The Battle of the Hills was never in doubt for the senior institution as the Trojans defeated the Panthers 44-10 at Preston Field on Friday, Sept. 27.
Park Hill South received the ball to begin the game and went three plays and out. After a short punt, the Trojans set up at the South 40-yard line. A personal foul penalty on South aided the Trojans, putting them inside the South red zone. The drive was capped off with a 17-yard touchdown run by Daniel Easter, and with the kick, the Trojans led 7-0 less than three minutes into the contest.
Park Hill’s Daniel Easter breaks a tackle. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
On South’s second possession, the Panthers picked up a big first down on a third and long pass play to Jake Hensel to the 42-yard line. However, the drive stalled there, and the Panthers set up to punt, but instead of kicking the ball away, the ball was snapped to Tommy Lisenby, who rumbled 35 yards for a first down at the Park Hill 21-yard line.
South’s Tommy Lisenby runs for a first down on a fake punt. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
The South drive stalled thanks to a big third down sack by Jonah Were. South’s kicker, Asher Huffman, lined up for a 48-yard field goal and connected to get the Panthers on the board.
Park Hill’s ensuing drive stalled after a big play was called back on a holding call, and the Trojans punted the ball back to South, setting them up and their 37-yard line, but the Panthers couldn’t do much and went three plays and out.
South’s Mason Wright with a tackle on Park Hill’s Riley Haney. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
The Trojans moved down the field quickly thanks to two big pass plays from senior quarterback Zane Thomas. However, the Trojans’ drive stalled inside South’s red zone, and the Trojans got the three points back on a 36-yard field goal by Tegan Turner.
The Panthers got a break when the kickoff went out of bounds, setting them up at the 35-yard line. However, the Panthers went three plays and out, with Jack Conway getting a sack on third down.
Park Hill’s Jack Conway with a sack. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
Another short punt with an eight-yard return set the Trojans up on offense at midfield, and Park Hill went quick tempo and quickly had the ball at the one-yard line after a big pass play. Thomas called his number for a one-yard touchdown run, and with the kick, Park Hill led 17-3 with 4:35 left in the first half.
The struggling Panthers offense couldn’t get anything going and again went three plays and out and, taking only about a minute off the clock, leaving plenty of time for the Trojans to extend the lead. Riley Haney took the ball in from two yards out to cap off the drive with 10 seconds left on the clock until halftime. The extra point was low and blocked, but the Trojan lead was extended to 23-3 going into halftime.
Park Hill’s Riley Haney celebrates scoring a touchdown right before halftime. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
South tried to catch Park Hill off guard with an onside kick to start the second half, but the Trojans were able to recover at their 43-yard line. A few plays later, Haney found the end zone again, only this time, it was through the air on a 50-yard touchdown pass to Gage Dorrell on a reverse run play. With the kick, Park Hill led 30-3.
Park Hill’s Gage Dorrell had a free run to the end zone on a 50 yard pass play. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
South’s offense moved the ball and picked up a first down but stalled in Trojans’ territory, and the Panthers had to punt the ball away. The South defense stepped up again, forcing the Trojans to punt after only three plays, and the Panthers set up at their 23-yard line, but it would be the Trojans’ defense that delivered the final blow when Owen Keller intercepted a South pass at the Park Hill South 30 yard line.
Park Hill’s Owen Keller landed just inbounds on an interception. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
South got a big play from its defense on first down when Brock Harmon sacked Zane Thomas for a loss of seven yards, but the Trojans offense overcame the setback, and Thomas found Braylon Agee on a 38-yard pass play for a touchdown. The Trojans would add another touchdown on a seven-yard pass from Thomas to Xander Everts. South’s last drive resulted in a two-yard touchdown run by Tobi Falubi, who also did most of the work to get the ball down the field.
Park Hill’s Xander Everts hauled in a touchdown pass. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
With the win, the Trojans end a two-game losing streak and improve to 3-2 on the season. Park Hill will travel to Liberty next week, who is 4-1 on the season. South has lost four games in a row after winning its first game versus Grandview. South will be at home this Friday versus Lee’s Summit, who is also 4-1.
