Sitting on a 2-5 record five weeks ago, the Park Hill South football team (6-6) turned its season around – winning four straight games – to make it to the Class 6 District 4 Championship for the second straight season against Liberty North (12-0) on Nov. 11.
Nearly a year to the day after falling short of a district title at home to the Eagles 34-14, the Panthers had a chance to avenge the loss on the road. In 2021, Park Hill South entered the district championship with an unbeaten record – with the opposite occurring in the 2022 matchup – but a tough second half by the Panthers prevented their season from continuing.
It was a cold night in the high 20’s and was more competitive in the first half than in the regular season matchup on Sept. 16 when the Eagles won 34-14. In the postseason matchup, Liberty North quarterback Sam Van Dyne ran in for a 14-yard touchdown to put Park Hill South behind 7-0 with 5:42 left in the first quarter.
Park Hill South senior Darrien Jones breaks loose for an 80-yard touchdown to tie the game at seven with 11:28 remaining in the second quarter for the Panthers only score in the 34-7 loss to Liberty North in the Class 6 District 4 Championship Game on Nov. 11.
On two of the Panthers’ next three offensive snaps, Briggs Bartosh threw an interception, but the Eagles were unable to put any points on the scoreboard from the pair of turnovers. In Liberty North’s second possession following a pick, it missed a long field goal.
On the next play from scrimmage, Park Hill South senior Darrien Jones ran 80 yards for a touchdown – which was the longest play of the night – to tie the game at seven with 11:28 remaining in the second quarter. The Panthers’ defense built off that scoring drive on the ensuing possession, coming up with a goal-line stand.
Unfortunately for Park Hill South, the offense couldn’t move the ball and Mason Love had to come out to attempt a punt. Love’s kick was blocked and recovered by the Eagles in the end zone with 5:11 remaining in the half and Liberty North took that 14-7 lead into the break.
The Panthers didn’t get a second half snap until there was 6:32 left in the third quarter as the Eagles scored a touchdown on the opening drive and then recovered a surprise onside kick to gain another offensive possession. Van Dyne’s 24-yard passing touchdown was followed up by a rush into the end zone from five yards out to push the margin to 28-7.
Park Hill South’s offense finally got back on the field – albeit the Panthers trailed by two more touchdowns than the last time they were on offense – after Bartosh returned the kickoff to the 35-yard line. Bartosh then marched the team down the field and the drive went into the fourth quarter.
Park Hill South started the final quarter with a 4th and two from the Liberty North 20-yard line. Bartosh passed to Marcus Parker in the end zone, but the pass was dropped, and the Panthers turned the ball over on downs.
As the fourth quarter progressed, Liberty North added a pair of field goals from 27 and 56 yards out to push the lead to 34-7. Park Hill South had one final drive in its opponent’s territory – making it to the Liberty North 18-yard line with right over one minute left – but the Eagle defense forced a Bartosh fumble and recovered, before running the clock out.
Bartosh finished the night – and his Park Hill South career – with 107 yards in the air and 21 yards on the ground. Jones ran for 123 yards on 13 carries, while Mike Lane had a team-high four receptions for 50 yards.
Benny Palmer helped lead the Panthers to a .500 record in his first season as the team’s head coach. Park Hill South avenged its last two regular season losses with a 50-40 win over No. 2 seed Staley (7-3) on Oct. 28 and a 28-22 victory over sixth-seeded Park Hill (3-8) on Nov. 4 in the Class 6 District 4 Tournament.
After winning a district title in 2016, Park Hill South went half a decade without a district championship appearance but has now done it in two consecutive seasons. The Panthers will look to build off the success of the last two years into next fall.