Kansas City Star, The (MO)
June 7, 2002
Edition: METROPOLITAN
Section: SPORTS
Page: D9

Missouri stars roll to Metro Classic win
Author: JASON FRANCHUK; The Kansas City Star

Aaron Gardiner turned the annual Metro Classic All-Star football game into a personal highlight film Thursday night.

Gardiner, a graduate of North Kansas City, hauled in two beautiful touchdown passes that led the Missouri squad to a 28-14 victory against Kansas.

"I was expecting them to bump me more," Gardiner said after helping his team end Kansas' five-game winning streak. "But they never did."

Gardiner, who is headed to Highland Community College, scored on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Pratt of St. Joseph Central for the game's first points.

On his second touchdown, which put Missouri ahead 21-0 late in the first half, Gardiner leaped over three defenders for a 15-yard reception from Robbie Campbell of Platte County.
Zach Sherman of Platte County led the Missouri team with 31 rushes for 112 yards and one touchdown, a 9-yard scamper early in the second quarter. The Missouri offense was often methodical, with Sherman carrying the brunt of the load with straight-forward carries.

"We got the big lead, and then we just wanted to take the air out of the ball," Missouri coach Chip Sherman of Platte County said. "We were going to do what we had to do to win."
Kansas struggled to move the football. One highlight came when Tyler Sweany of Olathe East picked off a first-quarter pass intended for Gardiner, literally stealing the ball from Gardiner's hands as they landed.

Ivan Harrison of Washington, who is headed to Wyoming, put Kansas on the scoreboard in the third quarter with a 90-yard kickoff return that cut Missouri's lead to 28-7. Quarterback Chris Cummings of Rockhurst scored on a 5-yard run on the previous possession.

Harrison also scored on a 7-yard run with 9 minutes, 41 seconds left that cut the Kansas' deficit to 28-14. Harrison and Gardiner were named most valuable players after the game.

"There were an awful lot of good football players out there," Kansas coach Mark Littrell of Olathe South said. "I think all the kids built good friendships, and it was a pleasure to be a part of it."

Copyright 2002 The Kansas City Star Co.