In a “normal” world the season opener between Rockhurst and Raymore-Peculiar would have been filled with storylines outside of the game itself.
Both head coaches, Sean Martin of Ray-Pec and Kelly Donohoe of Rockhurst, were in their first games as head coaches of their respective schools.
Ray-Pec’s former head coach Tom Kruse is now on Donohoe’s staff.
The Panthers also were in their first game since falling in the Class 6 semifinals last season and trying to beat Rockhurst for the first time in five years and for the first time ever on Tony Severino Field.
By the way did we mention that it was the first game in more than 35 years that Tony Severino wasn’t roaming the sidelines for the Hawklets?
Add in a stadium that was 85 percent empty with COVID-19 protocols.
But forget all of that, there was a football game between two of Kansas City’s top Class 6 football teams and it was a good one.
Ray-Pec, behind three second half interceptions, held on to beat the Hawklets 42-34 in the season opener.
“You couldn't have drawn it up any better for a first game,” Martin said. “We felt like we had a good game, coming up here and playing at Rockhurst after such a weird offseason.”
Both teams came out of the gate tight before finding their rhythm in the second quarter and going into the half tied, 14-14.
It was during halftime that Donohoe emphasized to the Hawklets that they had to win the turnover battle in the second half to be successful. Early on it looked as though that would be the case. After being stopped on their opening possession of the half, they picked up a turnover when Gavin O’Boyle recovered a muffed punt.
It would set up a Rockhurst score that would give the Hawklets a 20-14 lead.
The Panthers responded by going 80 yards on 7 plays, capped off with a touchdown run by Phillip Fager, his second of the night. They converted their PAT to take a 21-20 lead, one they’d never relinquish.
On the ensuing possession, Gunnar Griffin picked off the Hawklets and went 33-yards for a touchdown. The Panthers added two more interceptions, both by Ethan Woodfine.
On each of the possessions following the interceptions, the Panthers wasted little time finding the end zone. First, Conrad Hawley connected with Tucker Miller for a 30-yard score then found Weston Ropp for a 76-yard score.
“We talked at half at 14 all that we had to win the turnover battle in the second half,” Donohoe said. “The one that was a third and long was like a punt. It was the two other interceptions that hurt us.”
Rockhurst mounted a comeback when down 42-26, quarterback Luke Bailey, Jr. went 47 yards for a touchdown and then converted a two-point conversion.
Trailing 42-34 they had a drive reach the Panther 9 before turning it over on downs when Jacob Quest batted down a would-be touchdown.
Raymore-Peculiar hosts conference foe Blue Springs next week for the Panthers senior night, while Rockhurst takes on Park Hill.
For Donohoe, the biggest key is for Rockhurst to learn from the loss in the opener.
“You learn a lot from a loss, he said. “We have great kids here. This will sting them and it should, but it’s one game and it’s an early game. We have to grow from it and we will.”
