Trojans can't jump playoff hurdle, end season

The third time was not the charm for Park Hill on Monday night as they fell for the third consecutive season to Fort Osage in the Class 5 Sectionals 29-6. A mistake filled first half on special teams allowed the Indians to put 16 points on the board from turnovers.

Fort Osage scored first when a Park Hill snap went over the punter’s head into the end zone for a safety. A couple possessions later, the Indians were able to block a Trojan punt to gain field possession at the Park Hill 35-yard line before punching it in for a touchdown six plays later on an E.J. Gaines three-yard run. Another bad snap, this time on a 30-yard field goal attempt with under a minute to play in the half, allowed Fort Osage to score another touchdown when Kamryn Tillmon catch a 12-yard pass. The score put Fort Osage up 16-0 at halftime.

“It’s frustrating because it’s things that haven’t happened to us all year,” Coach Greg Reynolds said.

“We got chances to do things, but we just made mistakes we don’t normally make,” Reynolds said. “We had turnover after turnover tonight.”

A Fort Osage fumble by Gaines on the opening kickoff of the second half gave the Trojans great field position to potentially spark a comeback. Six plays later, Trace Norfleet went eight yards for Park Hill to score their only points of the night. A two-point conversion attempt failed. It would be the only flicker of momentum the Trojans would get though. A usually steady running game seemed to be on the verge of breaking loose throughout the game, but never quite became the force it had been during the regular season.

“We weren’t able to be consistent with our run game,” Reynolds said of the inability to put together complete drives. “We just didn’t finish the deal and its something this team has been able to do all year.”

Fort Osage was able to open the game up with two Gaines touchdown runs (38 and 5 yards) in the second half and prevented a last minute Park Hill drive from converting when a Corey Sterling pass to the end zone was intercepted on fourth down.

The senior-led Trojans finish the season with a 9-2 record along with conference and district titles. Coach Greg Reynolds was particularly proud of his seniors for being so close to each other throughout the season.

“Not seeing them accomplish their goals is what hurts,” Reynolds said of the earlier than hoped for end to their season.

“They’re a group of kids I enjoyed coaching. There were some great surprises with kids who came from nowhere to become starters. They’ve done everything we asked them to do. It’s a class you don’t see all the time.”