It wasn’t exactly how the crosstown foes expected to meet, but there they were on Friday night, giving their fan bases a good-old rivalry game – and likely a great deal of relief and normalcy – in a season opener at the Olathe District Activity Center.
After a week of game action and plenty of practice time missed due to the pandemic, the state-ranked Olathe North Eagles – fifth in the Kansas 6A rankings – registered a complete performance as they rolled Olathe South 41-0, spoiling the Falcons’ Senior Night in the process.
Securing a rivalry win is always important to the Eagles.
“We got to remind people Olathe North runs Olathe and the Eastern side of Kansas,” North senior linebacker Abram Phillips said. “We got to remind them.”
“It always feels good to beat one of the guys out here in town,” Eagles coach Chris McCartney said. “It’s always nice to beat an old rival.”
Olathe North, who reached the 6A state championship last year, earned the dominating win despite the distraction of losing top players in Arland Bruce IV – last season’s Simone Award winner – and Mario Sanchez to transfer due to the delay of the season’s start.
In Bruce’s place, Noah Palmer starred under center as the junior rushed for two scores and threw for another. Meanwhile, North’s defense was busy forcing two turnovers and shutting out South.
“It was different,” Palmer said. “I’ve never (played QB) before but the team really pulled together. The offensive line did great and I thought it worked out well. ... I love Arland. But we do have to move on and keep going. We can’t worry about the playoffs, we just have to take it week by week.”
“He’s a tough competitor and he has a really high football IQ,” McCartney said of Palmer. “He’s different than Arland but he’s just got a lot of savvy to him.”
Bruce, an Iowa commit, transferred to Ankeny HS in Iowa and Sanchez moved on to Norman HS in Oklahoma. Bruce, unfortunately, was forced to sit out a third straight game Friday as Iowa’s state association continues to review his illegibility status. The Des Moines Register recently reported that Bruce should learn more of his status early next week.
Regardless, North proved it is still a force to be reckoned with, even in an ever-changing 2020 season. North’s defense opened the game with a fumble recovery (Alex King) and an interception (Jacob Parrish) on back-to-back possessions. The rest of the way North forced six punts and two turnovers on downs.
“They’re pretty good. Up front, we played pretty well,” McCartney said. “We’re a little bigger than we’ve been. It definitely does (feel good). Our defensive coaches have a great game plan, but those kids buy into what they’re selling, and they respond the right ways.”
Palmer put the Eagles on the board first with a 20-yard rushing touchdown with 9:23 left in the first quarter. He then threw for an 18-yard touchdown to Parrish five seconds into the second frame. Next, Parrish ran in a 6-yard score to make it a three-score contest with 3:18 left in the first half.
In the second half, Palmer scored on a 5-yard scamper before throwing a 49-yard strike to Laython Patillo to make it 35-0 with 3:21 remaining in the third quarter.
Junior Aquantez Love capped the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run with 8:19 left in the game.
For North, this victory was only the first step in a play to make another run through the 6A state bracket.
“The kids have had a lot of things taken away from them,” McCartney said. “So for them to come out … They had some things to show and it was really exciting. We know where we’re at and now we have a place to work from, so it’s good to get that in.”
