Hello Varsity Zone readers. I'm Cole Young, a high school reporter for The Star. Today I'll be blogging from the big Rockhurst vs. Blue Springs South game live on ESPN.

As the game and day goes on, I'll keep putting the most current updates at the top.

Second half- This one got ugly quick in the second half. Rockhurst scored 21 points in the the first 10 minutes of the half to take a 35-0 lead.

South was able to answer midway through the fourth quarter with a four-yard touchdown strike.

In the end though, six South turnovers and a young defense were just too much to overcome. 

FINAL: Rockhurst 42- Blue Springs South 14

Halftime-

The second quarter went much like the first. Rockhurst got good field position then went up 14-0 on a 28-yard run by Billy Linscott.

After that it was more muffed punt recpetions, three interceptions and lots and lots of nerves.

Blue Springs South's best chance came on a dropped touchdown pass in the end zone with 3:21 to go in the half. On the next play though quarterback Blaine Dalton was sacked for a 26-yard loss. Yes, 26-yards.

Fittingly, the half ended with an interception.

End of 1st- There are plenty of nerves.

The opening kickoff was fumbled by Blue Springs South and recovered by Rockhurst's Dan Tapko. The first drive didn't go anywhere for Rockhurst either.

Holding penalties thewarted their first two possessions.Nathan Scheelhaase had a dazzling 20-yard touchdown run, but a holding call brought that back.

The defense certainly dominated early. Through the first five possessions,  there was only one first down between the two teams.

The final minutes of the quarter belonged to Scheelhaase who had runs of 13 and 20. Those set up a 21-yard TD run for Chris Castellucio with 1:33 left in the first.

So far, Castellucio has 43 yards on 7 carries.

Rockhurst 7, Blue Springs South 0

10:51- This may be the quietest that it has been since I arrivee here nearly two hours ago. The anthem has been played, the dance team has performed, the starting lineups have been announced. Here's the thing thouggh, the game isn't going to start for another 12 minutes.

Maybe the capacity crowd is just saving their energy. After all, it's pretty hot out here.

OK, it just loud again. the Hawklets just ran onto the ffield, much to their fans delight.

The Jaguars however are nowhere to be seen.

This is likely the last update we'll have until the end of the first quarter.

10:17- Now just 48 minutes from kickoff its beginning to get rowdy around here. The students from both sides are trading cheers back and forth. Both teams are on the field. Rock is going through some form running drills while South is still stretching.

Blue Springs South officials said they weren't going to have a sellout, but I'll say this, there's not many empty seats left. In fact about 25 fans have settled on a hill on the north side of the field.

9:43- The gates have been open now about 20 minutes. Initially there were two lines of Blue Springs South fans stretched about 200 yards in each direction. Those lines have since subsided.

From my spot on one of the wings of the prress box the Blue Springs South stands aren't nearly as full. That's mostly though because there's about twice as many bleachers on the home side.

The visitor bleaches are more than half full still 80 minutes awawy from kickoff. The entire right side of fthe bleachers are filled with Rockhurst students wearing all white.

This is the second high school game I've been to this weekend and it's also the second game this weekend that I've seen the Simone Award at. The Simone family along with the first Simone award winner Jeff Kelso are set up just to the north side of the press box.

I'll be curious to see just how many fans from opposing schools I see today. So far I've spotted Hutchinson (Kan.) fans and Lee's Summit West fans. Hutch plays Rockhurst next week.

Of course there are also a lot of fans in flannel shirts and mullets just in front of me.I didn't realize any of my relatives were going to be here. (Edit: It turns out the Blue Springs South students are actually dressed this way as a joke.)

9:15- Still more than 90 minutes from kickoff, there's already a big game feel all around.

Heading in on Adams Dairy Parkway you could see the smoke as you got closer to the stadium.

Once inside the lot parking is at a premium. The entire north parking lot is filled with fans tailgating and playing catch. The tailgating, catch and general excitement are nice, but the first real sign that this is a big game came at 8:59.

That's when three school busses filed with Rockhurst players, coaches and administration pulled in to the cheers of Rockhurst fans.

As you might have guessed, Rockhurst head coach Tony Severino was the first coach off the bus and starting quarterback and Illinois recruit Nate Scheelhaase was the first player off any of the busses.

Keep checking back, there's spotty wireless, but we'll keep this updated the best we can.