Eagles defense bends but doesn't break in 14-7 win over Kearney

by Michael Smith

Bend but don’t break.
That seemed to be the motto for the defense for the Grain Valley football team Friday at Kearney.
It appeared it might break late in the fourth quarter when the Eagles had a 14-7 lead. Kearney ahd the ball on its own 9-yard line and after three incomplete passes, it was fourth-and-10. It seemed like Grain Valley was poised to end it there.
However, Kearney quarterback Casey Rooney kept on making big-time throws and got his Bulldogs all the way to the Eagles 11 yard line with a chance to tie it.
That’s when the Eagles needed someone to step up. That someone was junior defensive back Keagan Hart. He intercepted a pass in the middle of the end zone with 1:06 remaining in the game and that play ended up being the difference in a 14-7 non-conference victory.
“I knew I needed to stay with my man, (Grace),” Hart said. “My lineman and linebackers were able to get in the backfield and that helped me get my pick. They made (Rooney) scramble.”
Hart jumped the route when Rooney tried to get the ball to wide receiver Zach Grace, who had eight catches for 11 yards. That was one of three times the Grain Valley defense stopped a Kearney drive when the ball was kept in its own territory.
After the interception, the Eagles offense was able to run the clock down to 9 seconds. After a Kearney punt return that netted 0 yards, they tried a hook and ladder play, but it failed as multiple Grain Valley players leaped up and down and patted each other following the win.
Senior linebacker Gage Forkner credited the success of the defense to the work it puts in after practices. In their three wins, the Eagles (3-2) have held opponents to just 11.3 points per game compared to 30 per game in their two losses.
“We come out every day after practice and we have black shirt runs,” said Grain Valley linebacker Gage Forkner, who had four tackles and one for a loss. “Those help us not break at the end.
“All the defensive players get on the line after practice, and we get extra runs with the whole defense.”
The Grain Valley defense gave up 361 yards to Kearney, with 132 coming on the ground from running back KJ Smith. He scored the first touchdown of the game at the 3:53 mark when he scampered 55-yards for a score after breaking a tackle and making a cut to get around the defense, making it 7-0.
The Eagles (3-2), who were missing their No. 1 wide receiver Logan Pratt because of an ankle contusion, responded on the ensuing drive. They marched 90 yards on a drive that was capped by quarterback Caleb Larson lobbing one up for wide receiver Anthony Greco in the front left corner of the end zone for a 20-yard TD to tie the game at 7-all.
Both teams went into halftime tied before Grain Valley senior defensive back Jordan Jones made the first interception of the day in the third period.
Rooney tried a deep pass along the left sideline early in the third quarter, but defensive back Jordan Jones was able to get under it and get his first interception of the season at the Eagle 13.
“We have been watching film all week on that route,” Jones said of the interception. “I read it perfectly and turned my head and saw the ball come to me and I did my thing.”
Jones has been a lead-by-example type of player for Grain Valley.
“He’s kind of the silent assassin for us,” Allie said. “He’s a kid who played last year and got to start a few games. He came back with some experience. He works hard and doesn’t say much at all. He lets his play do the talking and it talks pretty loudly.”
That interception led to a go-ahead touchdown from Grain Valley senior running back Jaxon Wyatt. His offensive line opened a huge hole up the middle and he had to make just one cut to score from 30 yards out and give his team a 14-7 lead.
“We were able to seal the edge and get outside on runs, which helped us,” Allie said.
Midway through the fourth period, Kearney had the ball at the Eagles 13-yard line on fourth-and-7, but Rooney made a bad read and threw the ball right to linebacker Brody Baker for another pick.
That interception and the two others were made possible because of the pressure Grain Valley’s front seven had on Rooney. Players like defensive linemen Rhylan Alcanter and Jake Allen along with Forker were in the back field frequently.
“Their quarterback was hurried quite a bit,” Allie said. “That affected their passing game. Gage ran downhill and he read the plays well and got tackles for loss.”
Eagles defensive back Gabe Storment led the team with seven tackles and Allen had a team-high tow tackles for loss.
On offense, Larson was 5 of 7 passing for 65 yards and rushed the ball 14 times for 81 yards. DJ Harris also carried the ball 11 times for 77 yards.

From left, senior Gage Forkner, junior Keegan Hart and senior Jordan Jones helped Grain Valley get three takeaways during a 14-7 win Friday at Kearney.
​Photo credit: Michael Smith

Grain Valley junior defensive end Rhylan Alcanter chases after Kearney quarterback Casey Rooney.
Photo credit: Michael Smith

Grain Valley quarterback Caleb Larson escapes the pocket and tries to find an open teammate.
Photo credit: Michael Smith