The Park Hill football team (2-7) was on the brink of defeating one of the top teams in the metro area until Lee’s Summit North (8-1) erased a late fourth quarter deficit and won 40-34 in overtime on Oct. 21.
After trailing for a majority of the contest, Park Hill went up 31-26 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter when Kendrick Bell connected with Max Filion for a 12-yard touchdown. Lee’s Summit North was unable to add points to the scoreboard on its next drive and the Trojans took over with under six minutes to play with a chance to push the lead to two possessions.
Park Hill senior Kendrick Bell ran for 23 yards and a touchdown, while completing 72.3 percent of his passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns in the Trojans 40-34 overtime loss to Lee’s Summit on Oct. 21.
Park Hill failed to do so and gave the ball back to Lee’s Summit North who marched down the field and added a 3-yard rushing touchdown with 1:35 left to go up 34-31. With the clock ticking, the Trojans made plays and drove down the field as Scotty Roberson converted on a 40-yard field goal to send the game to overtime in the final moments of regulation.
Park Hill started the extra time on offense and failed to find the end zone, settling with a field goal attempt, but it was blocked. Lee’s Summit North took over and had the chance to win with a score, doing so with a touchdown, as the Broncos walked away with a 40-34 victory and a Kansas City Suburban Conference Silver Division Title in the regular season finale.
Lee’s Summit North was in control of all but 11 seconds of the first half, taking an early 7-0 lead before Roberson converted on a 26-yard field goal. The Broncos added to the lead to go up 14-3 to start the second quarter until Bell found Dayton Howard for a 16-yard score.
Lee’s Summit North missed a field goal and Park Hill capitalized on its opponent’s mistake, bouncing back with another touchdown from Bell to Howard. The score let the Trojans take a 17-14 lead with 11 seconds left to head into the locker room on top.
Lee’s Summit North retook the lead early in the third quarter and headed into the fourth quarter with a 26-24 margin. Park Hill was in the middle of a scoring drive when the third quarter came to a close.
Bell completed 72.3 percent of his passes for 324 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions along with 10 rushes for 23 yards and a score. Howard brought in nine catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns, while Bryce Lisaka had 13 catches for 75 yards and Gavin Schaag had 12 receptions for 56 yards.
The Trojans ended the regular season with three straight losses, two of which were by one possession, and will enter the Class 6 District 4 Tournament as the No. 6 seed. Park Hill will head to Rockhurst (5-4) – who the Trojans didn’t play this season but defeated 21-13 in the first round of districts last fall after losing the regular season finale in triple overtime – on Oct. 28.