Friday night lights: Kansas high school football highlights from around the KC metro

A showdown of two top 10 teams in Kansas lived up the billing.

Spring Hill, ranked No. 10 in the 810 Varsity Kansas Class 5A rankings, won a 31-28 classic on Friday against Eudora, ranked No. 3 in Kansas Class 4A.

The Broncos (3-0) and Cardinals traded blows. Spring Hill’s Colton McKanna rolled up 168 rushing yards and all three Broncos touchdowns en route to a 21-14 lead at intermission.

Eudora answered right after halftime, however, as Adrion Seals took a pitch 40 yards for a touchdown to even the game at 21.

Spring Hill stepped up again with a touchdown for a 28-21 lead early in the fourth quarter, followed by a huge defensive stop: Safety Holden Lough picked off Eudora and returned the interception to the Cardinals’ 42. McKanna then broke free for a 27-yard run despite losing a shoe in the process.

With McKanna out, Spring Hill settled for a field goal that made it 31-21.

The Cardinals (2-1) went on a long drive capped by Kole Manley’s quarterback sneak to pull within three points, 31-28, with 3:49 left. But a failed Eudora onside-kick attempt gave Spring Hill back the ball and McKanna converted two first downs to seal it.

Spring Hill will face the No. 4-ranked team in Class 5A, Blue Valley Southwest, next Friday, while Eudora plays host to Ottawa.

Lawrence 31, Shawnee Mission East 28, 2OT: Lawrence escaped an upset scare to say the least.

The Lions, No. 18 in the Metro and No. 8 in Kansas Class 6A in the 810 Varsity rankings, pulled out a 31-28 win in double-overtime against Shawnee Mission East.

The teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 14. But the Lancers’ Jack Reeves opened the period with an inside handoff and broke loose to the outside for a 37-yard run to lead, 21-14.

East (0-3) looked to be driving to close down the game, but a pass from midfield was picked off by Lawrence safety Zander Thomas. From there, Thomas was off to the races for a 74-yard touchdown return and 21-21 tie with 4:59 remaining.

Lawrence quarterback Banks Bowen opened the scoring in overtime with a 10-yard draw and 28-21 advantage. But the Lancers countered with a 6-yard pass from Pearcy on a rollout to Reeves. That forced the second overtime.

East got the ball first but missed on a pass to the right side of the end zone, then hooked a 26-yard field goal attempt wide left. Lawrence’s Andrei Lefort got his chance at a 27-yard field goal, and connected for the 31-28 victory.

The Lancers (0-3) had opened a 14-0 lead on Lawrence’s home field after touchdown runs by Luke Peary and Nate Phillips. Reeves led the Lancers with 106 rushing yards.

Bishop Miege 48, St. James Academy 7: A clash of the only two Kansas Class 4A state champions over the last decade was over by halftime. Bishop Miege, state champ in 2014-19 and 2022, throttled St. James Academy at Dixon Doll Stadium.

The Stags, ranked No. 7 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, capitalized on seven Thunder turnovers.

St. James pulled to 14-7 in the second quarter after a Ben Wheeler 23-yard pass to John Tujague put the Thunder at the 1. Two plays later, Wheeler’s sneak got St. James within a score.

But from there, Miege went to work. The Stags capped a scoring drive to start the quarter with a 4-yard pass from quarterback Marco Rodriguez to Hollis Moeller with just 4:37 left in the half. Following a turnover, Rodriguez then lofted a 34-yard bomb down the right side to a wide open Teryn Jackson, and a 28-7 halftime cushion.

David Garcia piled on two rushing touchdowns, while Rodriguez also scored on the ground, to cap the Miege scoring in the second half.

Bishop Miege (3-0) will travel to Rockhurst (3-1) in a battle of area powers and two teams in the 810 Varsity Top 10 next Friday.

The Thunder won the state title in 2020 and 2021, but now are 0-3 for the season.

For more scores, stats, rankings and features, visit 810Varsity.com.