Kearney, Staley, Rockhurst grind out Missouri high school football victories

It was another big night of games across the Kansas City metro on Friday.

Here are some highlights from Week 4 of the Missouri high school football schedule.

No. 6 Kearney 14, No. 15 Park Hill 7

Kearney received a scare on the road but prevailed with a gritty win.

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 6 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, fell behind 7-0 early against the No. 15 Trojans. But Kearney (4-0) eventually came back on the strength of its running game and defense at Park Hill District Football Stadium.

Park Hill, in its third game with Greg Reynolds as interim head coach, opened the scoring with 4 minutes, 33 seconds left in the first quarter on a 43-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Zane Thomas to fellow senior Dante Dixon.

But Kearney leaned on its ground game, by night’s end rolling up 184 rushing yards to the Trojans’ 17.

Temple Carter scored a one-yard rushing TD with 8:18 remaining in the first half. The senior QB finished with 83 carries on 21 totes. Park Hill couldn’t muster another score despite Dixon’s 10 catches for 136 yards and 190 passing yards from Thomas.

Kearney went ahead 45 seconds into the fourth quarter when Carter scored again, this time from three yards out. Hendrix Dryden rushed for 58 rushing yards for Kearney; Emmons Corbin added 46.

Kearney will take on No. 10 North Kansas City next Friday night while the Trojans face rival Park Hill South.

Staley 21, No. 9 Blue Springs 14

Not only did Staley deal Blue Springs its first loss, the visiting team held the Wildcats to their lowest output of the season.

Blue Springs was ranked No. 9 in the 810 Varsity Top 25. But late in the first quarter, senior defensive back Kenison Stone intercepted a pass and returned it 75 yards for a 7-0 Staley lead.

The Wildcats countered with a 70-yard TD pass from junior quarterback Wyatt Erickson to Zay Hite. But the Falcons kept the pressure on with another score just 18 seconds into the second quarter. A 33-yard TD pass to running back Nick Ballew made it 14-7.

The Falcons’ defense came up with another takeaway with 7:11 left in the half. Less than two minutes later, Draivyn Colvin gave the visitors a 21-7 lead at the break on a keeper.

The Staley defense thwarted Blue Springs’ scoring opportunities, snagging a pick in the last minute of the third quarter and two more in the final 6:30 of the game.

The Wildcats found the end zone with less than two minutes to play. But Staley recovered an ensuing onside-kick attempt and then knelt out the clock to end it.

Staley (2-2) next faces Blue Springs South (4-0), while Blue Springs (3-1) plays host to Lee’s Summit North (3-1).

Rockhurst 42, Lee’s Summit West 28

Rockhurst held off host Lee’s Summit West’s feisty effort for a 42-28 win on the road.

The Titans and Hawklets, ranked No. 5 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, were tied at 28 after a three-yard TD run by Chris Harris with 8:10 left in the game.

Rockhurst started its next possession at its own 38 after a 15-yard penalty. Four plays later, junior Garret Miller lobbed a pass off his back foot to junior Cash Lewandowski. The latter caught the ball at the West 40 and then dragged two would-be tacklers five yards before sprinting to the end zone.

That made it a 35-28 game with 5:16 left.

West had a chance with 4 minutes remaining. But on fourth-and-2 at the Titans’ 28, an incomplete pass over the middle stalled the drive. Rockhurst took over at the West 28 and six plays later Lewandowski scored his fourth TD of the evening via a 7-yard run.

The Hawklets next Friday play host to Bishop Miege, while Lee’s Summit West takes on district rival Lee’s Summit.

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

This story was originally published September 20, 2025 at 12:32 AM.