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As Rockhurst quarterback Nick Smrt jogged off the field after throwing what would be the eventual game-winning touchdown, head coach Tony Severino had a look on his face of a proud parent.

Smrt had just completed a 43-yard touchdown pass to Luke Beshoner for what would be the final dagger in a 17-9 victory over Ray-Pec. Before he could make it more than two steps onto the sideline he was met with a handshake and a pat on the helmet from his legendary head coach.

“Poor Nick, he doesn’t get much time back there to throw and he’s constantly running,” Severino said.

On Friday, it was two throws in particular that set the Hawklets up for victory in the non-conference matchup. Trailing 6-3 in the third quarter, Smrt connected with a wide open Wilson Selzer on a 69-yard pass that would set up an 11-yard touchdown run from Joe Leggio on the next play.

“They were coming from all different angles,” Severino said of the Ray-Pec defense. “But they did good job scheming that. But I was so proud of the way (Smrt) hung in there. He’s been taking a beating the last three weeks as our offensive line matures.

 

Later Smrt would connect with Beshoner, his favorite target of the night for the final score for the Hawklets.

“He’s as good as there is,” Severino said of Beshoner. “He’s been injured the last two years, so no one knows about him. We knew if he stayed healthy he was going to do some good things.”

Meanwhile Ray-Pec felt like they left several opportunities on the field, including a pair of missed field goals and an extra point.

Kicker Gabe Sappington would connect on a 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to bring the Panthers to within a score.

“I love our kicker, down the road he’s going to make some big ones for us, I know that,” Kruse said.

The Panthers inability in the red zone to convert though, proved to be too much against Rockhurst.

“I’m definitely happy with our effort,” Kruse said. “Here’s the thing, we got in the red zone a lot of times and came away with nothing. We have to find a way when we get down there. When we get in there we have to get points.”

In the first half, Ray-Pec controlled the tempo of the game, holding Rockhurst to just one first down in the first quarter. They took the early lead on a 60-yard touchdown run by Gabe Shanklin who was nearly brought down by a host of Rockhurst defenders before shaking free.

After halftime, the tone changed and the Rockhurst defensive line began to take control.

“Rockhurst is good defensively,” Kruse said. “We had been pretty happy with our run game and they decided to take that away tonight.”