Photo Credit: David Smith/Special to PrepsKC 
A crucial, second-half surge allowed Staley to shake off a slow start and keep its season alive.
The Falcons charged out of the gate after halftime, scoring twice in the third quarter, and then clamped down on defense during a 13-9 victory against Park Hill South on Friday during the first round of the Class 6 District 8 Tournament.
Staley quarterback Luke Wilson threw both of his team’s touchdowns to receiver Andrew Genova during a pivotal third-quarter stretch, which ultimately propelled the Falcons to the win.
“I think the difference was we just didn’t want our season to end,” Wilson said of the third-quarter performance. “We came out. Everyone was focused, didn’t start pouting right away and just started executing.”
In a game that featured a combined five turnovers, neither team could gain much momentum until the Panthers got on track in the second quarter.
Quarterback Drew Paulakovich connected with Chance Taylor on a big pass play down to the 3-yard line, and then freshman Magnus Hoenshell burst into the end zone to give Park Hill South (2-8) the lead going into the half.
But the Falcons (4-6) took possession to start the third quarter, marched right down the field and tied the game on a fantastic 28-yard touchdown catch by Genova. And on Staley’s very next drive, Wilson dialed it up for Genova again, resulting in a 49-yard score that put their team in the lead for good.
Staley coach Steve Rampy said he was glad to see how well his team bounced back from some first-half struggles to take control in a matter of minutes.
“I challenged the guys at halftime,” Rampy said. “We weren’t changing much. We were going to come out and do this and this and this, and really, our third quarter was probably as good as we’ve played this year, as far as execution up front.
“And Luke, moving the ball, he made two great throws in the third quarter; the difference in the game really.”
In addition to his two touchdown passes, Wilson also showed his dual-threat ability with a handful of big runs that complemented big plays in the ground game from seniors KV Stone and Don Daughtry, who racked up numerous big plays to propel Staley's offense.
“It makes a huge difference because no one can focus on one player,” Wilson said. “We have a lot of players that make plays out here, so they have to pay attention to everyone.”
Still, Park Hill South kept the pressure on and delivered a huge play on special teams when Kiros Martin blocked a punt that resulted in a safety – bringing them within 13-9 early in the fourth quarter. The Panthers’ defense never relented, either, and forced its third turnover of the game with less than 2 minutes to go, giving them a final shot to win.
But in the end, Staley’s defense rose to the task once again and forced one final stop to bring the game to a close. The Falcons forced a punt or a turnover on all five Park Hill South possessions during the second half, including a crucial takeaway by defensive lineman Tyler Kerkhoff that negated a Panthers scoring chance just outside the red zone.
“They’ve played really well for the last several weeks,” Rampy said of his team’s defensive effort. “They really have gotten better every single week, but tonight might be their best performance. They made plays down the stretch.”
With the win, Staley progressed to the district semifinals and a matchup against undefeated Oak Park, the top seed in the district tournament and a state-ranked opponent.
But after securing a dramatic win to kick off postseason play, Rampy said the entire team is excited about the opportunity to compete against the Northmen next week.
“This time of year, it’s advance and conquer; win and go on,” he said. “We’ve got to clean up some mistakes and get ready to play a team that’s in our district. Our guys know all their guys. It’s going to be a great challenge.
“… We’ll just see what the week brings, and we’ll do our very best.”
