Photo Credit: David Smith/Special to PrepsKC 
The 12-2 Kearney Bulldogs looked to add another State Championship to their trophy case as they took on the 12-1 Hillsboro Hawks. That lone loss for Hillsboro was at the hands of eventual Class 5 State Champion Cardinal Ritter, so Kearney knew it would take one of their best games to come away with a victory.
Kearney faced a tough battle but never blinked as it never and scored on seven straight offensive possessions to earn a 68-28 win and the Class 4 state championship game.
Hillsboro would start with the ball and on their second play Junior Quarterback Preston Brown would connect with his brother, Senior Running Back Payton Brown for 79 yards, Kearney junior safety Grant Noland would not give up on the play and make the tackle at the 1. After a costly penalty by Hillsboro, the Bulldogs Defense would come up with a big stop on 4th down and get the ball.
Kearney put together a very impressive drive, with rushes from senior running back Cameron Emmons, sophomore Corbin Emmons and senior Quarterback Casey Rooney. Cameron Emmons would dive across the goal line for a touchdown and cap off a 13-play, 98-yard drive. Kearney would lead 7-0 with 3 minutes left in the first.
After the kickoff Hillsboro would start on their 30-yard line, but on their first play the Bulldogs Tyler Jarrett would force a fumble and Senior Linebacker Dan Stansbury would come up with the recovery giving the Kearney offense great field position.
On the first play of the drive QB Casey Rooney would find Senior WR Manny Linthacum for a 34-yard touchdown. Kearney would lead 13-0 with 2:40 left in the 1st quarter.
Hillsboro would get on the board with 44 seconds left in the 1st, when RB Payton Brown would take a hand off 55 yards for a touchdown. Making the score 13-7 in favor of Kearney after the 1st quarter.
A few plays into the second quarter and the Bulldogs would strike again. Rooney would find his big TE, senior Bryce Pace for a 34-yard Touchdown. Kearney would lead 20-7 with 11:11 left in the first half.
The Kearney defense would hold and force a punt on the next Hillsboro drive.
Two big runs, one by Rooney and one by Corbin Emmons put the Bulldogs in striking range. They did just that, Rooney would connect with Linthacum again, this time for a 36 yard Touchdown. Kearney would lead 27-7 with 7:39 left in the 1st half.
Hillsboro would move the ball through the air with a pass from Preston Brown to junior WR Keiten Pipkins for a gain of 35 yards. On the next play Preston Brown would hit senior WR Chase Sucharski for a 34 yard Touchdown. With 5:52 to go in the 2nd quarter the score was 27-14 Hillsboro.
After a nice return by Jackson Helberg, the Bulldogs were within scoring position. Six plays later Kearney was on the 3-yard line and Cam Emmons would take it in from there. 34-14 Kearney with 3:03 left in the half.
Hillsboro put together a nice drive which included a 54-yard halfback pass from Payton Brown to Sucharski, taking them down to the 4 yard line. A pass interference call on Kearney put the ball on the 2. Hillsboro QB Brown would stretch out in an effort to get the ball across the line, but it was knocked out of his hands and recovered by Bulldog Senior Aiden Smith-Coldren, for a Touchback.
Kearney would take a 34-14 lead into Halftime.
The Bulldogs got the ball coming out of the half and showed no signs of slowing down. Big runs from Corbin Emmons and Rooney put Kearney on the 7-yard line. Cameron Emmons would score from there, extending their lead to 40-14.
Hillsboro QB Preston Brown would lead the Hawks on a drive, a long run and a pass completion to Pipkins put them on the 6-yard line and he would score from there. With 7:49 left in the 3rd quarter it was the Bulldogs 40, Hawks 21.
Kearney continued to make play after play, Rooney, Emmons brothers, Linthacum and the Bulldogs were on the 1-yard line. Cameron Emmons would again find the endzone, Kearney would lead 47-21 with 4:00 left in the 3rd quarter.
The Hillsboro Hawks continued to fight, runs by Payton Brown, completions from Preston Brown to Pipkins and Sucharski set up a 20-yard Touchdown pass to Senior Dalton Ross, with 33 seconds left in the 3rd. The score was now 47-28 Kearney.
Kearney would strike again when just a few plays into the 4th quarter Rooney hit Senior Cohen Jacobs for a 47-yard Touchdown, Kearney would lead 54-28.
Just two plays into their drive, Hillsboro would make another costly mistake as a pass was intercepted by Bulldog Grant Noland.
Another quick strike by Kearney on a reverse to Linthacum would extend the Bulldogs lead to 61-28.
The Kearney defense would force another turnover on the first play of the ensuing Hillsboro drive. Jarrett would force his second fumble on the night, this time recovering it himself.
Bulldog RB Jacobs would walk in from 11 yards out to bring the score to 68-28.
Kearney Senior Carson Shear would get an interception and the Bulldogs would run out the clock as the 2023 Class 4 State Champions.
