Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009
Firebirds overwhelm Ravens for district title
By DANNY STOOKSBURY
Special to The Olathe News
Print
E-Mail
AIM
ReprintOlathe Northwest couldn't match the strength of Free State's offensive line Friday during a 35-14 loss in the Kansas 6A District 4 championship.
Both teams entered the contest 2-0 in the district with wins against Lawrence and Leavenworth.
Head-to-head, the Ravens' defense could only slow the Firebirds down as Free State pounded out a 21-0 lead with three ground-munching drives that consumed 14 minutes, 30 seconds of the first half.
“It came down to establishing the line of scrimmage up front,” ONW coach Todd Dain said. “They did a great job on both the offense and defensive sides of the ball. That's where we've got to improve, for sure. We've got to come out and execute and move the ball and control the game. Defensively, we've got to get more stops.”
The Ravens had little to cheer until Cullen Phillips returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown with just over a minute remaining in the first half. The excitement of Phillips' return had the ONW band and the Ravens' fans thinking comeback.
But Free State kick returner Keene Niemack put an end to the party with an 82-yard TD return on the ensuing kickoff, his second TD of the night.
Niemack's third TD, a 16-yard run, put the contest out of reach at the 10-minute mark in the fourth quarter.
Nick Brandy snared a 33-yard TD pass from Josh Lemke with 15 seconds remaining for ONW's only offensive score of the night.
Firebirds running back Kirk Resseguie burned the Ravens for 182 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. Both teams advance to the first round of the state playoffs next week.
“Most likely, we're going to be facing Blue Valley Northwest,” Dain said. “That's who I'm going to prepare for starting right now.”
FREE STATE 35, OLATHE NORTHWEST 14
FS (7-2) 7 21 0 7 — 35
ONW (4-5) 0 7 0 7 — 14
Scoring summary
First quarter
FS: Camren Torneden 7 run (Gabe Ballard-Hanson kick)
Second quarter
FS: Keene Niemack 8 pass from Torneden (Ballard-Hanson kick)
FS: Kirk Resseguie 1 run (Ballard-Hanson kick)
ONW: Cullen Phillips 92 kickoff return (Nick Prologo kick)
FS: Niemack 82 kickoff return (Ballard-Hanson kick)
Fourth quarter
FS: Niemack 16 run (Ballard-Hanson kick)
ONW: Nick Bandy 33 pass from Josh Lemke (Prologo kick)