Friday night lights in Missouri: Jaguars, Eagles, Blue Jays turn in big evenings

Here’s a look at highlights from some big Missouri-side high school football games around the Kansas City metro on Friday night.

Blue Springs South 30, Blue Springs 20

Just when Blue Springs had spooked its rival, Blue Springs South put the nail in the coffin.

The Jaguars, ranked No. 12 in the 810 Varsity Top 25 and 6-2 overall, held a 23-3 lead early in the second half. But the Wildcats, ranked No. 16, drew with 3 points, at 23-20, to open the fourth quarter on James Fike’s one-yard TD plunge.

Blue Springs South calmly answered in the final eight minutes. First, quarterback Ayden Wilhelm fired a 34-yard pass to junior Wyatt Denney to move the Jags to the Wildcats’ 29. Two plays later, Wilhelm threaded a 30-yard throw to Gary Hill for a TD.

Blue Springs South turned two first-half turnovers into TDs en route to a 16-3 halftime lead. Junior Darius Morgan scored his 15th of the year after an interception by Blayne Marshall and it was 10-3.

Another Wildcats turnover set up a long Jaguars drive at the end of the half. That march was capped by Ayden Wilhelm’s 8-yard TD pass. With 51 seconds left until intermission, Wilhelm lobbed another scoring pass and it was 16-3.

Blue Springs South (6-2) opened the second half with another big score, this time from KJ Hawkins. The senior tailback took an inside handoff on second-and-nine at the 35 made it all the way to the end zone.

Blue Springs South heads to Lee’s Summit West next Friday night, while Blue Springs plays host to Liberty North.

Liberty North 16, Rockhurst 13

For the second straight season and third game in two years, Liberty North left Rockhurst feeling blue.

Actually, make that Bleu.

Placekicker Bleu Renfrow booted a 30-yard field goal as time expired as Liberty North (5-3) beat Rockhurst at Severino Field. The senior, one of the best kickers in the region, kicked three field goals in the game.

It was a rematch of last year’s Missouri Class 6 semifinal, which the Eagles won 28-27 en route to their first state title. Liberty North has now beaten Rockhurst four straight times across the last three seasons.

After two straight Renfrow field goals, including a 29-yarder with 7:19 left for a 13-6 Liberty North lead, Rockhurst found some life.

The Hawklets mounted a 72-yard drive, capped by Pierce Fisher’s 14-yard run up the middle, to forge a 13-13 tie with 3:29 left. Fisher also scored on the Hawklets’ opening drive.

But Liberty North, ranked No. 19 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, took over at its own 36-yard line. The visitors reached the RHS 13 in 10 plays.

With just 2 seconds remaining, on came Renfrow ... who coolly booted the game-winner as time expired.

Liberty North will visit No. 16 Blue Springs next Friday, while Rockhurst travels to St. Louis to face SLUH.

Liberty 36, Oak Park 13

Liberty took out its recent frustrations Friday night. Oak Park just happened to be in the way.

The Blue Jays, losers of their last two games, rebounded against the Northmen. Senior Jaxon Hicks ran for 190 yards and two touchdowns and caught a TD pass. He’s now rushed for 1,612 yards and 21 touchdowns this year.

Liberty (6-3) took a 17-6 lead after a 75-yard TD run by Hicks to open the second period. But Oak Park (6-3) drew within 4 points, at 17-13, when Antonio Johnson hit Drew Clemens for a 19-yard TD pass with 8:35 remaining until halftime.

Lincoln Dwiggins drilled a 30-yard field goal to make it 20-13 at intermission. After the break, Connor Hatfield fired a 42-yard scoring strike to Hicks that pushed the score to 27-13.

Liberty will play host to North Kansas City next Friday, while Oak Park will travel to Park Hill.

For stats, recaps, online broadcasts and more, visit 810Varsity.com.