Another Friday night, another dominating Blue Springs performance at Peve Stadium.
It’s been almost two months since the Wildcats have scored less than 42 points and the Class 6 sectional playoff against Lee’s Summit was no different Friday. Blue Springs scored early, played stifling defense and even showed a little trickery on its way to a 45-12 win over the Tigers.
The win sets up what much of the Kansas City metro area has been expecting, a Blue Springs-Rockhurst matchup in the Class 6 state quarterfinals next Friday at Rockhurst, which beat Liberty 35-14 in the other Class 6 regional game.
Blue Springs now stands at 10-1 and the only thing that has kept them from a perfect season was a 17-3 home loss to Rockhurst on Sept. 11. The win Friday night made a believer out of Lee’s Summit coach Mike Spiegel.
“Kelly (Donohoe) and his staff have put together a really, really good football team,” Spiegel said. “They stubbed their toe early in the season, but it isn’t going to happen again. I’m putting my money on Willie the Wildcat.”
Blue Springs got on the board first on the opening drive. The Wildcats moved right down the field with a nine-play, 80-yard drive capped off when Jared Lanpher found Jordan Nubine on a 32-yard touchdown pass just five minutes into the game.
The Wildcats defense also came to play. Blue Springs sacked Lee’s Summit quarterback Corbin Berkstresser five times. The pressure led to the Wildcats’ second touchdown. Berkstresser ran right, looking to pitch the ball on the option when Blue Springs defensive end Brady Letchworth picked the ball out of the air and ran it back 51 yards to make it 14-0 just 10 seconds into the second quarter.
“I was supposed to sack the quarterback, but I knew he was going to pitch it,” Letchworth said. “I went out there and stuck my hand out there and the ball was just kind of hanging there. I ended up picking it off and running it back.
“The last time we played these guys they got us early, especially in the last part of the first half. It was a point for us to come out and kick their butt.”
Lee’s Summit’s offense found some consistency but was only able to score when Darren Nelson burst up the middle on a perfect trap play for a 66-yard touchdown run.
Blue Springs bounced back with two good scoring drives led by Darrian Miller and an unlikely rusher. Miller had 166 yards on 15 carries in the first half and the Wildcats’ third TD on a 16-yard carry with 10:09 left in the first half.
One of the bigger runs came when offensive lineman Drew Kerber took off on a trick “fumblerooskie” play that gained 16 yards and set up the Wildcats at the Lee’s Summit 8-yard line. Lanpher would hit Keeston Terry with a TD pass from the 4-yard line to push the score to 28-6, where it stayed at halftime.
“That was awesome,” Kerber said. “I had touchdown in a sophomore game, but that one got called back. I thought I had a good run and had a chance to get in.”
The Wildcats line opened holes for Miller all game. The junior star tailback finished the game with 214 yards on 19 carries while adding two more touchdowns in the second half.
“O-line, we feel like we are meshing pretty well right now,” Kerber said. “All the guys on the O-line did a great job. We were ready to go.”
The Wildcats’ strong first half had only a few blemishes. Lee’s Summit intercepted Lanpher in the end zone on the second possession of the game and Blue Springs had five penalties.
Even with the a few miscues, Donohoe was pleased with the way his team and his quarterback played Friday night.
“It’s funny we just expect to never make mistakes, especially with Jared,” Donohoe said. “We got down there on the second series and we are rolling and we have a delay of game, which should never happen. Then we don’t get guys set, that was frustrating. Then to top it all off we roll out and throw one up for grabs in the end zone.
“Like Jared always does, he comes back and plays great. It’s just the expectation level I have for him is to always come out and be perfect. And that’s not fair to him sometimes. But he said to me, ‘Coach, I’m more mad at myself.’ And he is a great player and has a great mind for the game.”
The Blue Springs offense was never stopped and only gave up two big runs all night. Zach Stark raced 55 yards in the final period to set the final score.
For the Tigers, the loss was tough to take, but for a team that hasn’t been in the playoffs since 1987, the experience was one they will remember.
“I am going to give our seniors all of the credit in the world for getting us here,” Spiegel said. “It’s been a 22-year drought. They had a goal in mind to get us here. They allowed us to experience what playoff football is all about. It was an honor to play Blue Springs. They showed us what the highest level of playoff football is all about.”
Lanpher completed 10 of 13 for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Terry added 69 yards receiving on seven catches while rushing for 18 yards on three carries.
Lee’s Summit’s Berkstresser was 13 of 23 for 104 yards passing while being harassed by the Blue Springs defense all night. He was sacked six times on the night.
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Another Friday night, another dominating Blue Springs performance at Peve Stadium.
It’s been almost two months since the Wildcats have scored less than 42 points and the Class 6 sectional playoff against Lee’s Summit was no different Friday. Blue Springs scored early, played stifling defense and even showed a little trickery on its way to a 45-12 win over the Tigers.
The win sets up what much of the Kansas City metro area has been expecting, a Blue Springs-Rockhurst matchup in the Class 6 state quarterfinals next Friday at Rockhurst, which beat Liberty 35-14 in the other Class 6 regional game.
Blue Springs now stands at 10-1 and the only thing that has kept them from a perfect season was a 17-3 home loss to Rockhurst on Sept. 11. The win Friday night made a believer out of Lee’s Summit coach Mike Spiegel.
“Kelly (Donohoe) and his staff have put together a really, really good football team,” Spiegel said. “They stubbed their toe early in the season, but it isn’t going to happen again. I’m putting my money on Willie the Wildcat.”
Blue Springs got on the board first on the opening drive. The Wildcats moved right down the field with a nine-play, 80-yard drive capped off when Jared Lanpher found Jordan Nubine on a 32-yard touchdown pass just five minutes into the game.
The Wildcats defense also came to play. Blue Springs sacked Lee’s Summit quarterback Corbin Berkstresser five times. The pressure led to the Wildcats’ second touchdown. Berkstresser ran right, looking to pitch the ball on the option when Blue Springs defensive end Brady Letchworth picked the ball out of the air and ran it back 51 yards to make it 14-0 just 10 seconds into the second quarter.
“I was supposed to sack the quarterback, but I knew he was going to pitch it,” Letchworth said. “I went out there and stuck my hand out there and the ball was just kind of hanging there. I ended up picking it off and running it back.
“The last time we played these guys they got us early, especially in the last part of the first half. It was a point for us to come out and kick their butt.”
Lee’s Summit’s offense found some consistency but was only able to score when Darren Nelson burst up the middle on a perfect trap play for a 66-yard touchdown run.
Blue Springs bounced back with two good scoring drives led by Darrian Miller and an unlikely rusher. Miller had 166 yards on 15 carries in the first half and the Wildcats’ third TD on a 16-yard carry with 10:09 left in the first half.
One of the bigger runs came when offensive lineman Drew Kerber took off on a trick “fumblerooskie” play that gained 16 yards and set up the Wildcats at the Lee’s Summit 8-yard line. Lanpher would hit Keeston Terry with a TD pass from the 4-yard line to push the score to 28-6, where it stayed at halftime.
“That was awesome,” Kerber said. “I had touchdown in a sophomore game, but that one got called back. I thought I had a good run and had a chance to get in.”
The Wildcats line opened holes for Miller all game. The junior star tailback finished the game with 214 yards on 19 carries while adding two more touchdowns in the second half.
“O-line, we feel like we are meshing pretty well right now,” Kerber said. “All the guys on the O-line did a great job. We were ready to go.”
The Wildcats’ strong first half had only a few blemishes. Lee’s Summit intercepted Lanpher in the end zone on the second possession of the game and Blue Springs had five penalties.
Even with the a few miscues, Donohoe was pleased with the way his team and his quarterback played Friday night.
“It’s funny we just expect to never make mistakes, especially with Jared,” Donohoe said. “We got down there on the second series and we are rolling and we have a delay of game, which should never happen. Then we don’t get guys set, that was frustrating. Then to top it all off we roll out and throw one up for grabs in the end zone.
“Like Jared always does, he comes back and plays great. It’s just the expectation level I have for him is to always come out and be perfect. And that’s not fair to him sometimes. But he said to me, ‘Coach, I’m more mad at myself.’ And he is a great player and has a great mind for the game.”
The Blue Springs offense was never stopped and only gave up two big runs all night. Zach Stark raced 55 yards in the final period to set the final score.
For the Tigers, the loss was tough to take, but for a team that hasn’t been in the playoffs since 1987, the experience was one they will remember.
“I am going to give our seniors all of the credit in the world for getting us here,” Spiegel said. “It’s been a 22-year drought. They had a goal in mind to get us here. They allowed us to experience what playoff football is all about. It was an honor to play Blue Springs. They showed us what the highest level of playoff football is all about.”
Lanpher completed 10 of 13 for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Terry added 69 yards receiving on seven catches while rushing for 18 yards on three carries.
Lee’s Summit’s Berkstresser was 13 of 23 for 104 yards passing while being harassed by the Blue Springs defense all night. He was sacked six times on the night.
CLASS 6 STATE SECTIONAL BOX SCORE
BLUE SPRINGS 45, LEE’S SUMMIT 12
Lee’s Summit Blue Springs
9 First downs 12
23-99 Attempts-Yards Rushing 33-264
130 Yards Passing 112
32 Passes Attempted 14
16 Passes Completed 10
0 Passes Intercepted 1
6-33 Punts-Average 3-28
2-1 Fumbles-Lost 2-0
4-30 Penalties-Yards 8-57
LEE’S SUMMIT 6 0 0 6 — 12
BLUE SPRINGS 7 21 17 0 — 45
First Quarter
BS — Jordan Nubine 32 pass from Jared Lanpher (Cody Best kick), 9:17.
Second quarter
BS — Brady Letchworth 51 fumble return (Best kick), 11:50
LS — Darren Nelson 66 run (kick failed), 11:32.
BS — Darrian Miller 16 run (Best kick), 10:09.
BS — Keeston Terry 4 catch from Lanpher (Best kick), 6:13.
Third quarter
BS — Miller 14 run (Best kick), 11:52.
BS — Miller 7 run (Best kick), 10:09.
BS — Best 23 field goal, 4:48.
Fourth quarter
LS — Zach Stark 55 run (kick failed), 4:04.
