Playing day after death of assistant coach Josh Dirks, Olathe North Eagles top Olathe NW
After Olathe North’s extra-point attempt sailed wide left in the first quarter, Olathe Northwest led the Eagles 7-6.
It was the last time Olathe North trailed in the contest at the Olathe District Activities Center. The Eagles came back with six straight scoring drives, eventually winning the regional playoff 49-13.
Olathe Northwest didn’t score again until the fourth quarter.
Playing just one day after the death of Olathe North assistant Josh Dirks, the Eagles knew they had to win for their late coach.
“It means everything,” Olathe North coach Chris McCartney said after the game. “These kids are super-tough, enduring what they’ve endured. They weren’t distracted. They were motivated and did a great job.”
Senior quarterback Noah Palmer echoed those sentiments after the game.
“This win means a lot because we lost Coach Dirks, who was someone that was huge in our family,” Palmer said. “He’s a great man and it just felt good to win for him.”
Palmer delivered big-time throws throughout the game, including a fourth-and-12 conversion in the red zone. He finished with three touchdown passes and a touchdown run.
Palmer’s excellent supporting class included Joshua and Jacob Parrish. In addition to scoring an early kick-return touchdown, Joshua Parrish had two touchdown receptions and blocked a kick. Older brother Jacob also scored a pair of touchdowns and added an interception.
The Ravens’ flex-bone offense simply could not keep up with the high-flying Eagles, and when they did, turnovers were costly. Olathe Northwest fumbled in the red zone and turned the ball over on an interception around midfield.
Olathe Northwest’s season ends at 6-4, a high-water mark for the program at the school that opened in 2003. Coach Aaron Hafner’s team included 27 seniors.
Olathe North advances to the Class 6A sectional round of the playoffs next, and will play Blue Valley Northwest, a 68-31 winner over Olathe South Friday night.
Olathe North’s Eagles have now reached the state quarterfinals in football 19 of the last 22 years.