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Blue Springs, MO —
Blue Springs football coach Kelly Donohoe didn’t see Friday night’s victory over Park Hill South as a significant step forward.
That was disappointing, but as Donohoe took off a drenched jacket and shook the water out of his hair after standing in a downpour for three hours, he had to admit it was somewhat of a relief to walk away with a convincing 35-14 victory in a game that was rarely in doubt.
Sure, Donohoe said, there were things to nitpick. He said he thought his team left two our three touchdowns on the field. And offensively, things were just a little too sloppy for comfort with five fumbles.
But then again, the Class 6 No. 2-ranked Cats ended the contest without a turnover, committed only four penalties, rushed for 313 yards, allowed only 28 first-half yards and didn’t surrender a point until early in the fourth quarter when many of their starters had been pulled.
“We’re happy in conditions like this to just move on,” Donohoe said. “But we get kind of paranoid and picky and all that, but certain drives we didn’t feel like we performed as we normally do. But for the most part, our kids did fine. We kind of dominated the game all up and down the field, we just couldn’t get it in a few times.”
Still, Blue Springs (0-2) seized control early as junior running back Dalvin Warmack rushed for a pair of first-quarter touchdowns. His first score came on a 4-yard plunge at the 7:14 mark. Less than three minutes later, he broke off a dazzling 20-yard sprint that included a shifty hesitation move at the line of scrimmage, a spin move near the 10-yard line and a sudden change of the direction before reaching the end zone.
Warmack totaled 117 yards on 18 carries in the first half and rushed the ball just once – for 19 yards – in the final two quarters.
“There’s simple stuff we could have done better,” Warmack said. “Like our splits and getting the ball to our quarterback. It was little mistakes because we didn’t have that good a week of practice.”
Donohoe said offensively, the Cats were up and down all week in practice and it showed on game day. But on the defensive side, he saw more focus and was impressed with that unit’s effort against the Class 5 No. 10 Panthers (0-2).
South totaled only one yard on its first two possessions and its opening drive ended with a blocked punt by junior defensive back Kaleb Prewett that set up Blue Springs’ first touchdown. The Wildcat defense also registered a pair of safeties in the first half and only allowed the Panthers to cross midfield once in the first three quarters. And they were playing without one of their top playmakers in senior defensive back DaShaughn Terry, who was out with a head injury (he’s expected to play next week against Class 6 No. 3 Rockhurst).
Blue Springs football coach Kelly Donohoe didn’t see Friday night’s victory over Park Hill South as a significant step forward.
That was disappointing, but as Donohoe took off a drenched jacket and shook the water out of his hair after standing in a downpour for three hours, he had to admit it was somewhat of a relief to walk away with a convincing 35-14 victory in a game that was rarely in doubt.
Sure, Donohoe said, there were things to nitpick. He said he thought his team left two our three touchdowns on the field. And offensively, things were just a little too sloppy for comfort with five fumbles.
But then again, the Class 6 No. 2-ranked Cats ended the contest without a turnover, committed only four penalties, rushed for 313 yards, allowed only 28 first-half yards and didn’t surrender a point until early in the fourth quarter when many of their starters had been pulled.
“We’re happy in conditions like this to just move on,” Donohoe said. “But we get kind of paranoid and picky and all that, but certain drives we didn’t feel like we performed as we normally do. But for the most part, our kids did fine. We kind of dominated the game all up and down the field, we just couldn’t get it in a few times.”
Still, Blue Springs (0-2) seized control early as junior running back Dalvin Warmack rushed for a pair of first-quarter touchdowns. His first score came on a 4-yard plunge at the 7:14 mark. Less than three minutes later, he broke off a dazzling 20-yard sprint that included a shifty hesitation move at the line of scrimmage, a spin move near the 10-yard line and a sudden change of the direction before reaching the end zone.
Warmack totaled 117 yards on 18 carries in the first half and rushed the ball just once – for 19 yards – in the final two quarters.
“There’s simple stuff we could have done better,” Warmack said. “Like our splits and getting the ball to our quarterback. It was little mistakes because we didn’t have that good a week of practice.”
Donohoe said offensively, the Cats were up and down all week in practice and it showed on game day. But on the defensive side, he saw more focus and was impressed with that unit’s effort against the Class 5 No. 10 Panthers (0-2).
South totaled only one yard on its first two possessions and its opening drive ended with a blocked punt by junior defensive back Kaleb Prewett that set up Blue Springs’ first touchdown. The Wildcat defense also registered a pair of safeties in the first half and only allowed the Panthers to cross midfield once in the first three quarters. And they were playing without one of their top playmakers in senior defensive back DaShaughn Terry, who was out with a head injury (he’s expected to play next week against Class 6 No. 3 Rockhurst).
“I love the rain,” said junior defensive lineman Elijah Lee, who recorded a sack. “Playing on D-line, that means all they’re going to do is run so it’s going to give me more time to get tackles.
“That’s how we plan to do the rest of the teams the rest of the season.”
Senior quarterback Wylson Lamb put Blue Springs up 27-0 with a minute left in the first half with a 4-yard run. While Donohoe was forced to rely on his run game, Lamb still managed to 8 of 13 passes for 89 yards and racked up 37 rushing yards on 11 carries without turning the ball over.
On the Cats’ first possession of the second half, sophomore running back Cobi Bissell zipped 50 yards for a touchdown that – after a 2-point conversion – made it 35-0.
The game was painless and without drama, if a little sluggish and not nearly as complete as the Cats’ 56-13 dismantling of St. Joseph Central in Week 1.
“It’s hard to say when you’re playing in this kind of weather, but I don’t know if we improved much at all from last week,” Donohoe said.
But Donohoe doesn’t expect much difficulty in getting his team geared up for next week’s game. All he has to do is utter one word.
“If we say the word ‘Rockhurst’ to them, they’re going to understand. ... Our guys will refocus.”
Added Warmack, “We just have to make sure everything’s right. No mistakes. We’ve got to be perfect.”
Rockhurst (1-1) lost to Bentonville (Ark.) 24-7 on Friday.
