Back to state: Rockhurst clips Blue Springs 14-13 to secure spot in championship game

The rivalry between Kansas City’s most accomplished high school football programs dates more than three decades, fused by the resumes of their head coaches. Rockhurst’s Tony Severino and Blue Springs coach Kelly Donohoe have combined for 11 state championships, seven undefeated seasons and more than 500 wins.

And yet after 11 postseason appointments, Saturday offered their most significant meeting.

By its literal fingertips, Rockhurst is marching on.

The Hawklets held on for a 14-13 victory against Blue Springs on their home field to advance to the Missouri Class 6 state championship game next Saturday in Columbia. Rockhurst (11-2) will meet CBC at 6 p.m. in Memorial Stadium.

Rockhurst secured its spot with a blocked field goal with four minutes to play Saturday.

“How many of these have we had with them?” Severino said. “You expect it.”

“Another classic Rockhurst-Blue Springs game,” Donohoe said.

The drama of the game fit the moment — the two teams had never meet in a state semifinal — even if it was the defenses ruling the day.

And one big play on special teams.

Looking for its first lead of the day, Blue Springs lined up a 30-yard field goal with 4 minutes left. Rockhurst linebacker Tommy Eckels broke through the middle of the line and blocked the kick off the foot of Fredy Romero, who had already split the uprights on two attempts.

Blue Springs (9-4) never held the ball again.

“We work on that play every week,” Severino said, “And that’s the first time we ran it in a game.”

“It’s just maddening when that happens,” said Donohoe, who had won his previous seven state semifinal games at Blue Springs. “Our defense was playing so well in the second half, (so) you feel like if we just kick that field goal, it’s gonna be tough for them to get down and re-take the lead.”

The defenses allowed only minimal room for maneuvering, even when both were placed in precarious positions by an onslaught of turnovers. The initial eight minutes of the second half included three turnovers.

Rockhurst fumbled the ball four times in the opening quarter, though it didn’t lose the ball on any. It should have once. The Hawklets fumbled a kickoff, and Blue Springs clearly recovered the football, but the play was ruled dead by an inadvertent whistle. Rockhurst senior Jalan Crayton responded with his second rushing touchdown of the day on the ensuing drive. Crayton finished with 91 yards.

He and Rockhurst tight end Andrew Stafford were the lone offensive bright spots. Stafford had 112 yards receiving.

“We knew it was gonna be a battle all game,” Stafford said. “That’s what we prepared for.”

The bulk of Stafford’s yardage came in the first half before Rockhurst quarterback Luke Boehm departed the game. Boehm absorbed a hit to the head while scrambling for yardage and left the game a minute before halftime, with Rockhurst holding a 14-10 lead. No flag was thrown on the play. Severino did not have an immediate update on Boehm, who lay on the ground for several minutes before walking to the locker room. He was not on the sideline for the second half. He was 10 of 13 for 148 yards.

Rockhurst protected the lead after his absence, albeit barely. Severino will try to win his eighth state championship next weekend. He currently sits fourth in Missouri state history on that list.

“We’re going back,” he said. “All we can say is we got a chance.”

This story was originally published November 17, 2018 at 4:33 PM.