While many students are just rolling out of bed to get ready for school, Grain Valley High School’s Girls Swim and Dive team were hard at work at 6:00am on December 3rd, practicing for their first swim meet in St. Joseph on December 4th.
     Head Coach Kara Liddle is excited to start the season and is pleased with how the team looks going into their second season.                 
     “We have a lot of returners, a couple of freshman, and a couple of new sophomores out as well,” Liddle said.
There are seventeen swimmers and six divers out for this year’s team.
     “We have a really good group of girls. They’re just really awesome people. You get this many girls together and you can worry about drama. But, there’s none of that,” Liddle said.
     The closing of the Blue Springs YMCA has not impacted the team and their ability to practice.  “Blue Springs has been really supportive in honoring our current contract, and for the foreseeable future until we have our own pool,” Liddle said.
     After a successful inaugural season, the team is even more prepared to face opponents this season.
     “We’re starting ahead of the game compared to where we were last year. Last year, 80% of our team was brand new to the sport of swimming and diving, whereas this year, most of our team is returning.  I’m excited to see where we start. I think this season’s going to be really good,” Liddle said.
     Sophomore Diver Hayden Meyer is returning after a successful first year on the team. Meyer placed 5th at State last year.
     “My goal is to make it back to state again this year. Learning new dives is always a goal, and I also have the goal of placing higher at State than I did last year,” Meyer said.
     Meyer was new to the sport last year, which makes her State visit even more impressive.
     “I did gymnastics for 10 years before this, and had about 9 months of previous diving experience before  my freshman year, “ Meyer said.
     The challenge of early practices aren't’ an issue for Meyer. She emphasizes the mental toughness it takes to dive as the biggest challenge she faces.
     “Having to get over smacking really hard on the water and having to go again is probably the hardest part. It’s hard to tell yourself you can do it again. Once you know how to get off the board, you can really do any dive as long as you are mentally prepared to do so,” Meyer said.
     Senior swimmer Rachel Turpin is also coming back after a visit to State and has her eyes on a return trip.
     “My biggest challenge is trying to keep all my motivation for my last season. My goal is to return to State this year,” Turpin said.
     Turpin plans to head to Metropolitan Community College after graduation and then transfer to a four-year school.
     Turpin competes in the 200 IM, 100 Fly, and 400 Free Relay in St. Joseph on December 5th.
     As Turpin heads into her final year of swimming, she encourages younger students to enter the sport.
     “Swimming is not like any other sport. If you’re looking to try something new, you’ll never experience anything like swimming. And, we have a really good environment on the team,” Turpin said.
 

​     The Kansas City Royals recently chose not to tender Major League contracts to pitcher Jesse Hahn, infielders Cheslor Cuthbert, Humberto Arteaga, and Erick Mejia. This leaves the club’s 40-man roster at 36. It is not uncommon for Major League clubs to reduce their rosters at this point in the offseason in preparation for opening spots meant for additions that may occur through trade, free agent signing, or Rule 5 Draft selections.
     The Non-Tender candidates for the Royals are not surprising.  However, they are of note as two of the players were developed within the organization and the other two were acquired via trade.
     Cuthbert was signed by the Royals as an international free agent from Nicaragua in 2009 for a $1.35 million signing bonus. The lifetime .250 major league hitter has struggled to stay healthy in recent years since debuting with the team in July of 2015. The club had high hopes for Cuthbert based on his swing, positive attitude, and athleticism.
     Arteaga also signed as an international free agent from Venezuela with the Royals in 2010. The utility player has been impressive with his glove and defensive acumen during his rise through the Royals minor league system. It’s likely the club did not view him as a piece of the puzzle moving forward due to his .197 batting average during the 2019 season.
     Hahn was acquired along with pitcher Heath Fillmyer from the Athletics in January of 2018 for Royals infielder Brandon Moss and pitcher Ryan Buchter. Hahn was once a promising prospect prior to experiencing UCL discomfort in his elbow with the Royals in the spring of 2018. The right handed starter battled back to appear in six games for the Royals down the stretch in 2019 showing good velocity on his fastball.
     Mejia was part of the three team trade in January of 2018 that sent Royals pitchers Joakim Soria to the White Sox and Scott Alexander to the Dodgers. Mejia was valued for his switch hitting ability and defensive versatility in being able to play both second base and the outfield. The Royals apparently did not think enough of his bat and his .227 major league average during the 2019 season to keep him onboard.
     The Royals no doubt will turn their sights to filling out at least part of the four openings on their 40-man roster with Rule 5 Draft selections that will occur on December 12th. Team General Manager Dayton Moore has gone on record with saying he’s enamored by the affordability of cheap pitching talent that can be had during the Rule 5 process.
     Royals starting pitcher Brad Keller would be the most recent example of success had by the team with a Rule 5 selection. The 6-foot-5, 230 pound right hander was originally selected by the Cincinnati Reds in December of 2017 as a Rule 5 selection out of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization prior to being traded to the Royals for cash considerations.
     Keller produced some eye popping stats as a 24 year old during his second year as a starter for the Royals. The team ace would start 28 games across 165 innings before being shut down late in the season for precautionary measures as to not risk too much wear and tear on his arm. Keller would go on to strike out a respectable 122 batters with a 4.19 earned run average during the 2019 season.
     Not too shabby for someone who was pitching in Double A minor league baseball during the 2017 campaign. Keller highlights the low risk, high reward scenario of the Rule 5 Draft process.
     According to Major League Baseball policy, any club with a spot on their 40 man roster is eligible to make a selection. Teams pick in reverse order of their record. Furthermore, baseball players on a team’s 40-man major league roster are protected from the Rule 5 Draft. To be eligible for selection, a player must either have spent four seasons in professional baseball after signing at 19 or older or spent five seasons in pro ball after signing at 18 or younger.
     A team that makes a selection pays a player’s previous team $100,000 and places the player on its 40-man roster. They must then keep the player on their 25-man roster or disabled list for the whole season. If the acquiring team removes the player from the big league roster, it must offer the player back to the former team for $50,000.
     The afore mentioned value that can be had in the Rule 5 Draft is apparent with the recent free agent signing of relief pitcher Jake Diekman. The southpaw reliever who will turn 33 next month just signed a two-year contract with the A’s good for $7.5 million guaranteed. He spent most of 2019 season with the Kansas City Royals before being traded to the A’s for two minor leaguers.
     Any big league team that could select a player in the Rule 5 Draft that might be able to fill the role of a player like Diekman walk away winners. Both financially and with a young player under team control for the foreseeable future.
     The following are three Rule 5 Draftees that the Royals could either select or trade for with another team. It’s not surprising that all three players are pitchers as the Royals need rotation depth and good young arms in their bullpen, which was one of the worst in Major League Baseball last season. The player notes were compiled from Major League Baseball’s Prospect Pipeline and Scouting Tools.
     Eduard Bazardo, RHP- Boston Red Sox
     Bazardo has been transitioned to a pure reliever at this point in his young career. His mid-90’s fastball and strong curveball are both becoming plus pitches for the young right hander. They were good enough to earn him a 2.78 ERA and 9.7 K/9 (strikeouts per nine innings) this past season in Double-A.
     Thomas Burrows, LHP- Atlanta Braves
     Burrows is not an untypical minor league success story as a pitcher. He’s struggled with his command while missing bats (11.6 K/9 to go with 4.0 BB/9). The 6-Foot-1, 205 pound southpaw has something else going for him. He’s given left-handed hitters fits so far in his professional career. He’s a potential left handed specialist for someone’s bullpen.
     Sterling Sharp, RHP- Washington Nationals
     Sharp has been touted the best athlete in Washington’s minor league system. He made nine starts in Double-A ball last season prior to continuing to pitch in the Arizona Fall League. Sharp’s appeal to teams is his ability to get outs and strikeouts while easily repeating his delivery. He has the strong potential to provide flexibility as a starting pitcher or bullpen depth.
 

​     The Grain Valley Eagles Football team could not maintain the early momentum they seized against the Platte County Pirates in the Class 4 State Quarterfinal Playoff game on Friday, November 22nd. The Eagles would force the Pirates to punt after a three and out on their first possession prior to Junior Quarterback Parker Bosserman’s 29 yard touchdown run on a quarterback mesh read with 3:40 left in the first quarter.
     The 7-0 lead would be the last for the Eagles despite a valiant effort through all four quarters. Platte County would go on to win the contest by a score of 38-21 in advancing to the semi final round of the playoffs.
     Eagles Head Football Coach David Allie was proud of his team as he reflected on their efforts against the Pirates and throughout the season.
     “We started like gangbusters tonight. A couple of plays here and there after that including a turnover that wasn’t good, along with some three and outs offensively and we gave up the score right before half. That’s not what we wanted,” Allie said.
     “It was a great season for these guys. The legacy that this group of seniors will leave as far as work ethic and winning the day with their efforts and where that got us is special. There are no words that I can say now to make anyone feel better in this moment. We will look back and say this was a pretty good year.”
     Key offensive contributors for the Eagles in the game included Senior Running Back Jamore Goulden, Sophomore Wide Receiver Logan Pratt, and Senior Running Back Seth Dankenbring.
     Goulden would produce 64 hard fought yards between the tackles on 15 carries. Pratt would haul in three passes good for 43 yards and a touchdown. Dankenbring would end his career with a flurry on offense that yielded 51 yards on seven carries, including a 23 yard touchdown run off an option pitch from Bosserman with :23 seconds left in the third quarter.
     Dankenbring worked hard to hold back the emotion in conveying his thoughts on the game. The Eagles vocal leader expressed thanks to his teammates and coaches.
     “We pounded read option tonight pretty good. It was successful for us three or four times. Bosserman fought to the edge against their defensive end on my touchdown and made a great pitch that allowed me to score. Gavin (Oyler) had a terrific block on the edge that allowed me to walk in untouched,” Dankenbring said.
     “We’ve been playing football now for six months and I couldn’t be happier with the guys. I love all of them. We’re a family, and I’m going to miss this. I’ve grown bonds with these coaches since I was a freshman. I’m close with all of them. I mean they are my best friends and have taught me all I know about football. They are great leaders and people.”
     The Eagles defense worked hard to hold down an explosive Pirates offense. Grain Valley was able to force three punts that all occurred after three and out stands. However, Junior Quarterback Christopher Ruhnke and Junior Wide Receiver Colby Rollins proved to be a strong tandem.
     The duo would combine for three touchdowns through the air. The Pirates would utilize four and five wide receiver sets to get Rollins isolated in coverage on successful post and vertical patterns. Ruhnke’s display of uncanny touch permitted the Pirates to take advantage of small windows in coverage.
     Among the Eagles looking forward to next season is Junior Quarterback Cole Keller. Grain Valley’s signal caller has been active on the sidelines interacting with his teammates and coaches since his injury.
     “Eagles football has produced a lot of good relationships for me. The bonds you make in the grind of this game with only 10 games guaranteed is special,” Keller said.
     “This coaching staff is always pushing us. They’ve taught me about being coachable. I’m understanding how to apply that in life in that if you make a mistake, you learn from it and don’t do that again. Accepting criticism from wise people and applying it makes you better.”
     The Eagles finish with a 9-4 record on the season. Grain Valley produced 336 points on offense while only giving up 211. Furthermore, post season honors are rolling in for the Eagles with Suburban Blue All-Conference Football selections.
     First Team Honorees include Linebacker Seth Dankenbring, Defensive Back Willie Lanear, Wide Receiver Gavin Oyler, Offensive Lineman Jack Bailey, and Defensive Lineman Donovan McBride.
     Second Team Honorees include Offensive Lineman Landen Hinton, Defensive Lineman Steele Blackmon, Wide Receiver Parker Bosserman, and Running Back Jamore Goulden.
 
 

     A ricochet of the soccer ball off the goal post across the net to the waiting foot of a Platte County Pirate player was the only shot on goal that Senior Bryant Madden couldn't stop. The Eagles goalkeeper would defend 16 shots on goal in route to a 1-Nil loss to the Platte County Pirates on Saturday, November 16th in state playoff action.
     The winning goal came with just 22 seconds left in overtime. It marked the third time this season the Eagles had played the Pirates tough, losing to them by only one goal each time.
     Madden tried to put the game and his season in perspective.
     "Eagles soccer has meant everything to me. All four years growing up playing with these boys has been special. I view these guys like my brothers," Madden said.
     "I did what I could today to help out my team by defending our goal. We put forth a great team effort and came up just short."
     The Pirates were the dominant team in getting their feet and bodies on second chance soccer balls as well as getting turned on the ball towards the Eagles’ net. That momentum would abruptly stop and shift tides to the Eagles in the second half. Their hustle would allow them to be the foremost team coming up with second chance balls and getting the ball turned towards the Pirate net.
     Grain Valley would reduce the shots on goal advantage to 14-21 in favor of the Pirates by the end of the game (the tally was 6-12 at halftime). A big reason for improvement in the advancement of the Eagles offense was due to Senior Defenseman Nate Booker.
     Booker was dominant in getting in front of Pirate offensive surges and securing any ball that entered the Eagles defensive zone. Furthermore, Booker was continuously the first off the ground and to the soccer ball with his head on 50/50 chances.
     Different Pirate players would try, but come up empty with same results that ventured into Booker's area. This eventually wore down the Pirates offense in the second half.
     Booker was composed and grateful in his post game comments.
     "Intensity. We knew we were going to be the underdogs out here today. I gave it my all. Especially, on the 50/50 balls as they provide momentum swings for your team when they get possessed. That's what it's all about in a quarterfinal game," Booker said.
     "This program is all about character. I've seen Freshmen through Seniors grow up both on the field and off the field. Eagles Soccer is a great community and I'm proud to be a part of that."
      Head Soccer Coach Tyler Nichol was proud of his team's effort and how far they've come over the last 12 months.
     "We tried to keep their number 2 (Chase Peterson) in front of us and not allow him behind us. A lot of their shots came from distance. They were the most dangerous on set plays from throw-ins and corner kicks. Nate (Booker) was an animal today playing possessed.”
     “He's so athletic at going up and getting his head or chest on contested balls. He grinds things out. We moved him from forward to defender around the Blue Springs game and it paid big dividends for us," Nichol said.
     "Also, that was one of the best games Bryant (Madden) has ever played. He never played goalkeeper until last year, and yet he's been a natural. I don't know how he saw some of the balls he tipped or got his hands on today.”
     “I don't know if I have the words to characterize our senior class. You're looking at a team that was under .500 last season. The reason why we only lost to three teams (Platte County, Smithville, and Blue Valley West) this year is all because of the senior class."
 

     Then there were eight. The Eagles advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 4 Missouri football playoffs with their win over the visiting Harrisonville Wildcats on Friday, November 15th by a score of 32-21. The execution put forth by Grain Valley in all three aspects (offense, defense, and special teams) of the game allowed for them to be dominant in their victory over a rival.
     Head Football Coach David Allie soaked in the moment as he described why November football is so special.
     "We thought we would be pretty good up front defensively, and we needed to be. Their kid coming in had 2,000 yards as a running back. Harrisonville only got outside of us a couple of times as we limited the interior running lanes.”
     “Their offensive line plays with short splits in between gaps which makes it football in a phone booth, and we shut that down. Hats off to Coach Carpino and our staff for the excellent work they put in," Allie said.
     "November football means everything and is magnified in the playoffs. We are one of the last eight teams in the state for our class and right now it's anyone's ball game. Platte County is our next opponent and we will be traveling to their place. We have to come out and turn what we do in practice to fruition on the field. This is a grind. These kids from day one, I have said are very coachable, and we will enjoy the ride along the way."
     Proper execution of the game plan and football fundamentals first reared its head with the black shirt defense under the direction of Coach Carpino. Harrisonville's fullback on offense would lead to where the football was going on the ground. The Eagles consistently swarmed to football with multiple tacklers securing the stop.
     Harrisonville struggled with the snap from center offensively. One from under center was fumbled as were two shotgun snaps over the head of Junior Quarterback River Riley, the second of which was recovered by the Eagles with 32 seconds left in the first half on the Harrisonville 45 yard line.
     The Eagles capitalized on the  error in fundamentals on a cold night as they drove the ball inside the Wildcats’ 10 yard line with 4 seconds left. Grain Valley set up for a field goal attempt that led to a botched snap and a positive reaction by Senior Holder Gavin Oyler, who did not panic.
     Oyler secured the ball off the ground and drifted left as he rolled away from the placement and pressure. He eventually turned his shoulders and squared himself to the right, initiating a perfectly lofted football into the waiting arms of Junior Riley Brown in the end zone.
     The Eagles would go ahead 14-7 heading into halftime. Oyler gave credit to his coaches and the team's practice routine for knowing how to respond in that situation.
     "To be honest with you, at this point in the season it's all reaction. We practice that every day. We are presented with a lot situations so we know how to react without thinking," Oyler said.
     "I love to take on any challenge that helps our team. Competing with this group is special."
     Sophomore Wide Receiver Logan Pratt also executed well on special teams. Harrisonville angled kickoffs repeatedly towards the Eagles sideline trying to limit gaps in coverage lanes.
     Pratt was up for the challenge and broke for several big returns against Wildcat defenders baring down on him at awkward angles. A prime example of this would be Pratt's kickoff return with 3:39 left in the first quarter that provided the Eagles great field position on the Harrisonville 48 yard line.
     Pratt would also contribute six catches at wide receiver, good for 63 yards. The sophomore is starting to play past his years in Allie's offense and has become a reliable set of hands down the stretch.
     The last noteworthy feat of execution continues to be the play of Junior Quarterback Parker Bosserman. The junior signal caller, filling in for injured starting quarterback Cole Keller, went 16 for 26 through the air for 173 yards and two touchdowns to go along with two interceptions.
     Allie adjusted his play calling the second half with rollout passes to better suit the strengths of the 5' 10" Bosserman. The dividends paid off big, with the Eagles able to successfully move the football with chunks of yardage.
     "Being a short guy like me, you got to get somewhere that you can see to deliver the football. The offensive line and our running backs did a great job providing protection as we moved the pocket. I just read things up and delivered the ball to the open receiver," Bosserman said.
     "This is the first time I have ever played this late into a season. I sat my freshman year when we lost this game. We will have the fire needed against Platte County when we face them having lost to them earlier in the season. Our determination will center around the 4th quarter, having lost the game late to them last time."
     Bosserman's biggest pass of the game came with 5:43 left in the fourth quarter. Bosserman rolled left to the trips side of the formation. Upon breaking contain, he stopped and threw right back across the field to Tight End Hunter Newsom. The junior looked the football into his hands after baiting Wildcat defenders perfectly as he delayed the deployment of his route into the flat.
     Newsome chose to run over the Harrisonville safety at the goal line instead of going around him as his 10 yard touchdown reception put the Eagles up 29-15 late in the fourth quarter.
     Motivation should not be a factor for the Eagles leading up to the game against their Suburban Conference foe, as they travel north to face Platte County, who they lost to by one point in a week four matchup.
 

     The Grain Valley Eagles 36-7 win against the visiting Grandview Bulldogs on Friday, November 8th was significant in many regards. It was third time out of four matchups over the last two years that the Eagles Football team was victorious against their Suburban Conference Blue Division opponent. Accumulating wins against an adversary that knows you that well is no easy task.
     Grandview touted significant size and speed that the Eagles had to contend with and overcome. Grain Valley’s black shirt defense was up to the task. They kicked down the door and gnawed off the hinges for good measure with their efforts.
     The Eagles defense under the direction of Coordinator Pete Carpino only allowed one score and provided Grain Valley’s offense with five additional possessions. Senior Defensive Back William Lanear and Junior Linebacker Hunter Newsom each intercepted passes returned for big gains. Senior Defensive Back Triston Hartwig and a flock of Eagles Defensive Lineman each recovered a fumble. Finally, was Newsom and the entire right side of the Eagles defense that collapsed Grandview’s offense at their own one-yard line for a safety at the 11:55 mark of the second quarter.
     Other defensive standouts included Junior Defensive Lineman Donovan McBride and Senior Linebacker Seth Dankenbring. McBride sacked Grandview Senior Quarterback Dae’Mond Turner at the 6:57 mark of the third quarter that assured a Bulldog punt on fourth down.
     Dankenbring was relentless by the scheme of Carpino’s defense in not allowing Turner to have free reign when rolling outside the pocket. Dankenbring would vacate his drop-in coverage in the middle of the Eagles defense and attack downhill at 45 degree angle. His pursuit narrowed the window for the quarterback to throw with the sideline acting a restrictive boundary as Dankenbring closed in.
     The Eagles special teams’ units were also considerable in the blowout win. Head Football Coach David Allie and his staff decided to roll the dice with an onside kick that was successfully recovered by Senior Gavin Oyler at the 11:31 mark of the second quarter. Oyler secured the football while sliding in front of the Grandview would be receiver. That was not Oyler’s only important contribution as he provided airtight coverage at safety filling in for the injured Cavon Brooks.
    The second special teams’ turnover recovery by Grain Valley and the seventh of the game overall pilfered by the Eagles would come at the 5:59 mark of the third quarter as the Bulldog kickoff return squad coughed up the football on their own 30-yard line.
     Allie could not hide his smile when discussing his team’s win.
     “Looking back to our week two win against them (Grandview), it was a 6-3 narrow win for us. They had a different quarterback in this matchup, which was scary because he’s elusive in that he can both run and throw. We had to stop the run first and had that schemed well with Coach Carpino. The secondary also stepped up big in covering the athletes they have,” Allie said.
     “Parker (Bosserman) was also cool as a cucumber tonight filling in for Cole (Keller). They were foaming at the mouth over there during warmups which didn’t bother us because we know who he (Bosserman) is as an athlete and competitor. Bosserman managed the game nicely in delivering the football well against their man coverage.”
     Bosserman would gain 45 yards on the ground and score two rushing touchdowns. The Eagles signal caller’s first scamper to pay dirt would come on a shotgun mesh read in which Grandview’s defensive end crashed down the line of scrimmage leaving Bosserman open to accelerate down the Grain Valley sideline. Furthermore, Bosserman would also score on a 15-yard quarterback sweep with 9:09 left in the third quarter. The Eagles would go up 23-7 and not look back.
     Bosserman would also go 4 for 10 through the air for 115 yards and 2 touchdown passes. The 40 percent completion rate is somewhat deceiving as two sure completions were dropped on play action pop passes prior to Newsom hauling in the third one for a 16-yard touchdown reception in the first half.
     Newsom’s grab and Allie’s insistence as a play caller were meaningful in loosening up Grandview’s run defense. The play action pop pass is designed to have a running back or slot receiver sprint to an area one yard past the inside linebacker’s pre-snap depth. This area on the field was wide open as Grandview’s linebackers were determined to fill downhill in trying to stop Grain Valley from running between the tackles.
     Bosserman would also hit Sophomore Wide Receiver Logan Pratt for a 45-yard touchdown pass on a fade route with 6:03 left in the third quarter. The pass came on an influential 3rd and 8 for the Eagles and helped them start to put the game away.
     A team first approach was taken by Bosserman with his post-game comments after his first varsity win as a quarterback.
     “I feel like with the design of our offense, it allows anyone to be successful and that happened to be me tonight. We didn’t stop pounding them with the run which set things up for us. The play action pass would be part of that equation,” Bosserman said.
     “It seems like next week we will be playing Harrisonville at home. Tough history with that team. We will be up for that battle.”
      The last significant impact of Grain Valley’s win is that they will host the Class 4 District 7 Football Championship Game on Friday, November 15th at 7:00 within the confines of Moody Murray Stadium. Grain Valley and Harrisonville have a past of playing physical games as both teams were apart of the Missouri River Valley Conference prior to the Eagles joining the Suburban Conference last year. Pride, bragging rights, and advancing in the State Playoffs will be on the line.
 

​     Three GVHS Cross Country team members qualified for state competition following the Sectional Championships held November 2nd at Liberty North High School. Ella Casey, Royce Fisher, and Valerie Holcomb will represent Grain Valley at the state competition Saturday, November 9th.       
     “As a coaching staff, we have been very pleased with the progression we’ve made as a team this season. Our kids have all responded very well to the training and, more importantly, have worked together with a team approach that has fostered some success. We are very excited for our state qualifiers and look forward to seeing them compete at the State Championships,” Head Coach Nick Small said.
 

​     Big plays from individual performances allowed for the Grain Valley Eagles Boys Soccer team to shut out the Raytown South Cardinals during their district semifinal playoff game on Monday, November 4th. A stubborn defense led by Junior Defender Nathan Manning and Senior Goalie Bryant Madden combined for the shutout 3-Nil by Grain Valley over their opponent.
     Offensive scoring for the Eagles came off the foot of Senior Midfielder Jack Knust. His hat trick of three goals would be all the scoring his team would need to advance to the district final against the Kansas City East High School Bears.
     The Eagles offense maintained their shots on goal advantage ten to nine for the game. Grain Valley was able to get or retain control of the soccer ball at midfield throughout much of the game.
     This permitted them to use their speed to pass or dribble the ball with an offensive surge that left Raytown South without an answer. Grain Valley’s ability to stay on sides along with getting off a shot on goal prior to entering the Cardinal’s goalie box paid dividends.
     Knust’s first goal came with 7:03 left in the first half. Knust would follow that up with a scoring strike with 30:09 left in the second half, prior to completing his scoring on a penalty kick with 4:38 left in the game.
     “My teammates set me up tonight at the right time. I was fortunate enough to finish on those occasions and contribute to our win,” Knust said.
     “On the penalty shot, I wanted to see how he (the goalie) would approach me. He was late to step and close out the distance between us and I was able to angle the ball to the right for the goal.”
     Grain Valley’s defense was likewise just as ungenerous. Manning used his height and timing successfully to make a tackle save for his team in the goalie’s box with 21:01 left in the second half. Preventing the goal changed the body language of Raytown South and detoured the momentum they were trying to build.
     “I knew they would be playing through number ten (Forward Riley Mickelson) a lot. I saw him running down the sideline. I understood they would try to slot one into the middle. I had to get in between the ball and the shooter,” Manning said.
     “Our coaches have been preaching all season to be proactive and not reactive. So, I found myself in the right place at the right time and made the save.”
     Madden would contribute to the shutout as well with five saves. Two of which included excellent individual effort. Madden timed the lean of his jump perfectly to make a fingertip save at the top of the crossbar during the first half.
     Furthermore, the Eagles goalie would dive forward on a scoop save with 12:34 left in the second half. Madden’s approach and grip under the ball would prevent a ricochet as the Cardinals offense closed in.
     “I had to get my body in front of the ball on the save in the second half because I knew they would be looking for the rebound. They had two of their most dangerous players close to the goal and I couldn’t afford them a second chance,” Madden said.
     “The shot in the first half I was ready for since we have been rehearsing free kicks a lot in practice. Reading the ball off the kick allowed me to get up at the right time and prevent a goal in helping my team.”
     Eagles Head Soccer Coach Tyler Nichol was delighted with his team’s performance.
     “Between Jack (Knust) as our center attacking mid and our two forwards, they all have significant sudden speed. That benefited us tonight in our scoring. Especially, Jack with his low center of gravity and how he uses it to his advantage. Bryant (Madden) also came up big time. We’ve told him late in the year that he was going to have to come up with some big time saves that would make a difference in the game that we wouldn’t expect from him. He delivered on that tonight,” Nichol said.
     “Manning’s kick save was a high IQ play. You realize that the guys beat to the end line and your goalkeeper is pulled out of the goal, you got to get in between your man and the goal and prevent them from scoring.”  
 

     Big plays from individual performances allowed for the Grain Valley Eagles Boys Soccer team to shut out the Raytown South Cardinals during their district semifinal playoff game on Monday, November 4th. A stubborn defense led by Junior Defender Nathan Manning and Senior Goalie Bryant Madden combined for the shutout 3-Nil by Grain Valley over their opponent.
     Offensive scoring for the Eagles came off the foot of Senior Midfielder Jack Knust. His hat trick of three goals would be all the scoring his team would need to advance to the district final against the Kansas City East High School Bears.
     The Eagles offense maintained their shots on goal advantage ten to nine for the game. Grain Valley was able to get or retain control of the soccer ball at midfield throughout much of the game.
     This permitted them to use their speed to pass or dribble the ball with an offensive surge that left Raytown South without an answer. Grain Valley’s ability to stay on sides along with getting off a shot on goal prior to entering the Cardinal’s goalie box paid dividends.
     Knust’s first goal came with 7:03 left in the first half. Knust would follow that up with a scoring strike with 30:09 left in the second half, prior to completing his scoring on a penalty kick with 4:38 left in the game.
     “My teammates set me up tonight at the right time. I was fortunate enough to finish on those occasions and contribute to our win,” Knust said.
     “On the penalty shot, I wanted to see how he (the goalie) would approach me. He was late to step and close out the distance between us and I was able to angle the ball to the right for the goal.”
     Grain Valley’s defense was likewise just as ungenerous. Manning used his height and timing successfully to make a tackle save for his team in the goalie’s box with 21:01 left in the second half. Preventing the goal changed the body language of Raytown South and detoured the momentum they were trying to build.
     “I knew they would be playing through number ten (Forward Riley Mickelson) a lot. I saw him running down the sideline. I understood they would try to slot one into the middle. I had to get in between the ball and the shooter,” Manning said.
     “Our coaches have been preaching all season to be proactive and not reactive. So, I found myself in the right place at the right time and made the save.”
     Madden would contribute to the shutout as well with five saves. Two of which included excellent individual effort. Madden timed the lean of his jump perfectly to make a fingertip save at the top of the crossbar during the first half.
     Furthermore, the Eagles goalie would dive forward on a scoop save with 12:34 left in the second half. Madden’s approach and grip under the ball would prevent a ricochet as the Cardinals offense closed in.
     “I had to get my body in front of the ball on the save in the second half because I knew they would be looking for the rebound. They had two of their most dangerous players close to the goal and I couldn’t afford them a second chance,” Madden said.
     “The shot in the first half I was ready for since we have been rehearsing free kicks a lot in practice. Reading the ball off the kick allowed me to get up at the right time and prevent a goal in helping my team.”
     Eagles Head Soccer Coach Tyler Nichol was delighted with his team’s performance.
     “Between Jack (Knust) as our center attacking mid and our two forwards, they all have significant sudden speed. That benefited us tonight in our scoring. Especially, Jack with his low center of gravity and how he uses it to his advantage. Bryant (Madden) also came up big time. We’ve told him late in the year that he was going to have to come up with some big time saves that would make a difference in the game that we wouldn’t expect from him. He delivered on that tonight,” Nichol said.
     “Manning’s kick save was a high IQ play. You realize that the guys beat to the end line and your goalkeeper is pulled out of the goal, you got to get in between your man and the goal and prevent them from scoring.”  
 

     The Grain Valley Eagles Football team improved to a 7-3 record with a 46-12 victory over the visiting Raytown South Cardinals on Friday, November 1st. It was the second week in a row that the two teams had faced off against one another. Each side knew what the other was going to do and had to find a way to stop their opponent.
     The Eagles were the first to find themselves on the scoreboard after a successful three and out stand by the defense and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown at the 10:55 mark of the first quarter.
     Senior Defensive Back William Lanear eluded Cardinal blockers in his path to perfectly time getting his hands on the football off the punter’s foot. Lanear was also able to corral the football successfully on his way to the end zone.
     Senior Kicker Jack Knust connected on the subsequent extra point try, and the Eagles never looked back as they took an early 7-0 lead.
     Grain Valley’s defense continued to set a physical tone in the first half only allowing one Raytown South touchdown. Both Senior Linebacker Tanner Bailon and Junior Defensive Back Brayden Terry contributed tackles for loss in the first quarter. The Cardinals punted or turned the football over on five of their six first half possessions.
     Raytown South attempted to get one on one matchups with Senior Wide Receiver Raevon Carter on the backside or single receiver side of trips formation. The Cardinals also tried getting him the football vertically or in the flat along the boundary by flooding levels of the Grain Valley defense.
     Grain Valley’s pass rush and coverage efficiency was able to limit the success of the Cardinals passing game plan. Eagles Head Football Coach David Allie was pleased with the performance of his defense.
     “From the get-go, we set the tone with the blocked punt for the score. That was awesome. The defense did a great job with the exception of one drive. They (the Cardinals) passed a little bit more then their ratio coming into the game of seventy percent pass and thirty percent run,” Allie said.
     “Our guys got some turnovers and pressure on their quarterback. Their team is full of great athletes, including number one (Raevon Carter), who did a great job on the fade as well as their quarterback breaking contain against us on occasion. Overall, our defense did a great job and got off the field a lot tonight.”
     The Eagles’ determination at the line of scrimmage on offense was also special. It was no mystery that Grain Valley was going to attempt to run through B gap from their first offensive possession of the game. The offensive line was up for the task of opening holes for Senior Running Back Jamore Goulden. Down blocking on trap and kick outs on halo running plays allowed for the Eagles to own the line of scrimmage and B gap due to execution.
     Goulden would finish with 130 yards on 12 carries and 3 touchdowns. His contact balance at the linebacker and safety level of the Cardinal defense allowed him to bounce off or run through would be defenders for much of the game.
     “I love my offensive line. They make what we do work. I wanted to run hard in a district game my senior year and remind everyone who I am,” Goulden said.
     Goulden’s enthusiasm for his team’s win was matched by Junior Guard Jack Bailey and Senior Center Coleson Manade.
     “Our performance tonight was about pad level and how we had them schemed. We ran to where they weren’t and got leverage on them with our blocks,” Bailey said.
     Manade added, “We want to thank Coach Mike Tarrants tonight who couldn’t be here. He encourages us daily to assert our will on the opponent, and I feel we did that tonight.”
     The Eagles also had two injury concerns during the game. Junior Quarterback Cole Keller went down on an awkward tackle from behind with 7:40 left in the second quarter. Keller favored his knee and was only able to put limited weight on it as he walked with support of his teammates to the Grain Valley sideline.
     Senior Defensive Back Cavon Brooks was also injured and did not return. Brooks made a leverage tackle of a Cardinals wide receiver on the Eagles sideline in wrestling him to the ground with force. The weight of both players landed awkwardly on Brooks who appeared to have the air knocked out of him.
     Junior Wide Receiver Parker Bosserman spelled Keller in his absence and performed well in leading the Eagles offense on short notice.
     “Parker is a great player. The game was not too big for him tonight. We still have him throw the ball on occasion in practice and he throws the football on a couple of plays in our offense already,” Allie said.
     “Bosserman is Mr. Utility and is cool as a cucumber. He plays offense, defense, and special teams. It would be nice to have our starting quarterback back because of what he means to our offense. However, if worst case scenario happens, we have confidence in Parker, and he came in a tough situation tonight and performed admirably.”
     Grain Valley will next host the Grandview Bulldogs on Friday, November 8th at Moody Murray Stadium in a Class 4 District 7 playoff matchup. The Eagles narrowly defeated Grandview by a score of 6-3 during week two earlier this season.