Blue Springs sails past Lee’s Summit 45-12

Friday November 6, 2009 7:00 PM
Team (Record)	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
Lee's Summit (4 - 7)	0	6	0	6	12
Blue Springs (12 - 1)	7	21	17	6	51

The whispers started before Blue Springs could even make it back to its locker room on Friday night.

The Wildcats had thumped Lee’s Summit 45-12. They’d clinched a spot in the Missouri Class 6 quarterfinals. And now, the Wildcats could finally look ahead to the team that looms on their schedule next week.

Yes, that would be Rockhurst.

The same Rockhurst team that had ended the Wildcats’ season in 2008 with a 48-0 drubbing in the playoffs. The same team that had handed Blue Springs its only loss of this season — 17-3 on Sept. 11.

“If they told me we’re playing them (Saturday) morning, I’d be just as pumped,” Blue Springs junior running back Darrian Miller said. “I don’t need a week.”

But before the Wildcats could start thinking about Rockhurst — they first had to withstand a gutty effort by Lee’s Summit.

Blue Springs took a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter, when quarterback Jared Lanpher connected with Jordan Nubine on a 31-yard touchdown pass.

Minutes later, the Wildcats threatened again, but Lee’s Summit’s Sam Sealer stopped the drive by intercepting Lanpher in the end zone.

But if the first quarter was about the Tigers trying to prove that they belonged, the second quarter turned into an advertisement for Blue Springs’ versatility and dominance.

Blue Springs defensive end Brady Letchworth signaled the change on the first play of the second quarter, intercepting an option pitch from Lee’s Summit quarterback Corbin Berkstresser and rumbling 51 yards for a touchdown.

The Tigers would momentarily cut into Blue Springs’ lead with a 66-yard touchdown run by senior Darren Nelson.

But Miller broke free on a 16-yard touchdown run on Blue Springs’ next drive, and the rout was on.

Miller scored again on his final carry — a 7-yard touchdown run with 10:09 left in the third quarter. Blue Springs had a 42-6 lead, Miller had 218 rushing yards in 19 carries, and just like that, the Tigers’ season was over.

submitted by RUSTIN DODD - 2009-11-06 23:18:01

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