Trojans face tough stretch ahead

Park Hill football fans were treated to quite a show last Friday as the Trojans defeated North Kansas City 48-6 during Homecoming week. It was likely the last game the Trojans (4-2) will come in as such a high favorite, before they enter a stretch of games that feature the likes of top ranked teams Lee’s Summit West and Staley over the next two weeks. Park Hill will travel to the more immediate threat, Lee’s Summit West (5-1), this Friday to face a team coming off a 42-0 thumping of Truman last week. Lee’s Summit West appears to be the toughest game standing between the Trojans and a conference championship. Both teams are currently 3-0 in league play.

“Even though we don’t put as much pressure on ourselves for conference, if we win this game we’ve at least set ourselves up for a tie,” Coach Greg Reynolds said. “We need to show ourselves we can go out and play with some of the best.”

Park Hill running back Trace Norfleet produced one of his top career performances with 195 yards rushing on 18 carries resulting in four touchdowns, one of which was receiving, last Friday against North Kansas City. Norfleet started the Trojans off with touchdowns in Park Hill’s first two possessions to put them up 14-0. The first a 21 yard scamper to the end zone with the second coming on a smoothly carried out 10 yard screen pass from Nate Wilson. Fullback Jordan Wang tagged on a two yard touchdown run before Norfleet’s 40 yard dash to the end zone put Park Hill up 28-0 at the half.
Naturally inclined to run to the outside, Norfleet has worked on seeing holes available to the inside of the field over recent weeks, which has allowed him to become more of an overall threat.

“The coaches thought I started to dance too much, and not getting up field,” Norfleet said. “I like to get on the outside, but today it showed that the hole can be anywhere and it paid off tonight.”

“We’ve told him we think there are some holes inside if he just makes a cut to get downhill,” Reynolds said.
While you won’t see Norfleet as outspoken as some of his senior teammates, he’s embraced the role of leading a younger team by example as a two-year starter.

“I think leading by example is just as important as being a big talker,” Norfleet said. “I’ve learned the heart and passion of the game. We’ve got a young team and I want to live up to their expectations.”

Norfleet would tag on another touchdown of 16 yards before being taken out of the game with a 35-0 lead. An interception by Gage Wright in the third quarter set Luke Bossert up for a 22-yard touchdown reception. The Hornets did manage to score in the fourth quarter before Park Hill’s Troy Bennett dealt the last blow with his late touchdown to make the final score 49-6.