Turnovers plagued Park Hill South as it lost 26-6 to Liberty on Friday, Sept. 28 at Preston Field at Park Hill High School.
The Blue Jays spoiled homecoming for the Panthers by scoring the first 24 points to take a commanding lead in a Suburban Conference Red Division showdown.
The loss is the third straight for the Panthers (1-5, 1-3 Suburban Red).
Jack Lowery scored on a 7-yard run in the first quarter to give Liberty (4-2, 2-2) an early 6-0 lead. Grant Ross booted the extra point to make it 7-0.
An interception by the Blue Jays turned into points when Ross booted a 23-yard field goal early in the third quarter.
Quarterback Alex Roush hit Michael Book for a 36-yard touchdown later in the quarter as the lead grew to 17-0 for the Blue Jays. The Panthers fumbled the kickoff and Liberty took over at the 25-yard line and quickly added to its lead. Lowery’s 15-yard run made it 24-0.
The deficit could’ve been larger but a penalty negated a punt return score by Book.
Park Hill South got on the board when quarterback Matt Suchanick hit Braeden Denney for a 17-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The PAT failed, pulling the Panthers within 18 points.
A Liberty punt late in the third quarter pinned Park Hill South at the 1-yard line and Nathan Gray sacked Suchanick for a safety to make it 26-6.
Liberty had 311 yards of total offense, 190 through the air. Park Hill South had 160 yards of offense. Ta’von Tusa was held to 27 yards on 10 carries for Park Hill South. Suchanick passed for 85 yards, 63 of which went to Denney, who had six catches.
Looking ahead
The Panthers, based on paper, are on a position to enter a game as a favorite when they travel to Independence on Friday, Oct. 5 to face Truman in another conference game.
The Patriots are winless so far and are coming off a 40-0 loss to state-ranked North Kansas City. That is the second time in six games the team has been blanked, losing 49-0 to Liberty North as well. There are some similarities between the two with loss to Staley and Liberty by similar scores.
Andrew Owens in the top back for Truman, coached by Charlie Pugh, a former football player at Northwest Missouri State. Owens ran for 138 yards and two scores two weeks ago against William Chrisman. In that same game, starting quarterback Carter Brown was injured.
Don Edmondson replaced him.