Inside Lee’s Summit High School football’s first-ever state championship win

A 10-game winning streak on the heels of a 0-4 start to the season. A down-to-the-wire game-winning touchdown in the championship game. A 153-year-old suburban high school celebrating its first-ever state football title.

While this may sound like the plot of a feel-good sports film, it’s just a few highlights of the Lee’s Summit High School Tigers’ memorable season. The Tigers beat Nixa High School — undefeated until the championship game — on Saturday by 41-37. Karsten Fiene scored the winning touchdown in the final moments of the game.

The LSHS 2025 season is one for the record books in more ways than one. Tailback Preston Hatfield toppled the Missouri title-game record for the highest number of rushing yards. Coach Todd Miller, in his second year with the Tigers, set his own record by earning his 200th career coaching win during the season, said Kit Anderson, LSHS director of activities and athletics.

“It was just a really unique season,” Anderson added. “We’re the only team in (Missouri high school) history to lose the first four games and win the state championship.”

The Tigers’ year began with high hopes after a successful 2024 season, but the team struggled coming out of the gate.

“We had to start out 0-4 to get to 10-4,” Miller said. “This team had to be broken, and it was. The coaches on staff are incredible men of character and great coaches of the game and life. Our players are as tough a group of young men I have been around.”

After this challenging start, the Tigers coaching staff worked together to make modifications, Anderson said.

“They changed every offense that they had planned all summer after week four to try to figure out what would give us the best chance to win, and the kids bought in and they figured it out,” Anderson said. “They did it for each other and stayed together, and the coaches kept them focused on the goals of one game at a time.”

One of the lessons from this remarkable season is that humans are capable of doing great things with effort, Miller said. “This team outlasted and outplayed some great teams, and I am so proud of the young men on this team.”

Fiene, the senior who scored the final touchdown securing the state title win, said his mind mostly went blank after crossing the goal line.

“It was kind of a realization that we actually might win state,” he said.

Being a part of the championship team means everything, Fiene said. “I spend more time with my teammates than I do with my own family, at practices, team meals. They are my family.”

Jim Waring, father of LSHS offensive lineman Holden Waring, said his son went into his last year in high school knowing the team had something special.

“He often said we had a chance to win state our senior year,” Waring added.

“It all really came together with Coach Miller,” he said. “He preached team effort and toughness. As practices became more difficult, the kids that stuck around became more resilient and tougher.”

Support from fans throughout the season was enthusiastic and included team dinners, coordinated by parents and community members, on Thursday evenings with the players often attending other fall LSHS sports games following the meal, Anderson said.

“I love being a part of a great community that is so supportive of the football team,” Miller said. “There’s an incredible atmosphere, and a great crowd that’s extremely loud.”

Once the Tigers made the final four, LSHS hosted a state send-off. The school’s drumline performed in the hallways as the players were recognized while walking through the entire school, Anderson said.

“We did a school-wide assembly before the championship game,” he added, with band, cheer and dance performances and coaches speaking about the season.

For Lee’s Summit High School, winning the state title has had a positive impact on school spirit.

“Obviously winning a football state championship is a huge culture builder,” Anderson said. “Anytime your fall sports are doing well, it just sets the tone for the year, and people are excited to be at events and be a part of something.”

LSHS has a rich history as the original among the Lee’s Summit School District’s three high schools. Records show that the Tigers football team played its first-ever game in 1896, defeating Harrisonville High School 12 to 4, Anderson shared.

Among the celebrations this week, the Tigers coaches are collecting gear and turning their thoughts to the next season. But the memories of 2025 will remain for decades.

“For me, knowing my son will someday meet up with his teammates many years from now and reminisce about this season and how special this team became,” Waring said.

“This was a special deal,” Miller added. “We came a long way. It all came down to the wire with a bunch of tough kids who kept their poise and refused to lose.”