons’ quarterback twice to go along with his 8 tackles and 3 tackles for loss. Roger Guillory had a team-high 14 tackles on the night to help lead Park Hill South to its sixth straight win this season.
The unbeaten Panthers will head to North Kansas City High School on Friday, Oct. 8, to take on the Hornets at 7 p.m.