Cody Best was mentally prepared for what would become the biggest field goal attempt of his life.
Best and the rest of the visiting Blue Springs Wildcats were down 21-20 to the Rockhurst Hawklets with just two seconds left in a Class 6 state quarterfinal game Friday when Best lined up to attempt a 21-yard field goal.
On the line was a state semifinal matchup with undefeated St. Louis DeSmet, the state’s second-ranked team.
But before Best could get the kick off, Rockhurst wily veteran head coach Tony Severino called a timeout to ice the Blue Springs senior kicker.
“I knew they were going to call a timeout,” Best said of the Rockhurst stall tactic. “I was just praying I would make the kick.”
When play resumed and Best got his chance, he nailed the 21-yard game winner for a 23-21 victory that set off a wild Blue Springs’ celebration on the Hawklets’ home field.
“I get nervous just thinking about (the game-winning kick),” said Best, who totaled three field goals on the night, three touchbacks on kickoffs and converted on both extra-point attempts. “I’m just glad I got through it. It was a lot of fun.”
The game-winning drive began on the Wildcats’ 20-yard line with just under six minutes left. The Hawklets had just capped a 73-yard drive of their own with a 9-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Frank Abarnas to tight end Dan Tapko to tie the game at 20-20. Chris Joyce’s extra point gave Rockhurst the 21-20 lead.
The Wildcats were undeterred. Darrian Miller ran eight times for 32 yards on the last drive and quarterback Jared Lanpher completed two passes for 29 yards. Lanpher’s last pass – to Miller – was good for 11 yards and came after Miller converted a tough fourth-and-two run from the 21-yard line that kept the drive alive.
Miller finished the game with 193 yards rushing and a touchdown on 32 carries.
“I’ll tell you what, that fourth-and-two that Darrian got – I’ve never claimed to be a very smart person – probably most people would have tried to kick it, but I didn’t like the 40-yard field (attempt) there,” Wildcats head coach Kelly Donohoe said. “I thought let’s get closer and give (Best) a better shot. Thank God it worked. Either you’re smart or you’re an idiot. Thankfully we’re smart right now.”
The game was tightly contested throughout. With a state semifinal berth on the line and a raucous crowd on hand, the teams’ defenses stole the show early on. The score was 10-7 in favor of Blue Springs at the break thanks to a 31-yard field goal from Best early in the second quarter and a 34-yard touchdown pass from Lanpher to wide receiver Nick Halterman with 3:26 left in the first half.
