Any concerns Penney coach Dave Fairchild had about the psyche of his football team heading into Monday’s battle with two-time Class 1 champion Orrick were dashed in the opening seconds of what was deemed a classic No. 1-versus-No. 2 matchup.
After squeaking out an uncharacteristic 17-14 triumph over 6-4 Braymer in last week’s regionals, the Hornets responded with a resounding 51-13 win over the Bearcats, ending their Missouri-leading win streak at 40 games.
Keagan Prather started the rout for the Hornets by racing 66 yards to pay dirt on the game’s first play from scrimmage. The junior signal-caller added two more first-quarter touchdowns before Trevor Dixon sprinkled four scores of his own throughout the remainder of the contest. Penney built a 35-6 halftime lead by beating Orrick at its own brand of hard-nosed football.
"Orrick has an outstanding, class football program," Fairchild said of the team that may have posed the largest obstacle for the Hornets in the playoffs. "We felt like this was going to be a hard-fought game and hoped we would come out on the positive side, which we did.
"Sometimes it’s just your night. We hope that trend continues."
Although the Hornets won the contest handily, Fairchild declined to predict whether his squad had a clear path to the title now.
"That remains to be seen," Fairchild said. "There is still a lot of football to be played. The fans might think that way, but as a coach I can’t be thinking like that. There are still a lot of quality teams out there. No."
Penney is now preparing for Saturday’s quarterfinal trip to Mid-Buchanan. In order for his team to find success once again, Fairchild said the Hornets would have to find a way to stop Dragon quarterback Drew Gray.
"How well he plays will determine their success," Fairchild said. "He is very accurate and has a strong arm to go along with great speed. He is a very good runner."
Standard looking for more after claiming school record
After conquering a school-record 51 rushing attempts in Monday’s 24-21 sectional win over Class 5 defending champion Hazelwood East, Chaminade running back Rob Standard has his eyes set on a much larger prize.
The junior, who ran for 300 yards and three touchdowns Monday, has accumulated school records of 5,234 career rushing yards and 68 career touchdowns. He is also on pace to move past former Timberland running back Monte Ball’s St. Louis-area career rushing record of 7,109 yards, which he set in 2008. Standard has 2,611 yards rushing and 37 touchdowns through 11 games this season. A year ago, he ran for 2,350 yards and 29 touchdowns.
White rallies Celtics late
Savannah looked like a sure bet to move on to this weekend’s quarterfinals after leading O’Hara for the first 44 minutes in Monday’s regional playoff game. Celtics quarterback T.J. White spoiled that celebration, however, by throwing a pair of touchdown passes in the game’s final four minutes.
White began the rally by tossing a 25-yard scoring pass to Louis Golden with 3:44 remaining in the contest to narrow the deficit to 16-14. Then, following a three-and-out by the Savannah offense, White pulled the rug out from under the Savages when Aaron Stubblefield ran under his 20-yard strike and scored with 2.9 seconds remaining in the contest to secure a quarterfinal match at Pleasant Hill on Saturday.
Savannah running back Quinton Peak scored his second of two touchdowns on a 5-yard burst to put the Savages up 16-8 through three quarters. The senior opened the game’s scoring in the first quarter with a 12-yard scamper.
Top second-round playoff performers
Rob Standard of Chaminade rushed for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns on a school-record 51 carries in a 24-21 win over Class 5 defending champion Hazelwood East…Parkway North’s Jaimee Buchanan rushed for 213 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries in a 38-35 four overtime win over Rolla…Darren Fowlkes of Vashon completed 18-of-35 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown in a 41-13 loss to Ladue Horton Watkins…Vashon’s Jordan Jenkins caught 6 passes for 159 yards in a 41-13 loss to Ladue Horton Watkins…Brandon McNeal of Imagine College Prep caught 3 passes for 103 yards and a 95-yard touchdown in a 63-29 loss to Priory. McNeal also rushed for a 53-yard score and returned an 80-yard kick off for six points…Brentwood’s Andrew Erby rushed for 183 yards on 27 carries in a 10-7 win over Maplewood-Richmond Heights…Kerry Gibson of Hazelwood Central completed 7-of-13 passes for 243 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 35-7 win over Christian Brothers College…Hazelwood Central’s Jawyne Thomas caught 3 passes for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 35-7 win over Christian Brothers College.
Galen Brown of McCluer North completed 10-of-17 passes for 212 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 38-22 loss to Lafayette (Wildwood)…McCluer North’s Nevar Griffin caught 3 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown in a 38-22 loss to Lafayette (Wildwood)…Justin Jack of Miller completed 27-of-45 passes for 292 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 35-34 win over Thayer…Miller’s Tyler Hinshaw caught 11 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown in a 35-34 win over Thayer…Tyler Welch of Bolivar caught 3 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown in a 28-0 win over Hillcrest…Rolla’s Jonathan Canhos rushed for 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 42 carries in a 38-35 quadruple-overtime loss to Parkway North…T.J. White of O’Hara completed 14-of-24 passes for 212 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 21-16 win over Savannah…O’Hara’s Aaron Stubblefield caught 5 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown in a 21-16 win over Savannah.
Missouri state football results, schedule
Class 6
Oakville 31, St. Louis University High 3
Fox 31, No. 7 Lindbergh 28 OT
No. 5 Hazelwood Central 35, No. 8 Christian Brothers College 7
No. 9 Lafayette (Wildwood) 38, McCluer North 22
No. 1 DeSmet Jesuit 42, Fort Zumwalt West 6
No. 4 Jefferson City 37, No. 10 Francis Howell 14
No. 2 Rockhurst 35, No. 6 Liberty 14
No. 3 Blue Springs 45, Lee’s Summit 12
Friday’s Quarterfinals
Fox (9-2) at Oakville (8-3)
No. 9 Lafayette (Wildwood) (9-3) at No. 5 Hazelwood Central (11-1)
No. 4 Jefferson City (10-2) at No. 1 DeSmet Jesuit (12-0)
No. 3 Blue Springs (11-1) at No. 2 Rockhurst (10-2)
Class 5
No. 2 Webster Groves 36, Eureka 25
Chaminade 24, No. 10 Hazelwood East 21
Parkway Central 22, No. 5 Timberland 8
No. 4 Parkway North 38, No. 6 Rolla 35 OT
Nixa 42, Camdenton 0
No. 9 Raytown South 35, Ozark 13
No. 7 Raymore-Peculiar 42, Winnetonka 14
No. 1 Fort Osage 29, No. 3 Park Hill 6
Saturday’s Quarterfinals
Chaminade (9-3) at No. 2 Webster Groves (11-0)
No. 4 Parkway North (10-1) at Parkway Central (10-2)
No. 9 Raytown South (9-3) at Nixa (8-3)
No. 1 Fort Osage (11-0) at No. 7 Raymore-Peculiar (8-3)
Class 4
No. 6 Sikeston 26, Poplar Bluff 11
Ladue Horton Watkins 41, Vashon 13
Normandy 15, University City 14
No. 3 Jefferson City-Helias 48, No. 10 Hannibal 31
No. 8 Bolivar 28, Hillcrest 0
No. 1 Webb City 41, No. 9 Carthage 14
No. 5 Harrisonville 14, Grain Valley 12
No. 4 Kearney 28, No. 2 Staley 0
Saturday’s Quarterfinals
Ladue Horton Watkins (10-2) at No. 6 Sikeston (12-0)
No. 3 Jefferson City-Helias (12-0) at Normandy (10-2)
No. 1 Webb City (12-0) vs. No. 8 Bolivar (11-1) at Southwest Baptist University
No. 5 Harrisonville (11-1) at No. 4 Kearney (10-2)
Class 3
New Madrid County Central 32, No. 1 Potosi 24
Priory 63, Imagine College Prep 29
No. 5 Bowling Green 41, Trinity Catholic 0
Mexico 14, Fulton 13
No. 3 Logan-Rogersville 21, No. 8 Mountain Grove 7
No. 4 Cassville 17, Seneca 7
Pleasant Hill 21, Richmond 20
No. 2 O’Hara 21, Savannah 16
Saturday’s Quarterfinals
New Madrid County Central (9-3) at Priory (7-5)
Mexico (6-6) at No. 5 Bowling Green (12-0)
No. 4 Cassville (11-1) at No. 3 Logan-Rogersville (11-1)
No. 2 O’Hara (11-1) at Pleasant Hill (8-4)
Class 2
Caruthersville 35, Crystal City 6
Brentwood 10, Maplewood-Richmond Heights 7
No. 1 Centralia 56, Blair Oaks 8
No. 2 Clark County 26, No. 9 South Shelby 13
No. 5 Fair Grove 33, Liberty (Mountain View) 23
Lamar 34, Pierce City 18
No. 6 Hogan Prep 33, No. 4 Carrollton 30
No. 3 Maryville 15, No. 8 Lawson 7
Saturday’s Quarterfinals
Caruthersville (10-2) at Brentwood (10-1)
No. 1 Centralia (12-0) at No. 2 Clark County (12-0)
Lamar (6-6) at No. 5 Fair Grove (12-0)
No. 6 Hogan Prep (11-1) at No. 3 Maryville (11-1)
Class 1
No. 4 Valle Catholic 56, Paris 7
Miller 35, No. 8 Thayer 34 2 OT
No. 9 Adrian 28, No. 7 Greenfield 25 OT
No. 3 Tipton 49, University Academy 7
No. 5 Wellington-Napoleon 35, Concordia 14
No. 6 Marceline 55, Knox County 28
No. 2 Penney 51, No. 1 Orrick 13
Mid-Buchanan 14, North Platte 10
Saturday’s Quarterfinals
No. 4 Valle Catholic (12-0) at Miller (10-2)
No. 3 Tipton (12-0) at No. 9 Adrian (10-2)
No. 6 Marceline (12-0) at No. 5 Wellington-Napoleon (11-1)
No. 2 Penney (11-0) at Mid-Buchanan (8-4)
