Complete Box Score and Play by Play
Backs against the wall, Park Hill South continued to believe that a dramatic comeback – no matter how unlikely – was still within reach.
And thanks to a remarkable second half effort, the Panthers turned that belief into reality during a 28-24 victory against North Kansas City on Friday. Park Hill South (5-2) scored the final 21 points of the same, held the Hornets scoreless on their final seven drives and notched its fourth consecutive victory.
Park Hill South coach Alan Wilmes praised everyone involved for rallying back at just the right moment and sticking with the game plan that has them surging toward the postseason.
“Our kids just never stopped believing, which you can’t buy that,” Park Hill South coach Alan Wilmes said. “A lot of that is just them trusting us. So hats off to them and our coaches for working through the game and staying with the process.
“I’m proud of everyone.”
Both teams entered with a 4-2 record, and the contest took on greater implications since they are Class 5 District 8 rivals. But North Kansas City (5-3) made an early statement by scoring twice in the first quarter thanks to touchdown runs by Kail Williams and J’Len Friar.
The Hornets’ running game dominated for much of the first three quarters and ultimately racked up 349 rushing yards as team, led by 146 yards from Williams and 124 from Jelani Murry. And on the first drive of the second half, Murry scored to give North Kansas City a commanding 24-7 lead.
But the Panthers soon found their groove and started the rally. Dylan Love jolted the offense into life off a 52-yard run and then scored on the next play to get things going. Love and Elano Alvarez stepped up in a big way and combined for 157 rushing yards to help replace the absence standout sophomore Briggs Bartosh, who was injured in the previous game against Staley.
Quarterback Nathan Ricco also took on an increased role and threw touchdown passes to Justin Harrison and Gaige Warren on the first two drives of the fourth quarter, giving the Panthers the lead in the process.
“Nathan was a great quarterback tonight. He was a warrior,” Wilmes said. “For him to step in and for us to see his progress and how he’s improved, that’s a testament to a lot of his hard work.”
Warren snagged two touchdowns in the game to continue his stellar senior season. And while he was glad to catch the game-winning score, he said the team’s balance and depth are some of its biggest strengths.
“I’m extremely thrilled, but everybody’s a playmaker,” Warren said. “If one person doesn’t get the ball, then another playmaker’s open, and they can get in.”
But the comeback wouldn’t have been possible with several clutch plays down the stretch from the Panthers’ defense. Andrew Horton snagged an interception late in the game before Jamari Westbrook sealed the deal in the closing seconds. The senior linebacker sacked Williams, forcing a fumble that was recovered by teammate RJ Mitchell that clinched the victory.
“There’s no better feeling, honestly,” Westbrook said. “To step up for your team, for your boys, to know that you’ve got my back and I’ve got yours and end it on that, we executed how we were supposed to.”
With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the victory gave Park Hill South a significant step up in the conference and district standings, and Wilmes said he was glad to see the entire team come together and continue its winning streak.
“The kids just clamped down back to the game plan,” Wilmes said. “A few things kind of went wiry in the first half. We went back and made a few adjustments, but the kids just believed in us and trusted our defensive staff.
“As long as we can do that, we can do anything.”
