With all-state running back Darrian Miller standing on the sidelines watching, visiting Staley dominated Blue Springs 27-16 Friday night at Peve Stadium.
The Wildcats could never get anything going offensively and a defense that limited Rockhurst to just one score in a 7-6 season-opening loss at Dasta Stadium couldn’t stop a creative Falcon offense that threw everything at coach Kelly Donohoe’s team but the kitchen sink.
Staley used a swinging gate, three-wide out, pro set, I-back and several other offensive looks to score three offensive touchdowns.
But the score that broke open a close game came when Staley defensive back Jackson Long picked off a deflected Kyle Brown pass early in the third quarter and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown that gave the Class 5 visitors a 13-8 lead they never relinquished.
“That was a big play — they made a lot of big plays tonight,” Wildcats coach Kelly Donohoe said, after a heart-to-heart talk with his team.
“I told the guys to remember how this loss feels and to go out and work hard in practice to make sure they never feel like this again.
“That’s a very good Staley team. They’re well coached and they have some very good players.”
The Wildcats were missing their top offensive player in Miller, the reigning Missouri Offensive Player of the Year. He was suspended by Donohoe for one game (please see column).
Miller was replaced in the backfield by senior Lorenzo Lucas (12 carries for 58 yards) and freshman Dalvin Warmack (8-29), who carried the ball 20 times for a combined 87 yards.
Much of the Wildcats offense was provided by first-year starter Kyle Brown, who was 20 of 29 for 173 yards and two touchdowns — a 15-yarder in the first quarter to Jordan Nubine and a 26-yarder where Nubine made a circus catch over the defender in the final two minutes of the game.
Brown was also intercepted three times, twice by Long.
“When we lost last week to Rock, it was like, the offense will come along and our defense played great,” Brown said. “Tonight, the offense and defense left the field feeling we both have to get better and we have to do it soon.
“No one wanted to start the season 0-2 — so we have to pick it up and start working harder every day in practice.”
Nubine, who had nine receptions for 67 yards and two scores, agreed.
“Starting 0-2 as a senior is a nightmare for me and the rest of the seniors,” Nubine said. “But we’re going to get better. You hate to start 0-2, but it’s better to lose now than late in the season when the games really mean something.”
