Ta’Von Tusa’s third touchdown run helped Park Hill South maintain its unbeaten start in Suburban Conference Red Division play.
A junior running back, Tusa had three long touchdown runs, two in the fourth quarter of a comeback 19-15 win against Raytown on Friday, Sept. 15 at Park Hill District Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Panthers didn’t lead until Tusa’s 48-yard run — his longest of the night — with 6 minutes, 23 seconds to go.
Tusa finished with 244 yards on 42 carries.
Park Hill South improved to 3-2 with a second straight win to start the Red Division schedule. The Panthers had dropped to 1-2 after a two-game losing streak that started with a disastrous loss to Grandview, which returned three interceptions for touchdowns to spring the upset.
The turnover problems briefly resurfaced against Raytown.
Matt Suchanick, a sophomore making his second start at quarterback for Park Hill South after broken collarbones ended the seasons of seniors Billy Eggers andTaylor Tobin, threw a pick-six in the first quarter. Raytown, which entered receiving votes in the Class 5 Missouri media poll, didn’t hold the lead for long, giving up a 22-yard touchdown run to Tusa early in the second quarter.
Tied 7-7 at halftime, Raytown ran the second half’s opening kickoff back for a touchdown and took a 15-7 lead with a two-point conversion.
Park Hill South would win the game with back-to-back touchdown drives to start the fourth quarter. Tusa ran the first in from 22 yards out, but a two-point conversion failed, leaving the Panthers down 15-13.
Suchanick went 5-for-18 with two interceptions for Park Hill South.
Raytown committed five turnovers, including four interceptions, and ran for just 19 yards. Dylan Owens, a sophomore defensive back, grabbed three picks for Park Hill South, while junior Payton Murray had the other.
Brock Ivy, a sophomore, had the fumble recovery from his defensive end spot, while grabbing a team-long 44-yard reception as a tight end for Park Hill South. Etinosa Rueben, a junior defensive end, recorded a pair of sacks.
Park Hill South now prepares to play at Liberty North and vs. Liberty the next two weeks. Liberty North is 1-2 in the Red Division with losses to Raytown and Liberty, which is the only other unbeaten in the conference.
Last season, Park Hill South went 5-0 to claim the Red Division title.