Raytown South takes first step with convincing win over Titans

November 6, 2009

Raytown South High School

Raytown South beat the Titans on the strength of several big plays and a high-flying defense. The Cardinals defense harassed Lee's Summit West all evening, forcing four interceptions, taking away two fumbles and sacking West quarterback Zach Harris twice.
Cardinals linebacker Eric Brantley led a spirited group of defenders, recording a sack, forcing a fumble, recovering it and returning it 50 yards for a touchdown with 10:33 left in the fourth quarter. The highlight-reel play gave Raytown South a commanding 30-7 lead.
"To be honest, it was all just a team effort," said Brantley, who also added an interception later in the fourth quarter. "We ain't ready to go home. We are not ready to go home. We've got four more games to play. We are not ready to go home, so we gotta do what we gotta do."
Brantley's rant was just getting started.
"To be honest with you, I really want to meet Hazelwood East back again because I don't think they're ready for us," Brantley said. "But we are going to take it one game at a time. We've got (Ozark) next and we're ready to play."
Play-making wide receiver Darrien Bruster said his five catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns against Lee's Summit West was something of a coming-out party for him. Bruster's performance included a razzle-dazzle like 15-yard circus touchdown run that left Titans defenders in his wake. He said the championship game loss is even harder on him for different reasons.
"I had to sit back and watch it on TV," Bruster said of the Cardinals' 39-34 lost to Hazelwood East. "On TV. I cried then. On TV. All because I hurt my ankle my sophomore year and I didn't recover from it (last season). The only year I've really played a full year was my freshman year. ... So, I'm out here my senior year, and I ain't ready to go home."
Healthy and full of speed and agility, Bruster is eager to help the Cardinals amend what was lost last November.
"I want to go back to the Dome," Bruster said. "I've never been. I've never been to the Dome and I want it."
Titans head coach Royce Boehm was gracious in defeat. He said Raytown South's ability was on full display against his team.
"They came out to play tonight," Boehm said. "On a three-day break, for them to come out and do what they did, that says a lot for them. That's a great character-builder for them."
Raytown South will journey to the southwest part of the state Monday to take on Ozark in a Class 5 sectional matchup.
"We've never been to the southwest part of the state before," Allie said. "Most of our games are usually right here in the city area."

CLASS 5 REGIONAL BOX SCORE
RAYTOWN SOUTH 30, LEE'S SUMMIT WEST 14
LS West         Ray-South
14    First downs    12
30-129    Attempts-Yards Rushing    31-36
71    Yards Passing    151
16    Passes Attempted    20
7    Passes Completed    12
4    Passes Intercepted    1
3-37    Punts-Average    3-37.6
2-2    Fumbles-Lost    0-0
2-10    Penalties-Yards    8-80
LS WEST         7      0    0    7    -    14
RAY-SOUTH    7    10    7    6    -    30
Scoring
First Quarter
RS - Dennis Tanner 16 pass to Darrien Bruster (Tate Thissen kick), 7:31.
LSW - Erik MacDowell 2 run (Andrew Holt kick), 1:12.
Second Quarter
RS - Thissen 26 field goal, 4:32.
RS - Bruster 15 run (Thissen kick), 0:48.
Third Quarter
RS - Ahmad Cartwright 26 pass from Tanner (Thissen kick), 2:31.
Fourth Quarter
RS - Eric Brantley 50 fumble return (kick failed), 10:33.
LSW - Zach Harris 1 run (Holt kick), 4:19.