Friday night football Kansas notebook: SM West kicks it into gear, defeats Olathe Northwest
A new day, specifically Friday, produced a spark for the Shawnee Mission West football team in its 20-12 victory over Olathe Northwest at the Shawnee Mission South District Stadium.
It was a completion of a game that started Thursday night, when SM West gave up the first points of the game on a safety and were held scoreless in the first half. In some regards, a lightning postponement at halftime was a welcome relief.
“I think our kids were really embarrassed from last night, and that is no knock on Olathe Northwest, because they are a good team,” Vikings coach Tim Callaghan said Friday night. “They took pride in what they did today and came out with more enthusiasm.”
Quarterback Adam Rellihan put SM West on the board on Friday with a 1-yard touchdown run with 4:55 left in the third quarter, then added a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter to take the lead. Jason Potter sealed the victory with a 35-yard interception return.
With the victory, SM West improved to 2-0. Olathe Northwest dropped to 1-1.
Harmon 30, Highland Park 26
Harmon coach Steven Jackson could barely find the words to describe his team’s emotions on Friday night.
First, it was likely a relief for the Hawks as they defeated Highland Park 30-26 to snap a 31-game losing streak. Then, the excitement of the team’s first victory since Oct. 7, 2011, took over.
“Everyone is feeling good,” Harmon coach Steven Jackson said. “These young boys have worked so hard, and to finally see this victory is so great.”
Jackson is hoping that the celebration will continue into practice next week as the team prepares to take on Sumner Academy.
“I have a bunch of young guys who have been getting their knocks every Friday because they are young, and now there is some excitement in the second game of the season,” Jackson said. “I think that is going to add some momentum at practice, get the intensity up and keep it up. I’m looking forward to that feeling again.”
Blue Valley 34, Blue Valley West 24
Quarterback Matthew Dercher had no problem slipping into the starting role. He commanded the Blue Valley offense, made plays with his feet and provided some big plays in the clutch in Blue Valley’s 34-24 victory.
There was not a more clutch play than a 36-yard pass Dercher threw at the end of the first half.
With time running down, Dercher launched a pass to Taylor Debey, who pulled the ball out the air for the Tigers’ third score with a few seconds left in the second quarter.
“I threw it, and I knew we had it,” Dercher said. “Taylor made a great catch and got us some momentum.”
This was one highlight of Dercher’s four-total touchdown performance that kept Blue Valley’s season rolling.
“He’s just a pretty savvy quarterback and did a good job of stepping up, and the kids just rallied around him,” Blue Valley coach Eric Driskell said. “Hats off to him it was a really great.”
Dercher came in for an injured starter Colton McCumber, who is still battling a shoulder injury. Driskell said that McCumber’s arm felt numb after the first play of the game following a treatment by the team doctor. Driskell expects him to be fine for the rest of the year
Debey and the rest of the Tigers receiving crew were reliable down the field with Dercher’s on-target passes.
The other runners of Blue Valley were not left out either. Led by AJ Totta with more than 70 rushing yards, the Tigers were still able to pound the rock to keep the Jaguar defense honest.
However, Blue Valley West was a worthy opponent. Jumping out to an early lead, the Jaguars stayed competitive throughout the game.
“I thought we played hard and kept playing throughout the whole game,” BV West coach Scott Wright said. “We’ve got to keep growing and learning from each game.”
The Tigers were too much, however. And with Dercher or McCumber at the helm, it seems like Blue Valley started off this season in solid shape.
“I’m just going to do whatever coach needs me to do and play my role on the team,” Dercher said.
| Ryan McCarthy, Special to The Star
This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 11:51 PM with the headline "Friday night football Kansas notebook: SM West kicks it into gear, defeats Olathe Northwest."