Schlagle holds on for big KCK League win

Dean Backes/PrepsKC

By Dean Backes PrepsKC staff writer
Posted: September 24, 2011 - 12:28 AM



Once he had completed his stroll through the post-game handshake line, Schlagle running back J’Veyon Browning dropped to the ground, stretched out face down in the grass and enjoyed Schlagle’s thrilling 26-24 win over Kansas City Atchison League foe Harmon.
 
Browning pounded the Hawk defense for 223 yards rushing on 26 carries and a pair of touchdowns. His 36-yard run with 4:16 left in the game paired with Keyaun Burke’s PAT run was the difference as the Stallions vaulted to the top of the league standings after Atchison fell to Washington 15-14 Friday.   
 
“This feels real good you know,” Browning said. “Coming into the season as underdogs it feels real good to beat a good football team.”
 
After building an 18-0 advantage at halftime, Schlagle had to hold on as the Hawks mounted a furious second half rally. Led by the very capable legs and the arm of Harmon quarterback Terrance Simmons, the Hawks tied the game at 18-18 when Roger Wallace hauled in Simmons’ 52-yard strike with 4:59 remaining in the contest.
 
But Browning does not get rattled. Just 43-seconds after Wallace’s apparent game changer, Browning found the end zone at the conclusion of a 36-yard run.
 
“I just told everybody to keep their heads up,” Browning recalled. “I’m going to take us all the way.”
 
Both defenses came prepared to play in the first quarter, holding the two KCAL offenses at bay. But Schlagle got rolling thanks to its special teams play.
 
Senior lineman Darius Williams pounced on a fumble at the Harmon 25-yard line following a high snap and a fumble on a Hawk punt attempt. Browning’s 20-yard run on the next play from scrimmage placed the ball squarely on the Hawk five.
 
Three plays later Elijah Owens scored on a nine-yard pass play from Simmons to put the Stallions up 6-0 with 11:04 left in the second quarter.
 
Schlagle coach Tim Dorian then pulled a rabbit out of his hat when he sent the Stallions out onto the field to attempt an onside kick. The play worked and Burke pushed the score to 12-0 on a five yard run to cap off a 37-yard drive less than two minutes after Schlagle’s first score.
 
Browning put the visitors on the board for the third time when he rambled to pay dirt on a 10-yard run. Although the PAT run came up short, Kansas City-Schlagle led 18-0 at intermission.
 
“We shot ourselves in the foot early,” Harmon coach Steven Jackson said of Harmon’s first half performance. “We had opportunities to make big plays. We came on strong late. I’m proud of these guys. We kept fighting and we gave ourselves a chance to win in the end. We were resilient. We came back.”
 
Simmons started the Hawk rally when he intercepted D.J. Sayles pass and returned it for a touchdown. However, a clipping penalty brought the ball back. On the next play, Simmons hooked up with Darrin Hawkins from 41 yards out to pull Harmon within 18-6 with 5:15 left in the third quarter.
 
The Hawks held Schlagle on downs at the Harmon 33 with 9:44 remaining. Simmons then raced around the right end on a 24-yard scoring jaunt to pull the hosts within a touchdown at 18-12 with 7:28 to play.
 
Harmon did threaten to score once more late in the fourth quarter. The Hawks drove 47-yards from their own 30 to the Stallion 23-yard line. But Simmons final pass attempt with one-second left was bobbled several times before falling incomplete.
 
Simmons finished the KCAL battle with 112 yards rushing on 18 carries and scored on a 24-yard run. He also completed 11 of 23 passes for 208 yards and three more scores.
 
“He carried the show on his back,” Dorian said. “He’s a one-man show and he gets it done. That’s a pretty good quarterback. He’s got a good arm and good legs. We were definitely chasing him all over the field.”
 
Jackson was impressed with his signal caller as well.
 
“Terrance is a big time player that makes big time plays in big time situations,” Jackson said.
 
Following Harmon’s second half rally, Dorian could come up with just one word to mutter.
 
“Wow,” he said. “Yeah, that’s what I told them. We came out a little flat. I think we thought we might come out and wrap it up and run it up on them.”