Rockhurst hadn’t played a football game in three weeks and was itching for a fight.
Lee’s Summit West just happened to be the hapless victim.
For one half, Rockhurst took out its pent-up emotions on the Titans and dominated them in every way possible. And that was more than enough for a 31-8 victory Friday night in a Missouri Class 6 District 6 semifinal at Rockhurst’s Severino Field.
Rockhurst (9-1) hadn’t taken the field since beating St. Louis University High at home Oct. 13. The Hawklets’ opponent the next week forfeited and then they had a first-round bye in the postseason.
Were the Hawklets rusty? Hardly. Rockhurst scored on its first four possessions and kept Lee’s Summit West (7-3) from getting any traction. The Hawklets led 24-0 by halftime with a whopping 259-60 advantage in total yards.
“We were really (ticked) off because we hadn’t played a football game in three weeks,” Rockhurst running back Aidan Ryan said. “So we were all just hungry dogs out there waiting to eat.”
Rockhurst’s powerful running game feasted from the opening kickoff, which started a 13-play 80-yard drive that ended with Ryan scoring his first of two touchdowns from 2 yards out. Ryan totaled 152 rushing yards on 24 carries to lead a Rockhurst rushing attack that ground out yardage all night.
“Coach put together a great game plan and our O-line were just some dogs up front,” Ryan said. “They made it easy for me so I just ran behind them.”
Lee’s Summit West’s first possession ended when Rockhurst defensive back Ben Stringer intercepted a pass by quarterback Caden Carter on the Titans’ first play, Rockhurst quarterback Ethan Hanson then hit Mason Tunley for a 26-yard TD pass six plays later.
After holding Lee’s Summit West to a three and out, Rockhurst struck again with a 3-yard TD on a toss sweep by Ryan for a 21-0 lead. The Titans went three and out again, and Rockhurst marched down to the Titan 7-yard line before stalling out and settling for a 28-yard Logan Kuechler field goal.
But by then, Rockhurst had its 24-0 lead and total control.
“I don’t think it could have gone much better,” Rockhurst coach Kelly Donohoe said. “My gosh against that defense … to go down the field and score, score, score, I just really didn’t expect that.”
Lee’s Summit West did have it chances. Besides holding Rockhurst scoreless in the third quarter, the Titans reached the Hawklets’ red zone three times. They finally cashed in with a 13-yard TD pass from Carter to Adam Woolridge and a Carter-to-Jackson Torry two-point conversion in the fourth quarter.
But Rockhurst quickly answered with a 14-yard TD pass from Hansen to Mitch Forbes, and the Titans’ fate was sealed.
“I was happy for the way our kids played,” Lee’s Summit West coach Willie Horn said. “They kept fighting; they never gave up. There was no quit in them.”
Rockhurst won’t have to wait long for its next game. Next Friday they travel to Lee’s Summit North to face the undefeated and No. 1 ranked Broncos for the district title.
And the Hawklets plan to keep on playing.
“We’re very excited,” Ryan said. “We get to go on the road and hopefully end their season. We’re taking on the villain trait now. We’re trying to end everyone’s season.”
