By NICHOLAS GAINEY
Special to TopSports.news
The Shawnee Heights Thunderbirds dropped their home opener, 42-35, to Basehor-Linwood on Friday night at Wetter Field in a game that included multipe lead changes and high-powered offensive performances for both teams.
The visiting Bobcats wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, with Nate Martin taking the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown.
Shawnee Heights junior quarterback Aiden Scott threw for 244 yards and three TDs in Friday's 42-35 UKC loss to Basehor-Linwood. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
The T-Birds would answer almost as quickly, with junior quarterback Aiden Scott finding classmate Tyren Parker for a 69-yard score on Shawnee Heights’ first play from scrimmage.
A few minutes later, the Bobcats would get a hand on a Thunderbird punt, setting up a short drive that would end with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Carson Dixon to Austin Adair to put the visitors back in front.
Shawnee Heights Sa'javeion Ward celebrates his pick six in Friday's 42-35 UKC loss to Basehor-Linwood. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Shawnee Heights Sa'javeion Ward (2) celebrates his pick six with teammate Tyren Parker (1) in Friday's 42-35 UKC loss to Basehor-Linwood. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
The Bobcat lead would only last about two minutes, when Shawnee Heights’ Sa’javeion Ward intercepted a Dixon screen pass and returned it 16 yards for a score. The defensive touchdown would give the Thunderbirds a 14-13 lead that they would take to the end of the first quarter.
The Bobcats nearly broke the game open in the second quarter, taking a 27-14 lead as Nick Doering found the end zone twice, courtesy of a 3-yard run and a 68-yard reception.
Basehor-Linwood had an opportunity to stretch the lead even further, but Cayden Lindsay snagged a tipped pass to force the second Shawnee Heights takeaway of the night.
Shawnee Heights' AJ Gallegos celebrates a touchdown with teammate Leyton Ullery in Friday's 42-35 T-Bird loss to Basehor-Linwood. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Shawnee Heights would cut the Bobcat lead to six just before halftime after Scott found AJ Gallegos for a 10-yard touchdown.
After failing to capitalize on their first drive of the second half, the T-Bird defense forced another turnover when Dayton Vanderpool recovered a fumble near midfield.
The ensuing offensive drive would stall, but Shawnee Heights got a second chance when Blake Coffman fell on the ball after a muffed punt.
Shawnee Heights would take advantage of the mistake, using a trick play to cap off the drive. Running back David Wakes lobbed a pass over the Bobcat defense to a wide-open Parker Busenitz to give the Thunderbirds a 28-27 lead.
After getting a stop on defense, Shawnee Heights had an opportunity to take a two-possession lead of its own, but the Bobcats’ Will Howard recovered a fumble to halt the T-Bird drive.
After entering the fourth quarter trailing by one, Basehor-Linwood relied on its rushing attack to turn the game around.
Doering scored on an 18-yard run and Nate Martin took an end-around for the 2-point conversion to give the Bobcats a 35-28 lead, one they would not relinquish.
Sophomore Caelum Theno would extend the Basehor-Linwood lead to 42-28 with a 1-yard rushing touchdown at the 6:07 mark of the quarter.
Down two possessions, the Thunderbird offense worked quickly, taking only about 90 seconds off the clock on a touchdown drive ending in a 24-yard pass from Scott to Gallegos.
The Bobcat offense was able to string together enough first downs on their next drive to kneel out the clock and preserve the 42-35 win.
Basehor-Linwood utilized a strong running game on its way to victory, with Doering tallying 185 yards on 28 carries to go along with three total touchdowns.
Junior quarterback Dixon added 131 yards through the air with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Despite the loss, Scott turned in an excellent performance in the air for the Thunderbirds, throwing for 244 yards and three touchdowns.
Wakes led the Thunderbird ground game, racking up 80 yards on 19 carries. Gallegos recorded 95 receiving yards on eight catches.
Shawnee Heights will remain at home to face Leavenworth next Friday
BASEHOR-LINWOOD 42, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 35
Basehor-Linwood (3-0) 13 14 0 15 -- 42
Shawnee Heights (1-2) 14 7 7 7 -- 35
Basehor-Linwood -- Martin 97 kick return (kick failed)
Shawnee Heights -- Parker 69 pass from Scott (Granado kick)
Basehor-Linwood -- Adair 21 pass from Dixon (Zimbelman kick)
Shawnee Heights -- Ward 16 interception return (Granado kick)
Basehor-Linwood -- Doering 3 run (Zimbelman kick)
Basehor-Linwood -- Doering 68 pass from Dixon (Zimbelman kick)
Shawnee Heights -- Gallegos 10 pass from Scott (Granado kick)
Shawnee Heights -- Busenitz 5 pass from Wakes (Granado kick)
Basehor-Linwood -- Doering 18 run (Martin run)
Basehor-Linwood -- Theno 1 run (Zimbelman kick)
Shawnee Heights -- Gallegos 24 pass from Scott (Granado kick)
Individual statistics
Rushing -- Basehor-Linwood: Doering 28-185, Dixon 8-59, Theno 11-32, Team 2-(minus)2. Shawnee Heights: Wakes 19-80, Labrador 2-12, Parker 1-0, Scott 3-(minus)8.
Passing -- Basehor-Linwood: Dixon 4-13-2, 131 yards. Shawnee Heights: Scott 21-39-0, 244, Wakes 1-1-0, 5 yards.
Receiving- Basehor-Linwood: Doering 1-68, Adair 2-58, Morrison 1-5. Shawnee Heights: Gallegos 8-95, Parker 3-77, Busenitz 4-38, Rantz 3-35, Wakes 3-4.
