The Park Hill Trojans’ football team steamrolled rival Park Hill South 54-7 in the Class 6 District 8 semifinal on Friday, Nov. 8, and will face Oak Park this Friday at home in the district championship game.

The Trojans led 7-0 after one quarter, scoring on a 33-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Zane Thomas to Gage Dorrell. The Trojans would explode for three touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 28-0 lead into halftime.

South’s Brock Harmon blocked a quick kick by Park Hill quarterback Zane Thomas early in the third quarter. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo

With about three and a half minutes left in the first half, the Trojans faced a third down and 19 from their own 18-yard line. The Trojans picked up a good chunk of yards on third down but still had about six or seven yards to go for a first down. The Trojans went for it, picking up the first down on a pass play, and eventually scored with less than a minute left on an 11-yard pass from Thomas to senior Landen Julson. The Trojans also scored on a 15-yard run by Dante Dixon and a 16-yard pass play from Thomas to junior Braylon Agee.

South got some life in the early part of the third quarter when the defense got a stop on the Trojans. Thomas went back to quick kick on fourth down, but the kick was blocked by South senior Brock Harmon and picked up and returned for a touchdown by sophomore Thomas Dickerson.

South’s defense got another stop, giving the ball back to the offense, but the Panthers were pinned deep in their own end in the shadow of the goal line. The Trojans’ defense on the first play was able to get pressure on South quarterback Bryce Aldridge and dropped him in the endzone for a safety.

Park Hill wide receiver Landen Julson avoided a tackle on the way to a 61-yard touchdown. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo

By via the safety, the Trojans received a free kick from the Panthers and quickly took advantage as Julson returned the kick for a touchdown and a nine-point swing in Park Hill’s favor over 12 seconds of game time. The turn of events swung all the momentum back to the Trojans.

Park Hill’s defense got a stop on the next drive, and after receiving the punt, Thomas found Julson for a 61-yard touchdown. The Trojans would add a field goal and a two-yard touchdown run by Riley Haney for the final score.

Thomas completed 23 of 38 passes for 352 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception. Dorrell led the Trojans receiving attack by catching five passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. Julson had five catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Agee caught eight passes for 89 yards and a score. Dixon and Haney each had scores on the ground.

The win sets up a rematch of a Week 9 game that essentially determined who would host the district championship game. Park Hill won that game over the Northmen 45-15.

The Platte County Citizen