Post by MizzouTiger on Dec 1, 2007 17:14:07 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/696/story/375868.html
Belton loses to Waynesville in state title game
By BOB LUDER
The Kansas City Star
ST. LOUIS | For nearly 3½ quarters, the Belton defense did a great job of containing Waynesville and its high-powered running back, L.J. Fort.
And when quarterback Zach Rasmussen finally scored on a 1-yard plunge late in the third quarter, it appeared the Pirates were poised to complete a sweep by Kansas City-area teams at the 2007 Show-Me Bowl.
Too bad a game is a full four quarters. Belton couldn’t quite close the deal. A 27-yard run by Fort set up Waynesville’s first touchdown, a Pirates fumble on the ensuing kickoff set up a Fort 31-yard touchdown run, and the Tigers finished off a 17-7 victory in the Missouri Class 5 state championship game Saturday night at the Edward Jones Dome.
Belton, which won seven straight games to get to the state final, finished 9-4.
“From what I’ve heard, this was the most competitive game of the weekend,” said Belton coach Jeff Gourley. “It didn’t come out the way we wanted it to. We fully expected to win. We knew we had a chance. But coach (Rick) Vernon did a great job, and Waynesville did a great job.”
To Gourley’s consternation, the Pirates appeared to come out nervous in the first half. They generated little offense and turned the ball over twice.
“I didn’t feel like we played well at all first half,” Gourley said. “We were back on our heels. It was our first time to state.
“But, you know, you could say it was us. Or, maybe more credit has to go to Waynesville.”
A Belton mistake on its first offensive series led to the only points of the first half. On the Pirates’ third play from scrimmage, Casey Lewis fumbled, and Waynesville’s Miakel Williams recovered at the Belton 39.
The Belton defense kept Waynesville out of the end zone, but the Tigers scored on a 25-yard field goal by Aaron Cruz.
The Pirates came up short again on their second series when Gourley elected to go for it on fourth down and 4 from the Waynesville 43. Rasmussen was stuffed after gaining 2yards, and the Tigers regained possession in good field position. Waynesville again marched into field-goal range, but this time, Cruz was wide left on a 40-yard field-goal attempt.
With all the trouble the Pirates had, they were down just 3-0 at halftime.
They came out in the third quarter and put together their best drive of the game, a 16-play, 69-yard grinder that took up more than 6 minutes. When Rasmussen scored and Brad Gourley added the extra point, Belton led for the first time with only 15 minutes left.
Problem is, that’s when Waynesville was at its best. Fort, who rushed for 1,948 yards coming into the Show-Me Bowl, ran for 112 of his game-high 204 yards in the fourth quarter alone.
“You could feel them getting winded,” Fort said. “They were getting tired, and our line just started opening holes. I just ran through them.”
In the end, it was simply too much for the Pirates’ defense to overcome. And afterward, it was difficult for the players to remain composed.
“We took a lot of trust in each other, had a lot of heart,” Rasmussen said. “We were truly brothers. We always played hard. We started out 2-3. Nothing came easy for us.”
At that point, Rasmussen choked up and put his head down. Nothing more needed to be said.
Belton loses to Waynesville in state title game
By BOB LUDER
The Kansas City Star
ST. LOUIS | For nearly 3½ quarters, the Belton defense did a great job of containing Waynesville and its high-powered running back, L.J. Fort.
And when quarterback Zach Rasmussen finally scored on a 1-yard plunge late in the third quarter, it appeared the Pirates were poised to complete a sweep by Kansas City-area teams at the 2007 Show-Me Bowl.
Too bad a game is a full four quarters. Belton couldn’t quite close the deal. A 27-yard run by Fort set up Waynesville’s first touchdown, a Pirates fumble on the ensuing kickoff set up a Fort 31-yard touchdown run, and the Tigers finished off a 17-7 victory in the Missouri Class 5 state championship game Saturday night at the Edward Jones Dome.
Belton, which won seven straight games to get to the state final, finished 9-4.
“From what I’ve heard, this was the most competitive game of the weekend,” said Belton coach Jeff Gourley. “It didn’t come out the way we wanted it to. We fully expected to win. We knew we had a chance. But coach (Rick) Vernon did a great job, and Waynesville did a great job.”
To Gourley’s consternation, the Pirates appeared to come out nervous in the first half. They generated little offense and turned the ball over twice.
“I didn’t feel like we played well at all first half,” Gourley said. “We were back on our heels. It was our first time to state.
“But, you know, you could say it was us. Or, maybe more credit has to go to Waynesville.”
A Belton mistake on its first offensive series led to the only points of the first half. On the Pirates’ third play from scrimmage, Casey Lewis fumbled, and Waynesville’s Miakel Williams recovered at the Belton 39.
The Belton defense kept Waynesville out of the end zone, but the Tigers scored on a 25-yard field goal by Aaron Cruz.
The Pirates came up short again on their second series when Gourley elected to go for it on fourth down and 4 from the Waynesville 43. Rasmussen was stuffed after gaining 2yards, and the Tigers regained possession in good field position. Waynesville again marched into field-goal range, but this time, Cruz was wide left on a 40-yard field-goal attempt.
With all the trouble the Pirates had, they were down just 3-0 at halftime.
They came out in the third quarter and put together their best drive of the game, a 16-play, 69-yard grinder that took up more than 6 minutes. When Rasmussen scored and Brad Gourley added the extra point, Belton led for the first time with only 15 minutes left.
Problem is, that’s when Waynesville was at its best. Fort, who rushed for 1,948 yards coming into the Show-Me Bowl, ran for 112 of his game-high 204 yards in the fourth quarter alone.
“You could feel them getting winded,” Fort said. “They were getting tired, and our line just started opening holes. I just ran through them.”
In the end, it was simply too much for the Pirates’ defense to overcome. And afterward, it was difficult for the players to remain composed.
“We took a lot of trust in each other, had a lot of heart,” Rasmussen said. “We were truly brothers. We always played hard. We started out 2-3. Nothing came easy for us.”
At that point, Rasmussen choked up and put his head down. Nothing more needed to be said.