Down 26-21 and needing a turnover to potentially take the lead, Olathe Northwest had their chance to mark a turning point against Sunflower League foe Shawnee Mission South with less than eight minutes left in the game.
With South driving for a dagger-in-the-heart score, Raiders' senior quarterback Jack Roberts faked a handoff and sped through the right side of the defense for a long gain. However, Raven senior linebacker Connor Boyd tackled Roberts from behind and jarred the ball loose. It appeared upon first glance Northwest had recovered it, but Raider senior receiver Sean Kirby emerged from underneath the pile with the ball and effectively the momentum as South later scored on the drive in a 40-21 Class 6A first-round home playoff win Friday night.
"I thought I was clear in the open," Roberts said. "I thought I'd just tuck it away and go down. Someone ended up reaching behind me and stripping the ball, and one of our all-around players jumped on it and made a great play."
Turnover averted, South transformed what was a close game into an almost identical score from the meeting between the two teams two weeks ago, a 38-21 triumph for South.
"I've got a lot of confidence in this team coming back from anything in the second half," Roberts said.
After Northwest opened the game with a three-and-out, both teams began a flurry of scoring with short-yardage runs in the first quarter with South leading 14-7. Northwest started the second frame with an 11-play, 64-yard drive ending with a perfect back corner end zone throw from senior quarterback Cole Manning to Boyd to tie the game at 14, where it stayed until halftime.
Roberts took over the opposite half with three rushing touchdowns, all from within 10 yards, to put the game out of reach after the fumble scare Northwest failed to capitalize on.
Roberts ended the night with 20 carries for 164 yards and four touchdowns - all on the ground.
"I like the fight in these guys," head coach Brett Oberzan said. "They've been a second-half football team all year long. We have a heck of a task ahead of us next week with the returning state champs, but we'll enjoy this one tonight and get ready to go tomorrow."
