Blue Valley edged Rockhurst 21-14 under the Friday early evening sunshine. The game was moved up to 4:00 p.m. in order to avoid rain, instead the players faced heat near 90 degrees. The teams combined for four turnovers and dozens of penalties, but in the end the Tigers picked up a big win.
The game started with five straight punts and neither team gained more than 20 yards. The defenses were strong all night.
The scoring got started with 8:40 left in the first quarter. The Tigers were in the shadow of their goal line when junior quarterback Jake Wolff took the snap from the three-yard-line. Wolff floated a pass to Dorian Stephens. The junior wideout leapt over the defender and 80 yards later he was in the end zone.
Blue Valley was the best offense Rockhurst had. Both of the Hawklets’ touchdowns were set up by BV turnovers. Halfway through the second quarter Rockhurst forced a fumble at the Tiger 22. Nick Smrt would tie the game with a one-yard plunge. Later in the game Smrt would be knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury.
Midway through the third quarter a muffed punt by Blue Valley would set Rockhurst up with another short field. Chuck Ingram would punch it in from three yards out to give Rockhurst the lead 14-7.
Three minutes later the Tigers would answer. Stephens was about to strike again. This time from 43. Wolff hit the wideout on a slant and Stephens did the rest.
Blue Valley would take the lead for good when Sterling Lockett caught a quick out from Wolff and scored after a 56-yard run.
Caden McCumber salted the game away for the Tigers when he hauled in an interception on a third and a mile with 4:33 left in the game.
