Kansas City Star, The (MO)
June 8, 2002
Edition: JOHNSON COUNTY
Section: OLATHE STAR
Page: 20

Metro Classic streak snapped
Missouri's 28-14 triumph snaps Kansas' five-game series winning streak
Author: KEVIN KADUK; The Kansas City Star

The fact that it was only an exhibition game did not cool tempers at the 2002 Metro Classic All-Star football game on Thursday.

Players from both sides of the state line took the game seriously and, at times, the contest looked like one big chest-puffing match. The game was played at the Olathe District Activity Center.

Despite the fact that Missouri won for the first time in five years 28-14, the talk from the Kansas players after the game centered on its rough nature.

"The refs didn't call that much. Everyone was getting away with everything," SM North quarterback John Martin said. "There was a lot of talking and having to stand up for yourself out there."

For the most part, the officials kept the whistles in their pockets, calling only one personal foul the entire game. But the intensity of the rivalry could be seen when the participants took the border battle to heart.

Olathe North running back Maurice Mack, who will play at Kansas State in the fall, was concerned that the referees did not keep the game in check.

"I've got a scholarship on the table, I could miss an entire season," Mack said. "So I just had to watch myself and the other players to make sure nothing bad happened.

"It was pretty rough out there. A lot of cheap shots going on. I guess the refs were letting us play. I know it's an all-star game, but there should be some type of limitations to what's going on."

It was evident from the start that Missouri was going to take an aggressive route toward breaking its losing streak. The team was very forward in its attack and used its linebackers to work its way into Kansas' backfield. Kansas had only three first downs in the first half and was held scoreless.

"They sent everybody. They were going all-out," Martin said. "It seemed like there was an army coming at us because we weren't really expecting them to bring seven guys at us."
Indeed, Missouri effectively stymied Kansas' attack, which featured three talented running backs - Mack, Olathe South's Joseph Harris and Washington's Ivan Harrison. Kansas was held to 10 yards on the ground.

"We expected to do better on offense," said Harrison, who scored both touchdowns in the second half for Kansas. "We stepped it up and tried to fight back, but it was too late."
Martin, Greg Kiblen of Blue Valley North, and Justin Dyer of Olathe South were the Kansas team's quarterbacks.

Olathe was well represented at the game with 12 players from the city's three schools. Olathe South coach Mark Littrell was the head coach of the team, which practiced eight times before Thursday's game.

"It was fun having 12 Olathe guys out there," Littrell said.

"I really enjoyed coaching them all."

Copyright 2002 The Kansas City Star Co.