The Park Hill South Panthers football team had never beaten the Staley Falcons but that all changed with a 28-13 win on the road on Friday, Oct. 2.
“We didn’t really know until our offensive line coach looked it up,” South head coach Alan Wilmes told the Platte County Citizen after the game. “I think we were 0-7 since whenever Staley was started. We didn’t really put a big emphasis on that we just try to go 1-0 and play well each week.”
Wilmes said his team didn’t think about getting the program’s first ever win against the Falcons but the game did have emphasis as the Panthers try and take the next steps to being a team that competes for a conference championship and a deep post-season run. Wilmes said the win on the road against a tough opponent like Staley is a huge confidence booster.
“We’ve had some heartbreak losses to Platte County who’s a really good team and Grain Valley,” Wilmes said. “We wanted to get out and get after a good program and Staley is top-notch in Kansas City.”
The Panthers won the opening toss but deferred to the second half and went on defense to start the game. South quickly got off the field to let the offense work and it took only three plays for South to get on the scoreboard after a 1-yard Briggs Bartosh touchdown run. The score was set up by a big pass play from quarterback Nathan Ricco to senior wideout Justin Harrison who was tackled just short of the goal line.
Staley quickly answered back on its second possession with a 53-yard pass play that went for a touchdown.
South responded with its own touchdown drive that was capped off by a 12-yard pass play from Ricco to Mudia Reuben for the score and the Panthers grabbed the momentum back.
Wilmes decided to take a chance and called an onside kick but the Falcons recovered the ball at the Panthers’ 36-yard line.
The Falcons moved the ball to the Panthers’ 14-yard line where they converted a fourth and one play to keep the drive alive but ultimately gave the ball back to South on a missed 35-yard field goal attempt.
South ended up punting the ball after going three and out but Staley’s return man made a huge mistake by not fielding the ball and the ball rolled out of bounds at the two yard line.
The Panthers’ defense almost got a safety but ended up with the ball deep in Falcons territory. Gaige Warren found the end zone from one yard away and South had its first two possession lead at 21-7.
South couldn’t keep the momentum. On Staley’s next possession the Falcons converted two fourth downs including a touchdown pass on fourth down to cut the Panthers’ lead to 21-14.
The Panthers’ offense went three and out and had to punt. A bad kick gave the Falcons the ball at South’s 26-yard line. With a goal to go situation South’s defense came up big. The Falcons again tried to go for a touchdown on fourth down but South’s Dylan Love knocked away the pass to preserve the lead they would take into halftime.
South got the ball to start the second half and took advantage. South’s long touchdown drive ended with Ricco’s second touchdown pass to Reuben good for 38 yards. Wilmes said that possession was big and helped loosen up his defense that pitched a shutout in the second half.
“We missed one right before the end of the half but we came right back to it with Mudia Reuben and it opened it up.,” Wilmes said. “Our offensive staff did a great job of preparing.”
The Panthers played most of the game without its top offensive weapon after Bartosh went to the sidelines with a foot injury in the first quarter. He watched the rest of the game with ice on his right foot. Warren, who Bartosh normally splits carries with, had to take the workload for the game and he delivered. Warren rushed for 125 yards. Wilmes said after the game that Warren is a “warrior” and will do anything to help the team win. Wilmes noted that Warren even saw some snaps at defensive back.
“He’ll do whatever it takes to win and compete,” Wilmes said of Warren. “He’s a great leader and a great captain for us. I can’t say enough about the kid he had a great game.”
The offensive attack was balanced with South rushing for 185 yards and passing for 184. Ricco was 11 of 22 throwing the ball. Reuben caught six balls for 94 yards and two scores. Harrison, in addition to setting up the first touchdown also converted a big third down play in the second half.
Jamari Westbrook led the defense with six tackles and also had a sack. RJ Mitchell also had a sack for South.
South returns home this Friday to take on North Kansas City.
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