If there was ever any doubt that the playoffs are here, Raytown South senior wide receiver Darrien Bruster made sure to remind everyone of this point. Teammates, water girls and innocent bystanders within earshot— no one was spared from Bruster’s epic rant. His team, already in control against Lee’s Summit West in this Missouri Class 5 regional showdown Wednesday night, had just scored a third-quarter touchdown but Bruster wanted more. “Let’s gooooooo!” the extra-hyped Bruster shouted through his helmet. “We’re not ready to go home! Let’s go! Don’t nobody got scholarships! Let’s go!” As Bruster made it abundantly clear, Raytown South was ready for the playoffs and more importantly, moving on after the Cardinals’ 30-14 win over LS West at Ted Chittwood Stadium. “I’ve got something to prove out there,” said Bruster, still bobbing around like a Red Bull addict long after the final horn. “It’s all about your heart and I wanted it more than that other team.” Could that even be possible? That this late in the year, when every football player in the state “wants it,” one team could be hungrier than the other? Well, there has to be something to it. During pregame, when LS West was busy warming up in plain sight, Ray South players closed the door to the locker room and for 15 minutes, chanted and rapped and banged on the walls. From the sounds of it, they were ready to release a platinum-selling album … but more importantly, ready for some playoff action. “The win one for the Gipper speech doesn’t work anymore,” Cardinals coach David Allie joked, explaining why he leaves the boys to their own devices before games. After the jam session, the Cardinals took the first-quarter lead when quarterback Dennis Tanner hit Bruster with a 17-yard fade pass. But it wasn’t until near the end of the first half when Bruster had his playoff-defining moment and proved his words … he wanted it more. With 48 seconds to go, Bruster felt a wave of angry Titan defenders coming after him after he reeled in Tanner’s high lateral. Then Bruster ran backward and would’ve lost major yardage if he had been caught but instead found daylight near the Cardinal sideline and somehow turned a busted play into a 15-yard touchdown. The Cardinals led 17-7 at that point and never looked back. How could they? When there’s so much more to look forward to. The table’s now set for Ozark next Monday night. “We’re hungry!” senior linebacker Eric Brantley said. “I’m ready to eat. They were our first meal. I’ll take seconds now.”

Posted on Wed, Nov. 04, 2009 11:20 PM

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Raytown South Cardinals hungry for more playoff wins

CANDACE BUCKNER HIGH SCHOOLS

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His team, already in control against Lee’s Summit West in this Missouri Class 5 regional showdown Wednesday night, had just scored a third-quarter touchdown but Bruster wanted more.

“Let’s gooooooo!” the extra-hyped Bruster shouted through his helmet. “We’re not ready to go home! Let’s go! Don’t nobody got scholarships! Let’s go!”

As Bruster made it abundantly clear, Raytown South was ready for the playoffs and more importantly, moving on after the Cardinals’ 30-14 win over LS West at Ted Chittwood Stadium.

“I’ve got something to prove out there,” said Bruster, still bobbing around like a Red Bull addict long after the final horn. “It’s all about your heart and I wanted it more than that other team.”

Could that even be possible? That this late in the year, when every football player in the state “wants it,” one team could be hungrier than the other?

Well, there has to be something to it. During pregame, when LS West was busy warming up in plain sight, Ray South players closed the door to the locker room and for 15 minutes, chanted and rapped and banged on the walls. From the sounds of it, they were ready to release a platinum-selling album … but more importantly, ready for some playoff action.

“The win one for the Gipper speech doesn’t work anymore,” Cardinals coach David Allie joked, explaining why he leaves the boys to their own devices before games.

After the jam session, the Cardinals took the first-quarter lead when quarterback Dennis Tanner hit Bruster with a 17-yard fade pass. But it wasn’t until near the end of the first half when Bruster had his playoff-defining moment and proved his words … he wanted it more.

With 48 seconds to go, Bruster felt a wave of angry Titan defenders coming after him after he reeled in Tanner’s high lateral. Then Bruster ran backward and would’ve lost major yardage if he had been caught but instead found daylight near the Cardinal sideline and somehow turned a busted play into a 15-yard touchdown. The Cardinals led 17-7 at that point and never looked back. How could they? When there’s so much more to look forward to. The table’s now set for Ozark next Monday night.

“We’re hungry!” senior linebacker Eric Brantley said. “I’m ready to eat. They were our first meal. I’ll take seconds now.”

To reach Candace Buckner, high school columnist at The Star, call 816-234-4389, or send e-mail to cbuckner@kcstar.com

Posted on Wed, Nov. 04, 2009 11:20 PM

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