Friday night lights in Missouri: Oak Park, Lee’s Summit, Liberty earn victories

Here’s a look at highlights from some big Missouri-side high school football games around the Kansas City metro on Friday night.

Oak Park 34, Fort Osage 0

A return home was what the doctor ordered for Oak Park.

The Northmen, which sustained two losses in their last two road games, came home for a 34-0 victory over Fort Osage.

Oak Park’s special teams helped set up the first score when BJ Gordon stopped Fort Osage on a fake punt attempt at the 28-yard line on a 4th-and-2. On the next play, quarterback Antonio Johnson Jr. hit Emanuel Kok for a 26-yard touchdown at the 9:37 mark in the first quarter.

The Northmen scored on their next drive, with Donovan Ross hauling in a 43-yard touchdown pass from Johnson Jr. with 9:28 to play in the second quarter.

The Northmen got a trio of scores in the second half to account for the final score.

The first scoring drive opened the third quarter and it featured a trio of big plays. Johnson Jr. hit Ross for a 30-yard gain to move to midfield. Running back Chris Friends had a 28-yard run and on the next play, Johnson Jr. hit Kok for a second touchdown. The 28-yard touchdown came at the 9:53 mark.

Fort Osage, playing without Iowa State pledge Ryver Peppers, struggled on offense all night. At one point in the fourth quarter, the offense faced a 4th-and-31.

Oak Park remained perfect at home since the on-campus football stadium opened in 2022. The Northmen are now 11-0 at The Lumberyard.

Lee’s Summit 45, Lee’s Summit West 10

Lee’s Summit didn’t mess around with its crosstown rival on Friday night.

The Tigers, ranked No. 12 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, coasted to a 45-10 victory at Lee’s Summit West.

Lee’s Summit (4-1) got the scoring going on first-quarter touchdown passes from senior Brayden Layman to RJ Scott for 25 yards, and Brock Gordey for 20 yards, and a 12-0 lead.

Only a field goal from Truman Britton accounted for Titan scoring in the first half, as a 20-yard Preston Hatfield scoring run and a 1-yard Karsten Fiene touchdown, as well as a two-point conversion from Jackson Ross pushed the lead to 26-3. Hatfield later scored again midway in the third on a 10-yard run to push the margin to 32-3.

Lee’s Summit will play at Park Hill South next Friday, while the Titans travel to Raymore-Peculiar.

Liberty 62, St. Joseph Central 34

Jaxon Hicks and Liberty enjoyed a fun rid back from St. Joseph after racking up Madden-like numbers.

The Blue Jays rolled up 62 points in 62-34 laugher at St. Joseph Central. Hicks, the star senior tailback for No. 13 Liberty, amassed 309 rushing yards and tied an LHS school record with six rushing touchdowns in the game.

The Jays (4-1) piled up 420 total yards on the grounds.

Hicks opened the scoring with a 71-yard scoring scamper with 7:40 left in the first. Hicks later scored on runs of 2, 9 and 10. Then when the Indians (3-2) pulled to 41-27 at the end of the third period, Hicks scored again on runs of 43 and 20.

The Blue Jays will entertain Park Hill (3-2 next Friday in Liberty.

For scores, stats, recaps, rankings, broadcasts and more, visit 810Varsity.com.