by Michael Smith
 

     When Grain Valley sophomore Landon Barnes compared this year’s boys cross country team to the 2021 version, he said things were looking a lot better in 2022.
     He said the team is closer than ever and it seemed that way at Saturday’s Sock It To Cancer Grain Valley Invitational at Grain Valley North Middle School.
     The Eagles took second place in the Pink Division with 46 points. Raymore-Peculiar took first with 34 points.
     “Our team is a lot closer and together than it was last year,” Barnes said. Between five, six and seven of our guys, our times are pretty close. I think we have a good chance of going to state.”
     The course at Grain Valley Middle School was a difficult one, according to many of the competitors. Barnes said there were a lot of rolling hills, especially after the first mile. Even with that challenge, he was still able to take eighth overall at 17:11.7.
     “This course is pretty tough and I came pretty close to my season best this year,” Barnes said.
     While Barnes was the second Eagle to cross the finish line, Carson Hill led the way for Grain Valley, finishing second with a time of 16:31.9. Platte County’s Andrew Johnson was first with a time of 15:57.9.
     Hill recently just came off a knee injury as he had to miss a couple of months of action in the preseason and regular season. He competed in just his third race of the season on Saturday.
    “I am healed up,” Hill said. “A lot of people in the community were concerned and I appreciate that. It’s healed and I am building it back up in training.”
     “I was pretty surprised that I got second. I never raced against the Platte County kid before. I was pretty happy with my pace, though.”
     Rounding out the times for the Eagles were Rylan Smith (ninth, 17:15.7), Landon Blew (13th, 17:34.2), Andrew Bobzien (14th, 17:34.3), David Roberson (18th, 17:48.8) and Nathan Allen (19th, 17:49).
     For the girls, the Eagles had an incomplete score due to having just four runners, five were needed for a team score. Blue Springs won with 28 points.
     Lexi Nichsolson led Grain Valley with her 17th-place finish with a time of 21:26.4.
     “I felt really good, actually,” Nicholson said. “I felt better than a lot of my other races. I figured it is my senior year, I got to give it my all.”
     Rounding out the times for the Eagles girls were Jordan Gossage (18th, 21:24.5), Kayley Bell (20th, 21:39.9) and Kelli Stevens (24th, 22:25.3).
     “(My time) was only a little off my season best,” Gossage said. “So I was pretty proud. This was a harder course.”

     Grain Valley head football coach David Allie threw a curve ball at Belton from the start.
     In Tuesday’s Suburban White Conference matchup with the Pirates, after Allie’s team forced them to punt on the opening drive, the veteran coach did something he had not done all year.
     He started defensive end Jake Allen at full back and on Grain Valley’s first drive, the senior made a couple of big plays to help the team score a touchdown on its opening possession.
     That, along with four turnovers forced by the Eagles defense, helped propel Grain Valley to a 44-0 thrashing of Belton Friday on the road.
     Allen caught a 12-yard pass from quarterback Caleb Larson and broke free for a 36-yard run on a trap run. That helped set up the Eagles first touchdown on Larson’s 9-yard run on a rollout to the left to make it 7-0 at the 5:32 mark in the first period.
     “He and (linebacker) Brody Baker have experience in the backfield,” Allie said. “We felt tonight, what (Belton) was going to give us defensively, that we had to have a true full back in there. We wanted to run the ball tough inside, Jake did that. He’s a kid who can play two ways. We like to platoon to keep guys fresh.”
     Allen’s teammates were certainly impressed by Allen’s performance on offense.
     “We were running Jake in practice and he was powerful,” sophomore running back DJ Harris said. “I was really surprised how he caught on to it. On his big run, I thought he was going to crib it, but he got his wheels going.”
     Added junior safety Gabe Storment: “Jake Allen is a dog. That (36-yard) run made me so happy.”
     Allen’s contributions on the first drive jump started a dominant performance for Grain Valley (4-2).
     The first of four turnovers for Belton resulted in an Eagles touchdown as Storment got the first pick six of his career early in the second period when Pirates quarterback Lane Cross floated a pass over the middle and the junior made the interception and returned it 62 yards for a score.
     “It felt good, all I saw was the end zone,” Storment said. “I knew I had it. We were in Cover 1 and I pretty much just sat there, backpedaled four steps and got it. I left their receiver open for a little bit because I knew I could go back and make the play.”
     Junior linebacker Cole Elliott also got an interception that was returned to the Belton 6 and senior linebacker Brody Baker and Allen both recovered fumbles at the Pirate 22 and 32, respectively.
     Overall, it was an impressive defensive performance for Grain Valley. The Eagles took advantage of Belton starting quarterback Gio Mack being out of the game with an injury. Not only did its defense force four turnovers, it held Belton to only 163 yards of total offense and 3.9 yards per play.
     “We knew when they were going to run a buck sweep and we knew when they were going to run a counter,” Allen said. “Their guards would sit back when they pulled, so we got light calls. Our linebackers knew where to go and when to do it.”
     On offense, the Eagles totaled 224 yards, which included 202 yards on the ground. Grain Valley got a 8-yard scoring run from senior running back Christian Lanear; wide receiver Noah Olah hit paydirt on a 3-yard rush; Ty Williams went into the end on a 17-yard jaunt untouched; and Harris punched it in from four yards out.
     All season long Allie has touted his “three-headed monster” in the backfield as he’s split carries between Harris, Lanear and Williams. Harris missed two weeks due to a bone bruise in his ankle but he made his return Friday as he’s being eased back into game action.
     “It felt good being back in overall,” Harris said. “At first, (the injury) was a high ankle sprain, but then I got it needled and got it looked at. We ended up figuring out it was a pretty bad bone bruise. I ended up taking it easy.”

     This month's Unsung Hero is Stephanie Kallas, whose work to bring therapy dogs into Grain Valley Schools and four dogs in outside districts, provided an avenue to honor her brother Michael.
     When Kallas began working to bring therapy dogs into schools, she was the Behavior Interventionalist at North Middle School. 
     "I worked with students who were struggling with a lot of issues, but mainly it was working with students to help them when their emotions were big. A lot of times, I found myself thinking 'Gosh, if I could have a dog here to work with them', because I'd seen the power of that with my own kids."
     For four years, Kallas worked with building and district administration, working through many hurdles in order to be able to begin training the first dog, Bruce, to work in the school. Bruce is a Woodle, a combination of a Wheaton Terrier and Poodle, both hypoallergenic breeds due to their lack of shedding.
     Just as Kallas had completed training with Bruce and was preparing to start the school year, her older brother Michael passed away. 
     "He struggled with mental health his entire life, and the one time I ever saw him comfortable in his own skin was when he was with a dog."
     The way to honor her brother's memory became clear when she began thinking about the lengthy path she endured to get Bruce into the school. 
     "There's got to be some way I can help teachers get a therapy dog, because it was a really long, hard journey. You don't know what you don't know until you start getting into it."
     So Kallas began Michaels Peaceful Paws to help other teachers with the training, insurance, supplies, and medical costs involved in taking on a therapy dog. The nonprofit organization has assisted in the training and placement of therapy dogs at each of Grain Valley's schools, and each dog's name honors Kallas's brother in some way. 
     Bruce is named after Bruce Springsteen, one of Michael's favorite artists, and Norah at the Early Childhood Center is named for another favorite artist, Norah Jones. Harold, at Grain Valley High School, is named after their grandfather.
     When Kallas first introduced Bruce, she thought he'd be working with "the 2-5% of students that really struggle with mental health issues".
     "What I really saw was kids were really motivated to work because they got the reward of getting to work with him. Kids felt more regulated. Kids who struggled to get to school were getting to school because they were motivated to get to see him, and help make sure he had water in the morning. Kids who were home sick would email me and say, 'Please let Bruce know that I am home sick, and I'll see him tomorrow.'. It just shocked me how much of a difference he makes," Kallas said.
     "There have been a few instances where kids had to receive bad news, and Bruce was able to be there with them."
     Kallas, who receives 10-12 inquires a week from other teachers and districts interested in having their own therapy dogs, is now focused on creating resources for teachers and districts interested in bringing therapy dogs to their schools. In addition, Kallas is also interested in developing a certification program for therapy dogs to ensure the handlers understand what it takes to advocate and care for the dog. 
     "A dog can't say, 'I'm exhausted'. And they absorb all of emotions they're taking in during the day. I worry that it gets to be such a fad, that there are not the standards and protections needed for the dogs."
     Kallas emphasizes that therapy dogs are not service dogs, who are highly trained to complete a set of tasks for one person. "Therapy dogs are simply pets who are trained to help a lot of people make their day better."
     To learn more about Michaels Peaceful Paws and follow along with Bruce's adventures, follow Kallas and Bruce on Facebook at Michaels Peaceful Paws. 

by Michael Smith
 

     The Grain Valley boys soccer team had multiple opportunities.
     In Monday’s Suburban White Conference match with William Chrisman, Grain Valley dominated possession; however, goalkeeper Trevor Jolley made it tough on them.
     The Eagles had six shots on goal in the first half and were unable to get one past the talented goalkeeper as he stopped all five shots.
     But in the second half, the Eagles broke through as junior Ethan Galvan and Alexander Luna put shots in the back of the net to help the team earn a 2-0 victory at home.
     “We probably had 17 or 18 shots,” Lewis said. "We made a lot more passes and kept more possessions than they did. For the flow of the game, we dominated. We just had to focus on being clinical and making that last run through.”
     In the first half, Eagles senior Austin Schmitt had a sharp kick from just outside the box stopped by Jolley on a diving save. The sophomore goalkeeper also stopped a pair of close-range shots from Grain Valley senior Owen White, which included a challenge that Jolley won where he dove and blocked the ball as White shot it.
     After both teams went into halftime tied at 0, Galvan said he and the team was confident that it would break through. He helped the Eagles do just that when he received a through ball from White and made a run through the middle of the Chrisman penalty box and powered a shot through Jolley and into the net for a 1-0 lead in the 62nd minute.
     “We dominated possession, so it was only a matter of time before we got behind the back line and put one in,” said Galvan, who scored his second goal of the season. “We caught their back line slipping, one of their guys was out of position, so I just ran in open space and scored.”
     The Bears had a couple of opportunities to tie it, with the best opportunity coming on a shot from Giovanny Salas Andrade from the far left side of the field. He hit a rocket that appeared to be headed inside the left post of the Grain Valley goal. However, Eagles goalkeeper Landon Jaynes made a diving save to help his team keep the lead.
     Sophomore Alexander Luna, who had recently been getting more playing time, made a run in the middle of the Chrisman box and he also got a through ball from White and was able to punch one into the right side of the net in the 71st minute for a 2-0 lead.
     “I am super happy, it’s my first goal of the season,” Luna said. “It was a really good pass from Owen White.”
     Lewis noted that Luna missed the first two weeks of the preseason due to being in Mexico and has worked his way into soccer shape.
     “He came back late. He was in Mexico for most of the summer, so I haven’t seen him play a whole lot,” Lewis said. “He hadn’t played since early June. It was about me seeing him play and seeing where he’d fit when he came back.”
     “He wasn’t super fit when he came back from Mexico. I think he knew that I saw him in an expanded varsity role, but I think he knew he needed to get his fitness up and get his legs under him. I have been using him more and more the last couple of games.”
     Both Luna and Galvan credited White for their goals as they praised their senior teammate for being a key playmaker for the Eagles (5-5, 1-1 White Conference).
      “Owen has been crazy for us this year,” Galvan said. “He’s been handling the ball a lot and scoring a lot of goals. He’s dominating out there.”
     Added Lewis: “(Austin Schmitt and Owen White) are the ones who create the most opportunities for us and they often put the pass in that leads to a goal.”
 

     Blue Springs South seemed to have the game wrapped up.
     The Jaguars were leading the Grain Valley football team 21-17 with a little more than 2 minutes remaining in the game. South had just converted third-and-10 at its own 19 after a 12-yard screen pass from quarterback Cash Parker to wide receiver Tommy Lapour.
     All the Jaguars had to do was run out the remaining time on the clock as Grain Valley had no timeouts. The Eagles defense made big plays the entire game, so did it have one more left in them?
     It did.
     Senior middle linebacker Brody Baker forced a fumble after a Theodis Thomas run up the middle, and the ball was recovered by senior defensive end Jake Allen at the South 35-yard line with 2 minutes and 4 seconds remaining.
     That eventually led to a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback Caleb Larson with 28.6 seconds left as the Eagles won a 24-21 thriller Friday at home.
     The win was Grain Valley’s first over a Class 6 team.
     “That’s huge,” Grain Valley head coach David Allie said. “We’re growing and someday soon, we are going to be at that level. You have to test yourself.”
     The fumble recovery breathed new life into the Eagles and gave them a chance when it seemed like the game was all but over.
     “I just recovered it, Brody was the one who stripped the ball,” Allen said. “I got a double team and I tried to split it. That didn’t work so I spun off of it and the ball landed right in my hands.”
     On the final drive, Grain Valley (3-2) had the ball at the South 17-yard line after a pair of 2-yard runs and an incomplete pass.
     On fourth-and-6, Larson dropped back to pass and rolled to his right. No receiver was open so he tucked the ball and ran to pick up 9 yards and a first down after being pushed out of bounds. Following a Ty Williams 3-yard run to the 5, Larson, who had a monster game with 174 yards on 23 carries, punched it in with a run up the middle after a fake handoff to put the Eagles up 24-21.
     “I want to give a huge shout out to my offensive line and my running backs and Ty Williams for blocking for me on those quarterback runs,” Larson said. “He takes a beating for me, without him, I wouldn’t be able to do that.”
     With just 28.6 seconds left, Parker managed to get the Jaguars down to the Grain Valley 19-yard line. South place kicker Jack Brickhouse had a chance to tie the game with a 36-yard field goal attempt, but it was short as the Eagles crowd, coaches and players were sent into a frenzy.
     The Grain Valley defense stepped up big to limit an explosive Jaguar offense that came into the evening averaging 42 points per game. It held South to 388 total yards, forced three turnovers and sacked Parker three times.
     “Our front line was able to get pressure on the quarterback and our (defensive backs) had great coverage on their receivers,” Allen said. “Their quarterback has some crazy stats, but I think our defense held him to half the yards he had been getting.
     “I do think we were the best defense that they have seen (this season).”
     Keagan Hart intercepted a Parker pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage late in the first period and junior defensive end Rhylan Alcanter may have made the play of the night for Grain Valley.
     Blue Springs South (3-2) had the ball at the Grain Valley 36-yard line and was ahead 14-10. Parker tried to hit a receiver on an out route but Alcanter tipped his pass, stumbled and caught the ball and returned the interception for 36 yards for a TD and a 17-14 lead with 2:38 remaining in the third.
     “I saw it was going to be an out route or a screen, so I knew I had to get my hands up,” Alcanter said. “I am so excited right now. I saw the ball and I tipped it and thought, ‘Oh! This is catchable! The love I got from my teammates; you can trade that for anything.”
     Added Allen: “That was the most athletic play I have ever seen in my life. Without that play, our momentum would have been totally different.”
     Allie has high praise for Alcanter and the play.
     “How about that?” Allie asked rhetorically. “That shows his athletic ability. He was stumbling, I thought he was going to go down. He kept his feet and took it into the end zone. That was probably one of the best plays I have seen a (defensive lineman) make.”
     South scored on its opening drive of the game when a screen pass from Parker to Lapour went 58 yards and set up a 1-yard TD run for Parker to put South up 7-0.
     Grain Valley responded on its first drive when Larson found a big hole up the middle, shed one tackle and rumbled 51-yards for a score to tie the game at 7-all at the 7:09 mark in the first.
     Brickhouse missed a 47-yard field goal for South with 50.9 seconds left in the first quarter, but Grain Valley place kicker Austin Schmitt nailed a 27-yard attempt to give the Eagles a 10-7 lead, a score that held until halftime.
     South scored on its first possession of the second half, as well, when a 56-yard screen pass from Parker to Lapour set up a 1-yard TD run from Thomas to make it 14-10 with 5:56 left in the third.
     After Alcanter’s interception put the Eagles back up by three, Parker responded when he hit Malachi Howard on a fade route for a 23-yard touchdown pass to put South up 21-17 with 1:30 remaining at the third.
     The Jaguars nearly put the game away late in the fourth, but the Eagles defense and Larson had other ideas.
     “That’s history breaking for us,” Alcanter said when asked about Grain Valley getting its first win against a Class 6 program. “I am so happy for our coach. He deserves it. All of our coaches do.”

     The Board of Education met for its regularly scheduled meeting on September 22nd, approving the tax rate levy for the 2022-23 school year. The rate for the 2022-23 school year is set at $4.9271, a $.0008 increase from the 2021-22 school year ($4.9263).
     Dr. Nick Gooch, Assistant Superintendent, Support Services, presented details on assessments, debt service, and operating levies in advance of the meeting. 

     Breakdown of the $459,728,481 total assessment:
     $303,407,836 residential
     $1,416,562 agricultural
     $55,079,386 commercial
     $99,824,697 personal property

     The operating levy rate for 2022-23 increased slightly to $3.2271 from $3.2263 in 2021-22. The proposed debt service levy of $1.70 remains the same as the 2021-22 school year.
     During administrative dashboard reporting, Gooch also reported on several items, including the anticipated decrease in school lunch participation once universal free lunch concluded in the spring.
     School lunch participation is down 19% (from 66% to 47%), coming off of two years of free lunches provided through COVID-19 pandemic related funding. Breakfast dropped from 29% to 11%. Free & reduced lunch participation is up (currently 26.11%). 200 students qualify on a carryover basis from last school year – these students have until October 5th to reenroll in the program.  
     The food service department experienced challenges at the start of the year, losing nine employees, including a manager at the high school. Three more have been hired since the start of school, but the department is still 6 short of a full staff of 35.
    Construction on the district’s new central office is proceeding as scheduled, with interior/exterior metal framing complete. Roofing should begin in next 2 weeks, with initial asphalt for parking lot scheduled for the week of September 26th.
     Gooch also reported safety bollards will be installed at the entrances of each district building.
     Per board request, the technology department priced four options for classroom cameras and microphones. Gooch reported to equip each classroom in the district, 270 kits would be needed. The cost to equip each classroom ranges from $573,750 to $2,889,000.
     Board member Jeff Coleman asked for a per classroom cost, stating the estimates “went to the extreme with every classroom in Grain Valley”. Gooch shared the per classroom cost, not including installation based on the cheapest option, would be $2125. The costs for installing cameras and microphones in each high school classroom would be $133,875 for the cheapest option; equipping middle school classrooms would be an estimated $146,625. The topic of classroom cameras will be brought back to the board for further review.
     Gooch also reported the district’s E-Sports program is off to a strong start, with 60 students participating at the JV and varsity levels.
     Dr. Beth Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services, reported a new law recently signed by Governor Parson ensures that students earning a score of 3 or higher on AP exams will automatically earn college credit at in-state public universities.
     Dr. Amanda Allen, Assistant Superintendent, Student and Community Services, reported the high school and middle schools recently completed the Signs of Suicide (SOS) program.
     The suicide prevention program educates students on the connection between depression and suicide and encourages students to seek help for themselves or others through a trusted adult, using the programs ACT message:

• Acknowledge that you are seeing signs of depression or suicide in yourself or a friend and that it is serious.
• Let you friend know how much you Care about them and that you are concerned that they need help.
• Tell a trusted adult that you are worried about yourself or a friend.

     At the high school, there were 72 initial requests to speak with a counselor following the SOS program this year (compared to 54 in 2021, and 46 in 2020). At both the high school and middle school level, the majority of requests were self-referrals.
     Allen also pointed to the increase in families requesting assistance through the BackSnack program. 183 families are currently being served in the program. A food drive for the program will be held next week.
     The district also received 7,000 pairs of Bombas socks through a partnership with the Community Services League. Socks will be distributed to students and staff in the district.
     Superintendent Dr. Brad Welle highlighted the fentanyl crisis and educational efforts the district is undertaking to inform students and families of the risks. The district is investigating acquiring Narcan (Naloxone), used to treat narcotic overdose in emergency situations. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is offering Narcan to districts with medical provider oversight.
     The Board also reviewed three board policies, which Board President Jared English explained to an unusually large audience for a board meeting, is an ongoing effort of the board to regularly review all policies.
     No changes were made to the student dress code policy, but Welle explained language currently articulated in middle and high school handbooks will be added to elementary level handbooks. Welle reported all building principals worked with administration to review the current policy, which was last reviewed in 2005. Board member Jeff Porter that the policy be brought to the board once more for further review.
     Additionally, the board policy regarding teaching about controversial issues was asked to be returned for a second review. Administration recommended no changes to the current policy.
     Finally, the board reviewed the current policy and process for public concerns and complaints, which will also be further reviewed at a future meeting.
     The Board canceled its October workshop in order to tour the Fort Osage Career & Tech Center (CTC). 

     The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the Semifinalists in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program and two Grain Valley High School seniors have received this recognition. Semifinalists Carmen Myers and Evan Reich have the opportunity to continue the competition for the 7,250 National Merit Scholarship worth nearly $28 million that will be awarded in the spring.
      Of the 1.5 million entrants representing 21,000 high schools in this academic competition, these two distinguished individuals are among approximately 16,000 students nationwide to achieve this honor. They entered the competition as high school juniors by taking the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen for program entrants.
     The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. They are now qualified to compete for a share of 7,250 National Merit Scholarships, collectively worth more than $28 million, and advance to the Finalist standing. The Finalists will be announced in the spring.
     "Over the last 15 years, Grain Valley High School has had a half dozen National Merit Semi-Finalists and more than a dozen Commended Students" Grain Valley High School Principal, Dr. Jeremy Plowman said in a district email. 
    "They represent everything we have been preaching since Dr. Mulvey became principal of the high school in 2007. They excel in multiple sports and activities throughout the year. Each has taken the most rigorous academic classes available."

     On August 12th, 24 teams of golfers came to Adams Pointe Golf Club to participate in the annual GV Eagle Golf fundraiser.  The 20th annual event was originally started by then GVHS Activities Director Jeff Tebbenkamp and benefits the GV Education Foundation, Eagle Booster Club and the GVHS Activities department.
     This year's event was won by the team of Don Hawes, Jason Brown, Dave Newman and Brian Crumm with a score of 51.  The event also featured a hole-in-one by John Novak on the par 3 8th hole, who won a set of Callaway irons.
     Over $5,000 was raised by the event, and plans are already underway for the 21st annual to be held next fall.  Contact Jerry Vaughan, foundation director, at jvaughan@gvr5.net if you would like to be a part of next year's tournament.

by Michael Smith

​ 
     The Grain Valley softball team has a stiff challenge.
     The Eagles faced off against Blue Springs, a team that has had a strong softball program for many years.
     They had plenty of opportunities to score, but only managed to push across three runs in a 7-3 loss to the Wildcats Monday at home.
     Grain Valley (14-5) stranded nine runners on base, including five in the first two scoreless innings.
     “We had some opportunities we didn’t take advantage of,” Grain Valley head coach Garrett Ogle said. “I thought that we hit well and pitched well. We just had opportunities that didn’t go our way.”
     Blue Springs took advantage by scoring one run in the first inning on an error and Brooklyn Saysoff drove in Cejai Hollins on an RBI single in the third to make it 2-0. Grain Valley countered with a run in the bottom of the third when Salome’ Haley reached on an infield single, Olivia Slaughter doubled to left center field to put runners on second and third and Crysta Hernandez used a squeeze bunt to push across a run.
     That’s all the Eagles would get as they went into the fourth down 2-1. The Wildcats (12-5) tacked onto the lead in the top of the fourth when Rien Moore singled and reached third on a two-base error by the Eagles on the same play, and then scored on an RBI bloop single by Kendall Miller, making it 3-1.
     In the fifth, Blue Springs blew the game open against Grain Valley starting pitcher Hailey Hemme. Sayoff drilled a bases-clearing double to left-center field in the fifth to make it 6-1 and Makenna Delany made it 7-1 in the sixth with an RBI single.
     The Eagles didn’t go down without a fight though as they loaded the bases in the sixth. First baseman Ella Clyman drove in two runs on a sharp single up the middle to make it 7-3, however, the next batter flew out to end the threat as the team managed just three runs against Moore.
     Hemme was the losing pitcher as she tossed seven innings and allowed seven runs (six earned), walked six and struck out seven.
     “Hailey pitched great,” Ogle said. “She threw strikes and she gave us a good opportunity to be in the ball game.”
     Camryn Bown led the Eagles’ hitters by going 3-for-3 at the dish.

by Michael Smith
 
​
     The Grain Valley football team was missing a key piece of its offense.
     Going into Friday’s home game against Platte County, sophomore DJ Harris, who had the most varsity experience among its three running backs, was out with a lower body injury.
     Even without the talented ball carrier, the Eagles were able to put together their most completed offensive performance of the season as they rushed for 356 yards as a team during a 24-14 victory against Suburban White Conference rival Platte County.
     Three Grain Valley players rushed for more than 100 yards, led by quarterback Caleb Larson, who had 137 yards on 21 carries. Senior running back Christian Lanear added 117 yards on 10 totes and junior Ty Williams had 108 yards on 11 carries and two scores.
     “We always talk about the three-headed monster we have back there,” Allie said. “When one goes down, the others pick up the slack. Offensively, this was our most productive game.”
     Williams' two touchdowns helped the Eagles (2-2) keep the lead throughout. He found a huge hole in the middle and ran 18 yards for a score to make it 7-0 with 2:48 left in the first period.
     After Platte County scored on a 60-yard scoring pass from ZImmerman to Brennan Rich midway through the second period, the Eagles and Williams responded. Williams scored on a 43-yard run to the right as he ran right through a Pirates defender and scampered 30-plus more yards into the end zone to make it 21-7.
     “When your adrenaline is going, you feel like you can run through a brick wall,” Williams said. “I didn’t realize I threw him until I saw the play on the TV. I watched it and thought, ‘Wow! OK!’
     “Our O line is the best in the state of Missouri. They are the greatest group of guys. I want to hang out with them all the time on the field and outside of school. None of these touchdowns and yards aren’t possible without them.”
     Added Grain Valley head coach David Allie: “We preach yards after contact. We try to break tackles and get north and south and get extra yards. He did that well tonight. He runs the ball hard. He’s a strong kid, if you don’t wrap him up, he’ll run through you.”
     Earlier in the season, Williams was primarily used as a third-down back, but has received more opportunities since Harris went down with an injury last week.
     “All the glory to God. None of this is possible without him,” Williams said. “I was just being a team player. I was doing what I needed to do. DJ got hurt and I needed to step up, and I said ‘Alright. Let’s go.’”
     The Grain Valley defense also stepped up with two turnovers and three stops of the Platte County offense in the red zone.
     Grain Valley senior safety Keagan Hart came up with two interceptions of Platte County quarterback Dylan Zimmerman, with the last one coming with under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
     Platte County trailed 24-14 and had the ball on the Eagles 18. The Grain Valley senior safety was lined up against slot receiver Dawsen Mizell, who had several big third down catches and a fourth-down catch that eventually led to a touchdown earlier in the game.
     Hart said he knew Zimmerman would look to find Mizell and Hart stepped in front of him to intercept the ball at the 8-yard line and return it to the 20. The play sealed the game as the Eagles ran out the rest of the clock.
     “It was kind of easy to read it because you knew who the ball was going to,” Hart said of his second interception. “We just had to allow our defensive line to get to the quarterback and force the throw. The backers got hands on everybody and that allowed me time to get to him.
     “It was easier to stop them in the red zone because we knew they were a pass-heavy team. We just had to play man and get aggressive with them, which made them have to throw a little bit quicker.”
     Added Grain Valley head coach David Allie: “What a great play out in the flat! That was huge! The defense really did their job.”
     His second big interception came at the 10:19 mark in the second period. The Pirates once again had the ball in the red zone, but the Eagles front four got pressure on Zimmerman, causing him to rush his throw. He threw the ball right to Hart who returned the ball 85 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0.
     The third red zone when Platte County had the ball at the Grain Valley 18 and on fourth-and-4 the Eagles defense forced a low throw by Zimmerman, which resulted in an incomplete pass and a turnover on downs.
     Grain Valley led 21-14 at halftime as Platte County scored on a 60-yard pass from Zimmerman to senior Wide receiver Brennan Rich and a 7-yard run from senior running back Nate Walls.
     Those would be the only two scores the Pirates had. Grain Valley put up the only points of the second half when senior place kicker Austin Schmitt broke his own school record by making a 48-yard field goal, the longest in school history.
     “We played well in all three phases of the game,” Allie said. “We outplayed them.”