Harrisonville halts Center's victory train

Brandon Hawkins/PrepsKC

By Chad Grammer PrepsKC Staff Writer
Posted: October 23, 2010 - 9:53 AM



In a game that by all indications was for the Class 4 District 14 title, neither team disappointed. It was Harrisonville’s great defense vs. Center and their offensive speed but in the end both teams’ defenses were on display as Harrisonville ground out a 21-7 win.

While Harrisonville’s defense proved dominate holding Center under 100 yards of total offense, Center proved they belong with some of the Kansas City area Class 4 elite, with a great defense of their own.

Both teams came out in the first quarter offensively looking to feel the other team out. After both teams punted Harrisonville put together a nice 45 yard drive capped by a 1 yard Landon Teal Touchdown run. After the Cats defense forced a three and out, it was Center’s defense who came up with a big play forcing a fumble and recovering it at the Harrisonville 5-yard line and punching the next play in for a touchdown to tie it up at 7-7. That’s the way they would go into halftime.

Center would get the ball to start the second half and drove to the 18 yard line. Facing a fourth and eight the Yellowjackets elected to try a 36 yard field goal that just cleared the crossbar. This would be the turning point of the game though as Center was flagged for holding on the field goal try and had to punt instead. The punt was downed on the 1 foot line and Harrisonville proceeded to drive 99+ yards in a drive that took almost 10 minutes and finished in the fourth quarter with a 4 yard Brett Bearden touchdown.

Center tried to answer back with a long kickoff return by Deron Kirkwood to the Harrisonville 30. That’s where the Wildcat D stepped up and forced a turnover on downs and put the ballgame away with a long drive capped off with another Landon Teal 1-yard touchdown run. That score put the Wildcats up 21-7, which would also be the final score of the game and put Harrisonville in the driver’s seat for another District Crown.

Although Harrisonville’s defense put on a show and held the speedy Yellowjackets in check, it was Center that severed notice that they are a contender in the Class 4 playoff race, with a solid defense and a speedy offense.

With just one week left in districts, and that both teams take care of business this could be a rematch we see just two weeks down the road. But as each coach will tell you, you have to take care of business first and Grandview and Grain Valley will be looking to halt any rematch possibilities trying to play spoilers next week.