Panthers look to overcome injuries, put more points on board

After coming out of the gate quickly in the first half the previous week against William Chrisman in a 42-18 victory, Park Hill South was hoping to build on their momentum against Raytown last Friday. It wouldn't be so, as a scoreless first half led way to two second half Raytown touchdowns putting the Panthers down by 12 late in the fourth quarter. An attempted comeback was cut short as Raytown pulls out the mild upset by a score of 12-7. Although, a solid defensive performance, the Panthers weren't able to overcome the absence of some key players including running back Myles Hammonds and linebacker Robert Lane.

"We came out defensively real strong," coach Mark Simcox said. "Our depth hurt us because of the injuries we're currently dealing with right now."

South now looks to Raytown South (2-3) as they host the Cardinals at Park Hill District Stadium. The Cardinals are coming off a tough 36-0 loss to Fort Osage last week. Park Hill South will look to keep the Raytown South offense neutralized, as they've only scored once in the previous two games, and allow their own offense the chance to get into a rhythm. On the other side of the ball, quarterback Eddie Sola, who played running back in Hammonds absence, and company will look to stimulate a Panthers offense which has either been red hot or stone cold this season. Raytown South entered the season ranked in the Class 5 state rankings, but has recently falled out while Park Hill south remains in the fold, currently ranked sixth.

"They're a good team," Simcox said. "I remember from last year their front eight or nine guys are real tough. It's going to be another test."

Raytown's Justus McMullen ripped a 29-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to put the game's first points on the board last Friday putting them up 6-0 after a failed point after. Then it was a 50-yard pass from Bobby Bradley to Chris Jackson in the fourth quarter that would eventually serve as the game winning touchdown, putting the Blue Jays up 12-0, once again after a failed extra point. A 5-yard pass from Carson Reid to Craig Scott got South on the board late in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough as the Panthers fall to 3-2 on the year and suffer the first blow to their conference record, now at 2-1.