Park Hill South prepares for another tough test

Things won’t get easier for Park Hill South (3-3) after a 24-8 loss to Raytown South last Friday as they’ll next take on the state’s top ranked Class 5 team, the Staley Falcons (6-0). The Panthers’ toughest test of the season comes as the final primer before district play begins and playoff brackets begin to take shape. For South, there is plenty of motivation to step their game up as the Falcons were responsible for ending the Panthers season last year in a low-scoring 7-3 quarterfinal playoff game. Staley is coming off an impressive 54-27 victory over Grandview and features some of the area’s top players including quarterback Trent Hosik and running back Morgan Steward.

“They’ve got a lot of talent. We played with them both games last year. We have a chance to be successful if we take care of the football,” head coach Mark Simcox said. “We think there are some things we can do against them.”

Both Park Hill South and Raytown South came into Friday’s game looking to redeem themselves after tough week five losses. Raytown South jumped out of the gate in the first quarter when they forced Park Hill South running back Eddie Sola to fumble on the first play from scrimmage. The Cardinal offense wasn’t able to convert the turnover into any direct points, but their fourth down punt forced Park Hill South to start the next drive on their own one yard line. It was then when Sola met a handful of Cardinals at the line of scrimmage forcing him down in the end zone for a Raytown South safety and the game’s first points.

“We can’t come out in any game and fumble on the first play, then get a safety on the second. It just kills your momentum and allows the other team to build on that, doesn’t matter who you’re playing,” Simcox said.

Receiving the kick on the ensuing kickoff and returning it to the Panthers 25-yard line, it didn’t take long for quarterback Deallon Walton and the offense to add to their lead. Jameel Cox’s one-yard touchdown run and Justin Turner’s reception for the two-point conversion put Raytown South up 10-0. Raytown South put another touchdown on the board just before halftime when Kalan Tucker pulled in a 10-yard touchdown reception on 4th and 9. After the point after attempt failed, the Cardinals went into the locker room with a 16-0 lead.

Park Hill South mounted it’s most impressive defensive stand to start the second half which led to the Panthers best possession of the game. Taking nearly five minutes off the clock and moving the ball nearly ten yards at a time, the Panthers capped the drive off with a screen pass resulting in a 16-yard touchdown reception for Alex Howe. Craig Scott converted the two-point conversion with his reception pulling Park Hill South to within eight points, 16-8.

The Cardinals hit right back, stomping the Panthers comeback hopes. As time wound down in the third quarter, they were able to drive the field before Justin Turner took a handoff 19 yards for a touchdown. Turner converted the two-point conversion to put Raytown South up for good 24-8.

Park Hill South’s offense seemed to be unable to gain the rhythm they’d like. With starting running back Myles Hammonds sidelines, the Panthers lacked the dependable running game they had leaned on in the first half of the season and were forced to turn to their pass game. In a game that had few plays over 20 yards, both defenses displayed a bend, but don’t break style of play. Raytown South’s mix of formations and misdirection plays provided the Cardinals with the ball movement they needed on offense that the Panthers were unable to generate.

“We didn’t give up any real big plays, they just converted over and over again, and we couldn’t get stops when we needed to,” Simcox said. “When you have to start moving people around, you have to make changes in other positions too. Our depth is young and they’re going to be good players, but they’re just not quite there yet.”

Despite the two game losing skid the Panthers are on, Simcox says they won’t be risking their long-term season goals for short-term gains and they plan on staying the course with their focus on the overall program.

“We can’t worry about anything beyond the play in front of us. The only way to accomplish our goals is to do it one play at a time,” Simcox said. “We don’t want to abandon things we’ve been teaching just because we lose a couple games.”