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

Oak Park hit Platte County with big plays early and often and made yet another statement with a 35-14 win at Platte City Friday night.

The Northmen, ranked No. 6 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, wasted no time against the No. 16 Pirates. On the opening drive, Rocco Marriott’s pass was tipped at the line by junior middle linebacker Cam Wahl, and senior Kalil Gill snagged the fluttering ball at the Platte County 42.

Gill coasted into the end zone with no one in sight for a 7-0 Oak Park lead.

The teams traded futile drives until the last snap of the first quarter. On third and 11 at the Platte County 39-yard line, Oak Park’s Aiden Hinkle dropped back to pass with three seconds left and hit a wide-open Evan Braxton at the 15. Braxton sauntered into the end zone and it was 14-0.

Hinkle pulled his best Patrick Mahomes impersonation in the second quarter, faking a handoff and rolling to his right only to run into two Pirates. So he rolled back left ... and two more Pirates nearly got him.

But not quite: The senior quarterback outraced them all back toward the left sideline, ran through a couple of blocks and darted for a 43-yard touchdown and 21-0 lead.

Hinkle finished with 90 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, while Travon Pankey added 88 yards and a touchdown.

Oak Park (5-0) will play host to Lee’s Summit (2-3) next Friday, while Platte County (3-2) travels to Raytown (1-4).

Liberty 29, Park Hill South 25

If Liberty coach Chad Frigon can survive the year without his heart stopping on the sideline, that may be a feat in itself.

The Blue Jays found themselves in yet another last-minute thriller, this time escaping with a 29-25 win at Park Hill South. Liberty (3-2) endured two overtime games this year before Friday’s epic comeback victory.

“We certainly know how to make it exciting, but we’re finding ways to win,” Frigon said.

Liberty trailed 25-14 and looked doomed after a failed field-goal attempt at the Park Hill South 6 with 4:48 left. But the Panthers fumbled on the ensuing play, giving the Jays a little life. And that’s all Liberty needed.

From the Park Hill South 27, quarterback Christian Kuchta connected with Dominic Revels for a 26-yard pass. Kuchta then scored on a 1-yard keeper, and his subsequent pass to Kale Mortimer earned a two-point conversion that made it 25-22 with 4:07 left.

A deep kickoff to the Park Hill South 10 led to a three-and-out, and Liberty took over at its own 28 with 3:20 left. Kuchta completed three straight passes — of 13, 7 and 13 yards — and a personal foul set up the Jays at the Panthers’ 24.

Jaxon Hicks took a handoff to the right side and down the sideline, bulldozing a Panther at the goal line for the go-ahead score and improbable 29-25 lead that Liberty wouldn’t relinquish.

Hicks finished with a game-high 121 rushing yards. Kuchta totaled 118 yards and two TDs on the ground while passing for 143 yards and another score.

Liberty will travel to Staley (1-4) next Friday, while Park Hill South (1-4) faces rival Park Hill (2-3).

Lee’s Summit West 53, Lee’s Summit 21

Lee’s Summit West hit the jets in the second half and left cross-district rival Lee’s Summit in the dust. The Titans, ranked No. 11 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, stayed undefeated with a 53-21 blowout of the Tigers.

After seeing LSHS pull within five at halftime, 19-14, Lee’s Summit West (5-0) would soon put this one on ice.

On the second play of the second half, Caden Carter faked an inside handoff at his own 41 and jetted up the middle, breaking loose down the right side for a 59-yard touchdown run and a 25-14 lead.

The Tigers answered with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Dawson Heeney to make it 25-21. But three plays later and right back at the Titans’ 41, Lee’s Summit West struck again. Carter hit Jackson Torry across the middle and Torry outraced four Tigers, cut inside and found the right pylon for a 32-21 lead.

Tayveon Simms’ 4-yard touchdown run made it 39-21 and, after Carter’s 38-yard gain on a keeper, Torry scored on a 6-yard run. Torry finished with a game-high 140 rushing yards and two TDs.

Carter passed for 278 yards, throwing TDs to four different receivers. He also rushed for 135 yards and another TD. Simms led all pass-catchers with 141 yards.

Jaydan Gipson had 113 rushing yards and a score for Lee’s Summit (2-3).

Lee’s Summit West will play host to Blue Springs South next week, while the Tigers will travel to Oak Park (5-0).

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

This story was originally published September 23, 2023 at 12:56 AM.