(SPRINGFIELD, MO) The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) continued its Show-Me Bowl series of prep championship football games this past weekend at Plaster Stadium in Springfield.
Locally, Vianney High School claimed an inaugural title within its class while other respective contests saw numerous nail biters.
Here is a recap of the Show-Me Bowl games, from largest class to smallest.
CLASS 5: VIANNEY 49 FORT ZUMWALT NORTH 14
Saturday’s marquee match-up between a pair of first-time entrants saw the Golden Griffins (9-5) fly to a 28-14 lead at intermission and coast to victory off of sophomore running back Kyren Williams’ four-touchdown performance.
Fort Zumwalt North (12-2) drew first blood with eight minutes left in the first quarter as senior quarterback Cade Brister’s two-yard plunge resulted in the Panthers possessing a 7-0 lead after the successful kick. Two minutes later, Vianney’s Williams rumbled for 48 yards and the Griffins tied the game, 7-7.
The Panthers responded with an eight-play, 80 yard score, punctuated with Deiondre’ Stock’s eight yard scamper four seconds deep in the second frame. With Matt Bennick’s second extra point kick of the night, FZN held a 14-7 edge.
Vianney then scored 21 points straight to conclude the half. Cam Coleman’s six-yard scamper with 8:35 left tied the game and then Williams notched his second touchdown run – a one-yard plunger with 6:46 left – which gave the Griffins its first lead of the night, 21-14.
Vianney’s stubborn defense forced the Panthers to punt on their next possession and then proceeded to notch its third touchdown of the quarter as Mickey Morrell’s 72 yard romp to the end zone with 1:33 left helped the Griffins push the score to 28-14.
In the second half, Vianney’s stellar play on defense held FZN scoreless and in the process, continued its run of uncontested points. Coleman’s second touchdown of the night – a nine-yarder with 8:36 left in the third – guided the Griffins to a 34-14 lead.
Vianney then executed an on-side kicks and regained possession on its 46-yard line. On the next snap, Griffins’ quarterback Tionne Harris connected with Williams for a touchdown pass, the sophomore’s third score, which blossomed the margin to 42-14 within a ten second whirlwind.
Williams, who finished the evening with 131 yards rushing and 221 yards overall, notched his final score of the game with a one-yard knockout with 3:14 left in the third quarter that widened the lead to 49-14. Vianney continued its defensive lockdown for the remainder of the contest that preserved the 35-point differential and the clinch of the Class 5 trophy.
CLASS 4: HARRISONVILLE 21 KEARNEY 14
Friday’s hardware game saw Harrisonville, a multiple trophy winner in Class 3, record a new achievement by staving off a second half charge by the class’ defending champion.
Photo Credit: Harrisonville Football Facebook Page
The Wildcats’ three straight touchdowns in the first half set the tone. From the opening kickoff, Harrisonville produced a 16-play, 85 yard drive and with senior Morgan Selemaea’s two-yard red zone run with 5:20 left in the first quarter, the Wildcats clawed its way to a 7-0 lead.
Kearney was forced to punt on its opening possession and Harrisonville took advantage of the situation by marching 69 yards for its second score of the night, capped by fullback Joe Bowers’ 14 yard run with 1:22 left in the quarter that pushed the Wildcats’ lead to 14-0.
Harrisonville widened its lead to 21-0 with 4:50 left in the second as Wildcats gunslinger Brandon Eickhor connected with favored target Joe Snooks for a 38-yard score.
Feeling the halftime heat, Kearney began to chip away at the differential in the back half. Bulldogs’ quarterback Anthony Prtizel became a one-man show on its first possession of the third quarter. A 13-yard rush, a 42-yard completion to Jess Davis and a 26-yard touchdown keeper were components in a three-play drive that shored the score to 21-7 with 11:16 left in the third.
Both squads were stymied in ensuing possessions and heading into the fourth quarter, Harrisonville maintained a 14-point lead. With under six minutes left, Kearney constructed a 12-play, 91 yard scoring drive that narrowed the game to single digits. Via Pritzel’s one-yard plunge with 3:50 left, the Bulldogs sliced the score to 21-14.
Down the stretch, Harrisonville (11-3) received the ensuing kickoff and recorded a trifecta of first downs that erased the clock and secured the Class 4 championship. Bowers paced the ledger in Bulldogs rushing with 172 yards. Kearney (13-2) was led by Pritzel’s 111 rushing yards and 167 yards passing.
CLASS 3: MONETT 27 MARYVILLE 18
With thirteen straight points collected in the fourth quarter, Monett claimed its first MSHSAA championship since 1977 with the nine-point triumph over undefeated Maryville Saturday morning.
Cubs’ senior quarterback Ian Meyer launched the game’s scoring with a two-yard keeper with under thirty seconds left in the first quarter than gave Monett a 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter, Maryville scored 12 points straight that resulted in a halftime lead. At the 9:30 mark, quarterback Trey Oglesby connected with Spencer Morriso for a nine-yard strike. A failed kick kept the Spoofhounds trailing, 7-6.
Maryville then flipped the scoreboard to its favor as Oglesby hit John Zimmerman for a 40-yard touchdown pass with 1:15 left in the half. Another PAT failed, yet the Spoofhounds were able to possess a 12-7 lead heading into intermission.
Monett reclaimed the lead deep in the third quarter with a seven-play, 55-yard scoring drive that was finished with Michael Branch’s five-yard end zone run with 3:40 left. The Cubs completed the 14-12 scoreboard flip following the Cameron Cody’s successful PAT Kick.
Maryville responded with a lengthy drive that carried into the final stanza. A 68-yard push was punctuated by Eli Dowis’ five-yard touchdown run with 11:47 left. The Spoofhounds’ third failed PAT that followed was frustrating, yet Maryville regained the lead, 18-14.
Down the stretch, Monett (14-1) posted thirteen points uncontested as Meyer plunged from one yard out with 7:15 left that resulted in a 20-18 scoreboard flip and after an interception by the Cubs’ Jedd Anderson swapped possessions, Meyer connected with receiver David Turner for ten yards with 2:50 left that pushed Monett’s lead to 27-18.
The Spoofhounds (14-1) attempted a late charge, but Monett’s Brody Crawford intercepted an Oglesby pass with 1:20 left that clinched the title.
CLASS 2: LAMAR 26 TRINITY CATHOLIC 18
In Friday’s Class 2 final between unbeatens, Lamar claimed its sixth consecutive title but had to construct a 16-6 fourth quarter output in order to do so.
Trailing 10-0 at intermission, Spanish Lake-based Trinity Catholic notched a pair of third quarter touchdowns that resulted in a scoreboard flip. Titans’ sophomore quarterback Isaiah Williams notched a 37-yard end zone run with 8:40 left in the third quarter that sliced Lamar’s lead to 10-6.
Then after forcing Lamar to punt on its next possession, the Titans produced a three-play scoring drive – capped by Wlliams’ 65-yard scoring strike to Marcus Washington with 5:20 remaining in the third – that resulted in Trinity’s 12-10 lead.
Lamar bounced back and regained the lead, 18-12, in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter with Stuart McKarus’ one-yard plunge and successful two-point pass conversion
As the fourth progressed, Lamar’s Anthony Walker intercepted a Williams’ pass and then the Tigers cobbled a five-play, 87-yard touchdown series that was completed by Cooper Lucas’ 11–yard run with nine minutes left that pushed the score to 26-12.
Trinity Catholic’s Williams notched a five-yard touchdown run with 1:30 left to tighten the score to 26-18, but Lamar (14-0) was able to kill the clock on its ensuing possession and secure the Class 2 title. Williams finished his sophomore quarterback campaign for the hard-charging Titans (12-1) with 277 yards passing and 87 yards collected on the ground.
CLASS 1: PENNEY 47 MONROE CITY 14
Undefeated Penney claimed its first Class 1 title since 2012 with the 33-point drubbing over sentimental favorite Monroe City, who successfully rebounded from a 3-9 season the year prior.
Trailing 8-7 in the first quarter, Penney notched back-to-back scores in the first half as Hornet’s quarterback Jaran Richman hit receiver Latroy Harper with 30 and 13-yard touchdown strikes that resulted in Penney’s 23-8 lead with six minutes left in the half.
Monroe City (11-4) sliced the score to 23-14 on its next possession with Zacharee Osborn’s 42-yard romp but Penney claimed a pair of touchdowns deep in the second quarter – a two-yard plunge from TC East at the 2:05 mark and Richman’s 12-yard pass to Cale Whitt in the final seconds – to extend its lead to 39-14 at intermission.
The Hornets (15-0) secured the win with Richman’s 12-yard scoring pass to Derek Dixon with two minutes left in the third quarter. Richman finished the game with five touchdown throws for 213 yards.
