By Bill Althaus The ExaminerKANSAS CITY, Kan. – Patrick Martin got his wish, as he finally was able to walk off a high school football field with a victory. A very special victory, as the Truman High School graduate made a touchdown saving stop along with five tackles in Missouri’s 32-15 victory in the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association’s BeYOUnion.com Kansas vs. Missouri All-Star Game Thursday night at Turner High School. While Martin celebrated his first win on a prep playing field over the past two years, a pair of Fort Osage Indians made big noise in their final football game. Daniel Tapusoa is going to play rugby in college and Stevie Gabb, the Missouri Offensive Lineman of the Game, is going to community college to concentrate on academics. Tapusoa finished with five tackles and Gabb paved the way for the Missouri backs and passing attack to have its way with the overmatched Kansas squad. David Jacquez, a Fort Osage linebacker who was The Examiner’s Defensive Player of the Year last fall, anchored a rock-solid Missouri defense with five tackles, including two for losses, and a pass deflection that likely saved a touchdown. “I couldn’t be any prouder of the guys than I am right now,” said Pleasant Hill head coach Justin Hamilton, who led the Missouri squad. “We talked over the past week or so how important it was to be physical and be conditioned. And we were the more physical team tonight, and we were playing as hard in the fourth quarter as we were in the first – while Kansas seemed to be struggling.” Following the game, players met with friends and family members, posed for photos with their future college teammates and savored the moment. “It’s like none of us want to leave the field,” said Jacquez, who joined Martin and other Missouri all-stars for a photo with all the players who are headed to Northwest Missouri State University. “We knew how important it was to be in shape and to be physical, and I think we were in better shape and a lot more physical.” Kansas, however, drove 76 yards on its opening drive and took a 7-0 lead on a 6-yard run by Shawnee Mission South’s Mason Close. “Yeah, that happened and I’m like, ‘What just happened?’” Jacquez said. “I was upset and Daniel and I were talking and we said, ‘That’s not going to happen again,’ and it didn’t until we had the big lead late in the game.” Missouri responded with touchdowns on its next two possessions as Lee’s Summit North’s Devin Blayney caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Oak Park’s Ty Clemens and Richmond’s Tadan McCoy ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-7 lead with 23 seconds left in the first quarter. Clemens then hit Pleasant Hill’s Zach Redwine on a 82-yard bomb and Missouri took a 15-7 lead into halftime. “Our line was doing a great job blocking,” Gabb said. “In just eight practices we really became a team, and it showed tonight. I knew we’d win, but I didn’t think we’d win by this much.” Running back Lucas Oitker of Park Hill South fumbled a direct snap from center but kept his composure and found Kearney’s K.J. Smith for a 31-yard touchdown pass with 4:55 left in the third quarter. The Missouri squad finished with a 29-yard field goal by Kyzer Gann-Vega of Lafayette County and a 39-yard touchdown run by Raytown’s Zahmari Gary in the fourth quarter. With just over four minutes left in the game Kansas receiver Ethan Schultze of DeSoto caught a 25-yard touchdown pass and Turner’s Tyzhaun Cole ran in a two-point conversion with 4:01 left to account for the final 32-15 score. Following the game, Martin spotted former Truman coach Charlie Pugh on the sidelines and ran over to give him a hug. “Coach Pugh worked so hard to turn around our program, and it just didn’t work for some reason,” Martin said. “But he taught us so many important things – how to be great teammates, great individuals and representatives of our high school and our community.” Tapusoa, who is going to play rugby at powerhouse Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Mich., said winning his last game alongside his Fort Osage brothers is better than he could have imagined. “I’ve played so many games with Hawk (Jacquez) and Stevie, and now we get to play our final game together and go out win one for our state,” Tapusoa said. “It’s the best feeling. I can’t even describe how good it feels.” Van Horn running back David Lewis, who had eight carries for 36 yards, agreed with Tapusoa. “You dream of playing in a game like this and you get play and you get a big win and you just think to yourself, ‘I am so blessed,’” said Lewis, who is headed to Benedictine University. “It’s a night I’ll never forget.” William Chrisman graduate Dayne Herl, who is headed to Missouri Southern, shared quarterback duties with Clemens and had two carries for eight yards and was 2-of-4 passing for 10 yards.
